Koedo Kurari (小江戸蔵里 川越市産業観光館) can be your first and last stop when you visit Kawagoe‘s traditional area. This facility was renovated from old warehouses and is filled with Kawagoe’s souvenirs. If you love Japanese sake, sake tasting can also be done here at a reasonable price!
Koedo Kurari: Sake-Tasting and Souvenir Shopping in Kawagoe Read More »
When you visit Kawagoe (川越), Kura no Machi Ichibangai Street (蔵の街一番街) being on your itinerary is a must. The main street in the old warehouse district is where you can find the majority of the Kurazukuri townscape from the Edo period. The street isn’t just about Kawagoe’s landmark, Toki no Kane Clock and those old
The Must-Visit Cafes & Shops on Kura no Machi Ichibangai Read More »
On Kawagoe Ichiban Machi Street, the original Hara Family Residence (原家住宅) nowadays houses a pottery and china gallery. In contrast to the stately and solemn exterior, the interior of Fine China Store Yamawa (陶舗やまわ) is bright and stylish. Not to mention the intricate ceramics on exhibit, which you can bring home!
What to Do at Fine China Store Yamawa and Cafe Torocco Read More »
When you visit an area with a traditional Japanese setting, wouldn’t you want to sit down and taste some tea-flavored desserts and a cup of nicely brewed tea? If your answer is yes, Wahōan (狭山茶カフェ 和芳庵) is the spot you want to visit. The cafe is operated by a local tea farming company, Nagamine-en (長峰園),
Wahōan Cafe: Kawagoe’s Perfect Spot to Enjoy Tea and Sweets Read More »
Kawagoe Pudding (川越プリン) is the first pudding specialist from Kawagoe. Its logo, Toki no Kane Clock on a plate, makes it really clear where the pudding was made. After iterating through many cycles of trial and error with premium-grade ingredients, such as the highest quality Madagascar vanilla beans, the shop finally landed upon a recipe
Kawagoe Pudding: The Must-Try Pudding Shop in Kawagoe Read More »
A must-try traditional Japanese confectionery shop in Kawagoe is Kameya (亀屋). It was established in 1783 and was chosen as a dedicated sweets maker for the lord of the Kawagoe Domain. As you can imagine, the highly regarded confectionery maker had earned a fortune. So in 1894, the fifth owner of the shop spent a
Kameya: The Top Traditional Confectionery Maker in Kawagoe Read More »
If you like beer, the best spot in Kawagoe to enjoy the locally brewed COEDO Beer (COEDOビール) is Kawagoe Art Cafe Elevato (川越アートカフェ エレバート). But even if you don’t like alcohol, the cafe in the history-rich building is a great place for a break from exploring the traditional township. The desserts, such as the sweet
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Situated in northeastern Japan, the famous Mt. Zao (蔵王山) in Yamagata Prefecture (山形県) and Mt. Hakkoda (八甲田) in Aomori Prefecture (青森県) are well known for the “Snow Monsters” that take shape over trees and branches. However, one of the drawbacks of being so well known is its tendency to be crowded…
Mt. Moriyoshi – The Stunning Scenery and the Snow Monsters Read More »
Sendai, the Tōhoku region‘s biggest city receiving more than 20 million tourists each year, is an amazing destination that encompasses both city and countryside characteristics, even in the city center. This is why the locals proudly advertise their hometown as Forest City (Morio no Miyako, 杜の都). The city, with a good balance of urban and
The Ultimate Guide to Sendai – The City of Trees Read More »
In Sendai, apart from the Sendai Castle, there are a few more spots in the city center where you can overlook the cityscape of the City of Trees. The good news is two of them are close to Sendai Station, making it easy for us to access these free observation decks!
The Best Guide to Sendai’s Top Observation Decks Read More »