When people visit Semboku City in Akita Prefecture for leisure, their preferred natural destinations will most likely either be Nyūtō Onsen (乳頭温泉郷), Lake Tazawa (田沢湖), or Tamagawa Onsen (玉川温泉). While those spots are definitely worthwhile places to visit, we would recommend that you also drop by the Dakigaeri Valley (抱返り渓谷) close to Kakunodate (角館) as […]
Dakigaeri Valley And Its Mystical Turquoise Mountain Stream Read More »
Lake Tazawa (田沢湖) in Semboku City in Akita Prefecture, with a depth of 422.4 meters, is the deepest lake in Japan. The 6 kilometers wide caldera lake was formed due to a volcanic eruption. Because of its depth, the lake can absorb a lot of heat in summer that even in the snowy winter, its
Lake Tazawa – An Unfrozen Beautiful Azure Lake Read More »
For those who likes herbs, stop by Tazawako Herb Garden Heart Herb (田沢湖ハーブガーデン ハートハーブ) when you visit Lake Tazawa. The garden that is around a 10-minute walk from Tazawako Resthouse is filled with about 250 different types of plants, including herbs inclusive! Not only can you adore and smell the flowers and herbs in the
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Lake Tazawa isn’t just a scenic lake close to Kakunodate. The lake has a legend that a couple of the attraction on the lakeshore is related to it. And the center of the legend is associated with Gozanoishi Shrine (御座石神社). Not only can you worship the guardian god of Lake Tazawa here, but there are
Gozanoishi Shrine: Where Lake Tazawa’s God Is Enshrined Read More »
Just like its name, the houses where samurai used to reside are lining up on Bukeyashiki Street (武家屋敷通り) in Kakunodate! A couple of these 200-year-old traditional houses are open to the public. Finding the differences in the construction of the houses between the home of top-ranked samurai, middle-ranked samurai, and lower-ranked samurai can be really fun!
Bukeyashiki Street – Kakunodate’s Perfect Spot for History Buffs Read More »
Inujima (犬島) is an artistic island in Okayama City. Fine-quality copper and granite used to be produced from the island’s copper smelter and granite quarry. The foundation stones of famous castles, such as Osaka Castle, across Japan might be coming out from Inujima!
Inujima Island – The Artistic Island in Okayama Read More »
Saijō Inari (最上稲荷山妙教寺) in Okayama City is a special place as it is one of the only few spots in Japan that combine Buddhism and Shintoism. It is also one of the major Inari Shrines in the country (the other two are Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社) in Kyoto and Toyokawa Inari (豊川稲荷) in Aichi).
Saijō Inari – One of the Top Three Inari Shrine in Japan Read More »
For those who know a bit about Japanese folktales, you most likely have come across the story of Momotarō (桃太郎, “Peach Boy”). And if you haven’t, familiarise yourself with Momotarō’s heroic life before you come to Okayama, especially if you are paying a visit to Kibitsu Shrine (吉備津神社)!
Kibitsu Shrine – The Shrine that Represents Okayama Read More »
Many people know about Okayama because of the famous black Okayama Castle and the garden Kōrakuen, which was chosen to be one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. But the city is more than just these two top attractions. There is a shrine where you can hear a god’s answer in a boiling pot,
Your Ultimate Okayama City Travel Guide Read More »
If you like Japanese traditional gardens and the country’s magnificent castles, Okayama City, a 45-minute train ride away from Osaka, is an ideal destination for you to visit. Not only is Okayama Castle one of Japan’s Top 100 Castles, but its garden was chosen to be one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan!
The Complete Guide to Okayama Castle and Kōrakuen Garden Read More »
