Whether you are after an accommodation facility or not, Mampei Hotel (万平ホテル), close to Old Karuizawa Ginza Street, is worth a visit. With its top-quality hospitality, the well-kept hotel, partially Westernized and re-opened in 1894, is still one of the best hotels in Karuizawa. In addition, it is the hotel that John Lennon loved!
The Ultimate Guide to Karuizawa’s Best Hotel: Mampei Hotel Read More »
A unique place to visit in Nakamachi Shopping Street (中町商店街) is the Matsumoto City Hakari Museum (松本市はかり資料館), which is full of measuring instruments. It is one of the best places to learn about various scales and weights used across the globe from various eras.
Matsumoto City Hakari Museum and the Weight from the Past Read More »
Among the many islands floating on the Seto Inland Sea, Mu Island, or ‘Mushima’ (六島) in Japanese, is probably the most gorgeous. Okayama Prefecture‘s southmost island is known for the picturesque view of daffodil flowers and a white lighthouse with the azure blue ocean as the backdrop. On top of that, not only will you
Mushima: A Daffodil Island with Many Friendly Cats Read More »
You might have heard of cat cafes, but did you know there are cat islands? In Japan, some small islands are nicknamed cat islands by the locals because there are more cats than humans living on the island. Due to the cat boom from the early 2000s, many of these islands have become popular tourist
Aino and Uma Island – The Hidden Cat Islands in Fukuoka Read More »
Surrounded by mountains, Matsumoto City has a wealth of hot spring sources. Among them, Shirahone Onsen (白骨温泉) tops the list with its picturesque natural scenery and cultural elements. Putting its somewhat scary name aside, you will surely be enchanted by the onsen town’s charm!
Shirahone Onsen: One of the Best Onsen Resorts in Matsumoto Read More »
Although Awa no Yu (泡の湯旅館) is located away from Shirahone Onsen‘s town center, it is the ryokan that represents hot spring town. In fact, the biggest onsen pool in Nagano Prefecture is found at Awa no Yu! The ryokan, which was opened in 1912, is known for its mixed-gender hot spring pool. But don’t worry.
Awa no Yu Ryokan: The Must-Stay Ryokan in Shirahone Onsen Read More »
Apart from the Matsumoto Castle, the Matsumoto City Museum of Art (松本市美術館) is another primary landmark of the city. The museum dedicated to artists related to Nagano Prefecture is the best place in the world to experience the world of Yayoi Kusama, one of the world’s favorite contemporary artists, born in Matsumoto. Before you even
Matsumoto City Museum of Art: The Must-Go Spot in Matsumoto Read More »
Not too far from Matsumoto Castle, there is a street lined with traditional houses with a rather unique appearance. Nakamachi Shopping Street is the main street of the old Matsumoto. The houses on this street all look more or less like traditional warehouses. The reason? Fire hazard prevention.
The Must Go Shops and Restaurants in Nakamachi Street Read More »
Temples and shrines can be found everywhere in Japan. Among a large number of religious attractions in the country, a couple of them offer a more unique experience in each city. For Matsumoto, we reckon the below five temples and shrines below are worth your attention and time!
The Best Five Temples and Shrines in Matsumoto Read More »
Matsumoto’s most valuable and perhaps most popular historical attraction is the national treasure, Matsumoto Castle. But if that is the only historical attraction on your itinerary, you might be missing out! Within 5 km of the castle, there are a couple more museums with different themes that you might want to check out when you
A Guide to the Fascinating Museums in Matsumoto City Read More »
