When you list Miyajima (宮島) as one of the destinations on your itinerary, you want to make sure you allocate enough time on the island known as “god’s island”. Some suggest that half a day on the island is more than enough. Whilst this might be true if you only wanted to take some photos …
Mikuniya – Spend a Night at Miyajima’s Best Guesthouse Read More »
Tamagawa Onsen (玉川温泉) in Akita Prefecture is a special hot spring resort. It consists of two ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) nestled in the mountains of Towada-Hachimantai National Park. Why is it special? Because it is ranked number one for both the acidity of the spring at pH1.2 and the amount of spring water gushing out …
Tamagawa Onsen – Japan’s Best Onsen Town for Recuperation Read More »
Farmer’s markets can be found everywhere in the world, with some of them being the size of a football stadium. The ones that you have been to may have a range of fresh products, but probably none of them offers cultural activities like Yōkina Kasan no Mise (陽気な母さんの店) in Ōdate city (大館市)!
If you are in Okayama Prefecture‘s Bizen City, how about taking a detour to experience the countryside? Driving along the windy road and slowly climbing up the mountain, your field of vision will suddenly widen! Located at an altitude of 400 meters, the Hattōji Furusato Village (八塔寺ふるさと村) was where Buddhism used to prosper as much …
Obuse is a lovely town in Nagano Prefecture, famous for its delicious chestnuts and ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai from the 18th century. And it is also on the way to Jigokudani Monkey Park (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ. While the main street of Obuse is within a 10-minute walk from Nagano Dentetsu’s Obuse Station, to really explore Obuse properly, …
Coming to Kurobe Gorge does take a bit of time from Tokyo or Osaka. Walking between platforms with bulky luggage is also a hassle to get to the next connecting train. But soon after you get off the train, you will realize all the hustle you have just been through is worth it because the …
Hotel Yamanoha – The Hotel with the Best View of Kurobe Gorge Read More »
Although Tokiwasure no Yado Yoshimoto (時わすれの宿 佳元) in Shima Onsen requires some extra walking if you take public transportation, it is a ryokan that you will definitely love! While staying at Tokiwasure no Yado Yoshimoto isn’t exactly cheap, the experience is worth your money! The service, the food, the view, and the ryokan itself are all …
Shima Onsen’s Best Ryokan: Tokiwasure no Yado Yoshimoto Read More »
Great ryokans can be found across Japan, and Kashiwaya (柏屋旅館) in Gunma Prefecture‘s Shima Onsen has taken the classic formula and perfected it! Whilst the food, service, and onsen are all of extremely high quality, what makes them truly exceptional is how accommodating and flexible the ryokan is. Whether its before or after the renovation …
Kashiwaya Ryokan – The Best Place to Stay at Shima Onsen Read More »
Sekizenkan (積善館), which has more than 300 years of history, is the most famous among all the ryokans in Gunma Prefecture‘s Shima Onsen. Not only because the main building is the oldest hot spring inn architecture in Japan, but the ryokan is also rumored to be the stage of Spirited Away, as three spots of …
Sekizenkan – The Rumored Stage of the Ghibli Movie, Spirited Away Read More »
Kusatsu Onsen is one of Japan’s best hot spring towns. But choosing where to stay for the night can be hard as there are so many choices! So if you prefer to dine out at night to enjoy the local food or you have special dietary requirements, the below hotels/ryokans can accommodate you! A few …