The best photogenic beach on Shimoji Island has to be 17END (ワンセブンエンド), which spreads under the road surrounding the runway of Shimojishima Airport. At low tide, the sandy beach appears, and the stunning shallow blue sea spreads!
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One of the top specialties in the Aizu region is Awamanjū (あわまんじゅう), a slightly chewy bun filled with red bean paste. While manjū is a common traditional sweet that can be found across Japan, Awamanjū is only sold in Aizu, where it originates. Speaking of Awamanjū, Koike Confectionary Store (小池菓子舗) is the most famous shop
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In Aizu-Wakamatsu City, if you want to walk on a street lined with buildings from over a century ago, head to Nanukamachi-dōri Street (七日町通り). The 800-meter-long street stretching west from Nanukamachi Station (七日町駅) was a busy street in Aizu from the Edo period to the early 20th century. Historical warehouses and Western-style buildings are carefully
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A nice cafe to stop by in Nanukamachi is Aizu Ichibankan (會津壹番館). In addition to its good coffee, it is a spot related to the guy printed on the old Japanese 1,000 yen notes (the new one was issued in 2024). The guy with the curly hair was named Noguchi Hideyo (野口英世). He was a
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Lacquerware is a popular souvenir among tourists in the Aizu region. The Aizu lacquer (Aizu-nuri, 会津塗り) is one of Japan’s top lacquerware. If you like the traditional crafts, Nanukamachi-dōri Street in Aizu-Wakamatsu has a couple of places we recommend you to stop by. Whether you like the utensils and vessels that are splendidly decorated or
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Amongst the three super long bridges that Miyakojima City has, the most magnificent bridge has to be the more than 3km long Irabu Bridge. It is also the landmark of Irabu Island (伊良部島), where the bridge is connected. Thanks to the bridge’s completion in 2015, when we visit Miyakojima today, the stunning spots on Irabu
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Speaking of Blue Cave in Okinawa, the one at Cape Maeda (真栄田岬) on Okinawa’s main island is much more famous, but Irabu Island also has one! The Blue Cave (青の洞窟) on Irabu Island is a sea cave underneath a 70-meter cliff. As you enter the cave, you will enter a world of blue.
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Irabu Bridge (伊良部大橋) which connects Miyako Island to Irabu Island, is Japan’s longest toll-free bridge. The bridge doesn’t just have an artistic shape, but the scenery from the bridge is just simply awe-inspiring! Irabu Bridge has a total length of 3,540 meters. With many coral reefs underneath and the breathtaking azure-colored ocean, any photo with
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Aizu-Wakamatsu is Aizu region‘s biggest city. Besides the area where Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle is located, Nanukamachi nearby is also worth checking out. Once a lively area until the late 19th century, the town preserves the historical vibe. In addition to shopping for local specialties and taking photos, it has a couple of cafes and restaurants perfect
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Miyakojima is one of the top destinations in Okinawa. But you might not be aware that there are a couple of smaller islands around Miyako Island, with three of them connected to Miyako-jima by a very long but majestic bridge! Ikema Island is one of the islands that can be reached from Miyako-jima without a
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