Autumn Foliage

Sukawa-Kogen-Onsen-Ichinoseki-Iwate-Japan

Sukawa Kōgen: Ichinoseki’s Best Spot for Onsen and Hiking

Sukawa Kōgen (須川高原) in Ichinoseki is the plateau halfway up Mt. Kurikoma (栗駒山). You can find the unique volcanic landscape at Sukawa Kōgen, including lakes, marshes, wetlands, and alpine plants. The hot spring gushing out here has a strong acidity but is said to be effective for gastrointestinal issues and skin diseases. In autumn, the

Sukawa Kōgen: Ichinoseki’s Best Spot for Onsen and Hiking Read More »

Dakigaeri-Gorge-Akita-Japan

Dakigaeri Valley And Its Mystical Turquoise Mountain Stream

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 »

Ishiguro-Samurai-House-Bukeyashiki-Street-Kakunodate-Akita-Japan

Bukeyashiki Street – Kakunodate’s Perfect Spot for History Buffs

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 »

Kourakuen-Okayama-Japan-1

The Complete Guide to Okayama Castle and Kōrakuen Garden

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 »

Autumn-at-Unazuki-Onsen-Kurobe-Toyama-Japan

Unazuki Onsen: The Best Hot Spring Town at Kurobe Gorge

Unazuki Onsen (宇奈月温泉) in Kurobe City is a popular hot spring resort where you can enjoy the natural scenery of Kurobe Gorge. The hot spring town is the best place to base yourself in to take in what the picturesque gorge has to offer. Once you get there, it won’t be hard to understand why Kurobe

Unazuki Onsen: The Best Hot Spring Town at Kurobe Gorge Read More »

Kurobe-Kyokoku-Torroko-Train

The Best Guide to Kurobe Gorge’s Sightseeing Train

When you visit Kurobe Gorge (Kurobe Kyōkoku – 黒部峡谷), one of Japan’s top 100 Hidden Scenic Spots located in the mountains of the Northern Japan Alps, the Kurobe Kyōkoku Sightseeing Train (黒部峡谷鉄道トロッコ電車) is the experience that you don’t want to miss out on. The 20 km railway brings you a breathtaking scenic view of the gorge,

The Best Guide to Kurobe Gorge’s Sightseeing Train Read More »

Kurobe-Gorge-Unazuki-Station-Yamabiko-Lookout

Trek the Spectacular V-Shaped Kurobe Gorge

Kurobe Gorge (Kurobe Kyōkoku, 黒部峡谷) in Toyama Prefecture is one of Japan’s Top 100 Hidden Scenic Spots and the No.1 V-shaped Gorge in Japan! The gorge located from the middle to the upper stream of the Kurobe River divides the northern part of the Northern Japan Alps into the Ushiro-Tateyama Mountain Range (後立山連峰) and the Tateyama

Trek the Spectacular V-Shaped Kurobe Gorge Read More »