Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa
To fully understand the history of Kawagoe, a visit to Kawagoe Castle (川越城) is a must. Whilst only the castle’s Honmaru remains today, a few museums were built where the castle’s outer citadel used to be. Together, these facilities paint a picture of the history behind the gorgeous old warehouse district. And the great news […]
A Guide to Kawagoe Castle and the Historical Spots Nearby Read More »
Inokashira Park in Kichijōji is a great urban park to enjoy nature. You can easily spend a couple of hours in this vast park. But the longer you stay there, the emptier your stomach will get. Many locals or travelers would grab a picnic mat and food to picnic on the park’s lawn or benches.
The Best Vegetarian-Friendly Cafes Around Inokashira Park Read More »
Kichijōji in Tokyo has many amazing cafes and restaurants, but many don’t cater to a vegan diet. Fortunately, there are still a couple of places for us vegan and vegetarian to visit. Most also offer meat and vegan options, perfect for those who travel with non-vegan families and friends!
The Best Guide to Kichijōji’s Vegan-Friendly Restaurants Read More »
On the southwest of Lake Haruna, Haruna Shrine (榛名神社) has been looking after the region since the late 6th century. The 30-minute walk on the approach from the torii gate to the main worship hall is so mysterious that some sort of sacred power is gained just by taking a short journey! This is especially
Haruna Shrine: The Most Powerful Shrine in Gunma Prefecture Read More »
The Ikaho Stone Steps, or Ishidan Stone Stairway (石段街) in the center of Ikaho Onsen, is the town’s symbol. Along the Stone Steps, restaurants and souvenir shops line, so reaching the top surely won’t be a tiring task as you will likely be side-tracked at some point. While in Japanese, the stone steps are engraved
The Must-Visit Spots Along Ikaho Onsen Stone Steps Read More »
Because a ropeway is expensive to build and maintain, it usually means at the mountain top station, magnificent scenery awaits. This is the case for Ikaho Ropeway. The panoramic view from Uenoyama Park next to the ropeway station is breathtaking. So when you visit Ikaho Onsen in Gunma Prefecture, allocate an hour or two away
The Best Guide to Ikaho Ropeway and Uenoyama Park Read More »
After soaking in Ikaho‘s golden hot spring and enjoying the food and games at the shops lining Ikaho Stone Steps, how about venturing out of the city to meet the farm animals and contemporary artworks in an art museum? Especially in early spring, Ikaho Green Bokujo and Hara Museum ARC are the must-visit spots in
The Best Guide to Ikaho Green Bokujo and Hara Museum ARC Read More »
Although not as famous as Kusatsu Onsen, Ikaho Onsen (伊香保温泉) in Gunma Prefecture is a hot spring town well-known to the Japanese since ancient times. Appeared in the Man’yōshū (万葉集), the oldest extant collection of Japanese waka, the onsen town is a hidden gem filled with natural and cultural elements! So if you are after a
The Best Guide to the Must-Visit Spots in Ikaho Onsen Read More »
If you plan to visit Ikaho Onsen in Gunma Prefecture, venture out to the Mizusawa region for the infamous Mizusawa Udon (水沢うどん) because it is one of Japan’s three most famous udons (the other two are Inaniwa Udon (稲庭うどん) from Akita Prefecture and Sanuki Udon (讃岐うどん) from Kagawa Prefecture)! The chewy and slightly thick noodles
Tamaruya and Other Vegan-Friendly Mizusawa Udon Restaurant Read More »
Mizusawa-dera (水澤寺), southeast of Ikaho Onsen, has been a highly regarded temple for centuries. The temple is filled with amazingly built buildings and Buddha statues. The Tendai sect temple has Eleven-faced thousand-armed Kannon (十一面千手観音) as the main image, so it is also referred to as Mizusawa Kannon (水澤観音). Aside from wishes for safe child delivery
A Guide to Mizusawa Temple, the Origin of Mizusawa Udon Read More »
