Since its listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, Shirakawa-gō (白川郷), also known as Shirakawagō in Gifu Prefecture, has been considered one of the most popular getaway spots in Japan. Located in a remote mountainous region in central Japan, Shirakawago village and their people were known to be isolated and hidden from the […]
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Kamikōchi (上高地) in Japanese literally means “the ground that God descends upon”. It is the perfect name to describe how beautiful this area is. Surrounded by the magnificent Northern Japanese Alps, it is the ultimate tourist destination for nature lovers. There is not a single day that Kamikochi looks the same, because nature changes with
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Togakushi is a quaint village an hour from Nagano City Centre. Togakushi Shrine, also known as Togakushi Jinja (戸隠神社) in Japanese, is one of the main attractions in Nagano that no visitor should miss. The shrine, with its vast precinct, is surrounded by lush natural surroundings. It is the best place to visit to know
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Among the five shrines of Togakushi, the area around Togakushi Shrine Chusha (戸隠 中社) is the most lively. Along the Togakushi hiking trail, numerous restaurants and ryokans are situated near Togakushi Shrine Chusha. Togakushi Tourist Information Center (戸隠観光情報センター) is also situated near the Chusha shrine. If you plan to hike in Togakushi, we highly recommend
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Coming from the center of Nagano City, the first sub-shrine of the Togakushi Shrine you will encounter is the Hōkō-sha (戸隠神社 宝光社). Although the precinct of Hokosha is smaller than Togakushi Chusha Shrine, there are plenty of things to see at Togakushi Hokosha. Moreover, it might be the venue of the yearly Togakushi Soba Festival
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Your visit to Kamikōchi shouldn’t stop at Kappa Bridge. Trekking further for another hour upstream of the Azusa River from Kappa Bridge, you will reach the Myōjin Area. Here is the ground of God. Not sure if it is because this is where God lives, as the atmosphere around the area is distinctly different from
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Nagatoya (会津長門屋 七日町店) is one of the top traditional confectionery makers in Aizu. The maker, which opened in 1848, takes pride in its handmade sweets. Their Nanukamachi shop, located on Nanukamachi-dōri Street, opened in 2011. You will be amazed by the sweets on the shelf, especially by their infamous Fly Me to The Moon~Yōkan Fantasia! Apart
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Are you looking for a hidden gem that is too breathtaking to take your eyes off near Tokyo? While there are a couple of these spots, the one we love the most is the JR Tadami Line (只見線). It was chosen as Japan’s most scenic local train line. From the window of the local train
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If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Kyoto’s city center, Ikimi Tenmangū (生身天満宮) in Nantan City is a quiet shrine worth visiting. The shrine, surrounded by many 20-meter-tall cedars and plums, will certainly make you feel refreshed. Established in the 10th century, it is recognized as Japan’s oldest Tenmangū and is a
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Amanohashidate (天橋立), one of the Three Views of Japan (日本三景, Nihon Sankei), is a celebrated scenic site in Japan that many Japanese have on their bucket list to visit. It is the small Japanese towns to visit in Kyoto for stunning views throughout the year. There are cherry blossoms in spring and maple leaves in
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