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Mont Ceri. Morioka: The Vegan and Gluten-Free-Friendly Cafe

Close to Morioka’s famous landmark, Sakurayama Shrine (櫻山神社), Mont Ceri. Morioka is a bakery that aims to cater to all customers. And the good news is that the bakery usually opens for breakfast at 7:30 am on weekdays. If you plan to visit Morioka, there is no need to rely on rice balls sold at

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Kyoto’s Stunning Spots off the Beaten Track in Nantan City

Kyoto isn’t just about all the temples and Geishas around Kyoto Station. Some of the prefecture’s most amazing spots are located away from the urban crowd and hidden in rural areas such as Nantan City (南丹市). Just around 1 – 2 hours away from Kyoto’s city center, you will find Japan’s stunning rural landscape with

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Ruri Valley – The Most Stunning Valley in Kyoto

At the southwest of Nantan City in Kyoto, the Ruri River Valley Natural Park (京都府立るり渓自然公園) in the 4 km long Ruri River Valley (or Rurikei Gorge) is a designated National Place of Scenery Beauty. The valley has a delicate landscape with a 530-meter-tall plateau. The upstream of the valley is made of granite, whereas the

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Nagahama: The City Where Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s Legend Begins

Nagahama, the second biggest city in Shiga Prefecture, is rich in history and nature. Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s success in becoming the leader of Japan in the second half of the 16th century was said to have started from here. The city at the northmost of Shiga Prefecture is next to both Fuki and Gifu Prefecture, making

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Keisoku-ji – Nagahama’s Most Alluring Destination in Fall

If you plan to visit Nagahama City in Shiga Prefecture in November, remember to put Keisoku-ji (鶏足寺) and Shakudō-ji Temple (石道寺) in your itinerary. Although located away from the city center, the two temples just minutes away from each other are the best destinations for autumn color hunting!

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Shizugatake: The Stunning Attraction With a Bloody History

Because of the Battle of Shizugatake (賤ヶ岳の戦い) in 1583 between Hashiba Hideyoshi (羽柴秀吉) and Shibata Katsuie (柴田勝家), Mt. Shizugatake is not only a scenic destination but also a pilgrimage spot for Japanese history buffs. Around the summit, monuments of the battlefield and those who died in the war commemorate the historic event. At the same

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Keiunkan: A Must-Visit in Nagahama for the Japanese Garden

If you aren’t told, you might not know that one of the National Places of Scenery Beauty is just minutes from JR Nagahama Station. Keiunkan (慶雲館) is the spot that was built to receive the Emperor Meiji’s visit in the late 19th century. Apart from the gorgeous garden, it is also one of the spots

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