Gōkei (豪渓) was designated as one of Japan’s National Site of Scenery Beauty in 1923. It is a beautiful valley located upstream of the Makidani River (槙谷川), a tributary of the Takahashi River (高梁川). The valley is still considered a hidden gem as most of the tourists who come to the valley are locals. With […]
Gōkei Valley – One of the Most Picturesque Valley in Okayama Read More »
If you are after a unique experience in Japan, consider spending a night at Ine Bay‘s traditional house, Funaya (舟屋). This type of architecture can only be found at Ine. This is why the Funayas are nationally recognized as cultural property. A couple of the former fishermen’s houses were later renovated into ryokans. If you
Spending a Night at Ine Bay’s Funaya, WATER FRONT INN Yosasou Read More »
At Ine, approximately 230 Funayas line the Ine Bay, with most of them as private residential properties. Since the town has two main bay areas, if you want to see all of the houses in one go, consider taking either the Ine Bay Sightseeing Boat (伊根湾めぐり遊覧船) or hiring a Sea Taxi (海上タクシー). Seeing this unique
The Complete Guide to the Ine Bay Sightseeing Boat Read More »
If you are in Tokyo and want to do some home decor and tableware shopping, visit free design (フリーデザイン) in Kichijōji. It is a shop for Scandinavian-style home decor and accessories. The shop gathers products from typical Scandinavian home accessory companies, such as Arabia Finland and marimekko, and also teams up with famous artists to
free design: The Best Spot in Kichijōji to Shop Stylish Tableware Read More »
If you are a Ghibli fan and plan to visit Tokyo, stop by Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory Kichijōji (白髭のシュークリーム工房 吉祥寺店) for the Totoro Cream Puff (トトロのシュークリーム). Not only does it have a really cute appearance, but the puff tastes amazing, too! The shop is decorated with many Ghibli decorations. It is a space dedicated to
Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory Kichijōji and the Totoro Puff Read More »
Amongst all the attractions in Amanohashidate that have lookouts and observation decks, Nariaiji (成相寺) is the one we enjoyed the most! It is the most scenic place in the area throughout the year, especially during the autumn foliage season from early to mid-November. Located further up from Kasamatsu Park, you might be able to see
Nariaiji Temple: The Scenic Hidden Gem in Amanohashidate Read More »
If you are trekking or cycling your way to the north of Amanohashidate, you will go past the Motoise Kono Shrine (元伊勢籠神社) on your way to Amanohashidate Kasamatsu Park. The shrine is the highest-ranked shrine in the San-in region and was the home of the god in the famous Ise Jingū (伊勢神宮) in Mie Prefecture.
Motoise Kono Jinja: The Iconic Shrine in Amanohashidate Read More »
Close to Chionji Temple‘s Sanmon gate, a couple of cafes and restaurants sell the local specialty, Chie no Mochi (智恵の餅) or Wisdom Rice Cake in English. The cafe we recommend the most is Hikobee Chaya (彦兵衛茶屋). You will hardly miss it when you walk towards Chionji’s Sanmon Gate. The large lady figure in Kimono is
Hikobee Chaya: The Best Place to Get Chie no Mochi Read More »
From Amanohashidate Station, if you head straight to the shore, Chionji Temple (智恩寺) is the first main attraction you will encounter. The temple is ranked first of the three temples in Japan dedicated to the Monju Bodhisattva (文殊菩薩), the widest Bodhisattva in Buddhism. Because up until a few centuries ago, Amanohashidate was part of the
Chionji: The Temple in Amanohashidate to Gain More Wisdom Read More »
To appreciate the shape of Amanohashidate, you will need to see the sandbar from above. If you have limited time and can only go to one of the two observation parks, we recommend Amanohashidate View Land (天橋立ビューランド). Not only is it closer to Amanohashidate Station, but also because the sandbar looks like a straight line
The Best Guide to Amanohashidate View Land Read More »
