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 […]
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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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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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On the north of Ikema Island, there is a compact beach that includes all the elements of Miyakojima‘s beautiful beaches within a small area. The white sandy beach shore, the crystal clear azure color seawater, coral reefs, and tropical fishes can all be found at Funaks Beach (フナクスビーチ). You can even hide behind the big
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You might have heard of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the world’s largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs. Well, Japan has something similar, but just smaller in scale. The Japanese version of the Great Barrier Reef is the Yabiji Reef (八重干瀬), also known as Yae-Kise. It is located north of
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While Miyako-jima is most famous for its amazing beaches and being a watersport paradise, the island also has a place to enjoy onsen! Shigira Hot Spring (シギラ黄金温泉) is Japan’s southernmost hot spring. It is also one of the few spots in Japan where you can enjoy the onsen without getting fully naked. Because there is
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Close to the entrance of Nishihennazaki Cape, there is a salt museum you will want to drop by for the award-winning Miyako-jima Snow Salt! Miyakojima no Yukishio Museum (雪塩ミュージアム) may not seem big to you, but on weekends and public holidays, it can receive more than 1,000 visitors a day!
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The main reason to visit Miyako Island for many is most likely its stunning beaches. After all, the island often managed to fill in more than half of the spots of Japan’s top 10 beaches to visit. But, Miyako-jima is around 290km away from Okinawa‘s main island. So it also has its unique culture and
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Miyakojima City Museum (宮古島市総合博物館), located around 1km from Miyakojima Tropical Botanical Garden, is where the island’s important historical materials and daily utensils are stored and exhibited. Miyako Island‘s culture and tradition are introduced in a simple way that can be easily understood. Although all notations in the museum are in Japanese, there is an English
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We are all familiar with the idea of a dam. But have you heard of an underground dam? If you think the idea is unreal, you must stop by Miyakojima Underground Dam Museum (宮古島市 地下ダム資料館) when you visit Miyako-jima Island! The idea of an underground dam is simple. Instead of damming up rainwater, it is
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