Travel tips for Japan trip
Kawagoe is known as a little Edo and has the remains of Edo landscapes just a short one hour train ride from Tokyo. During the Edo era (17th to 19th centuries), Kawagoe had prospered as a port city with river networks to transport local products to Edo city. We can still see architectural resemblance of …
Oshima Island is one of the most popular islands to visit from Tokyo and for good reason. This incredible island is located in Southern Japan, around two hours by high-speed ship from Tokyo. If you are planning a trip to Oshima Island I would recommend at least three nights here. There are a handful of …
Iwachi is only two hour’s drive from Mishima Station in Shizuoka. The town is nestled in the heart of the seaside of Shizuoka Prefecture, home to many of Shizuoka’s most recognisable beaches and fishing spots. Since I was a child, Iwachi has been one of the most memorable beaches to swim at and to gather …
When you see posters announcing that a restaurant has started serving hiyashi chuka, you know that summer has arrived. Hiyashi means cold and chuka means Chinese, and hiyashi chuka is a chilled Chinese-style noodle dish. It consists of wheat noodles that have been boiled and then cooled in cold water, topped with thin stirips of …
Located 30 minutes drive from Nasu-Shiobara Station, Art Biotope Garden Mizuniwa is one of the prettiest gardens boasting the beautiful residence, a greenery and pale blue ponds. This is a place for architecture enthusiasts to spend time to see how architects can design new gardens. The architect of this artbiotpe is Ishigami Junya. I had …
Tono is known as a folktale village and is located in the middle of Iwate Prefecture in an area which has beautifully preserved traditional culture. My friend who grew up in Tono proudly recommended visiting his hometown. But upon our visit I quickly came to learn that there is much more to see in Iwate …
For a long time I’ve had my sights set on returning to APPI ski resort, as we have spent several New Year holidays here skiing. After experiencing the powder snow at APPI ski resort, I was excited to spend my third visit here in summer. Here you will find the ultimate guide to hiking APPI …
There are endless adventures on offer when visiting Iwate Prefecture. From a changeable railway journey through Sanriku Rias Coast to an epic discovery of old Japanese culture in Morioka city. As the gateway to so many fantastic locations in the northernmost part of Japan, Morioka is an impressive city with many great places to discover. …
Zushi and Hayama are popular summer destinations thanks to their rich sailing culture and history. These incredible marinas are located on the west side of the Miura Peninsula, next to the Kamakura area. From Tokyo it is around 1 hour to reach the Zushi Station by train. Despite being a popular area for tourists and …
If you’re visiting Tokyo and looking for an escape to the countryside, you cannot go past a train trip to Hakone, the hot spring resort town where my parents used to take us to spend a very short summer vacation every year. It takes only one and a half hours by train from Tokyo. Pola …