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One-week Japan Itinerary for repeat visitors (1)

One-week Japan Itinerary for repeat visitors (1) (Miyagi, Iwate, Aomori and Fukushima Prefectures) To foreign travelers who have already been to Japan many times and would like to visit more places in Japan! We have created model routes outside the so-called “Golden Routes” such as Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Kyoto, and Osaka. Please use it as a reference for your future itineraries. The first route is a tour of Miyagi, Iwate, Aomori, and Fukushima Prefectures. We have created a travel route that starts and ends at Narita Airport (Haneda Airport is also possible), which takes 6 nights and 7 days. The total budget is Yen 200,000 or less. This itinerary allows you to visit two World Heritage sites. Specifically, Hiraizumi in Iwate Prefecture and the Jomon Ruins (Sannai-Maruyama Ruins) in Aomori Prefecture. In particular, we hope that you will visit Chuson-Ji Konjikido, where photography is prohibited, to see its beauty in person. The itinerary also includes one of the three most scenic spots in Japan, three national treasure buildings, five art museums, a manga museum, and a traditional festival museum. Table of Contents Day 1 (Chiba and Miyagi Prefectures) Day 2 (Miyagi Prefectures) Day 3 (Miyagi Prefectures) Day 4 (Iwate Prefecture)read moreOne-week Japan Itinerary for repeat visitors (1)

shiga kogen

Ski resorts with easy access from major cities

Ski resorts with easy access from major cities   English     繁体中文(traditional Chinese)     Skiing and snowboarding are probably one of the main objectives for foreign visitors traveling to Japan in winter. Japan’s snow resorts are world-renowned for the quality of their snow. We have created a ranking of accessibility within an hour’s travel time from major cities. Enjoy Japanese snow life to the fullest at these conveniently accessible snow resorts.   According to the Japan National Tourist Organisation’s survey of foreign visitors to Japan, 3.1% of foreign tourists experienced skiing and snowboarding in 2019; of the 31.88 million foreign visitors to Japan in 2019, it is estimated that 988,000 people experienced skiing and snowboarding. In contrast, five years ago, in 2014, an estimated 510,000 people experienced skiing/snowboarding, indicating a significant increase.   In addition, skiing/snowboarding jumps all the way up to 19.0% in the 2019 Survey of Foreign Visitor Consumption Trends in Japan in terms of ‘Things I want to do next time. These survey results show that the need for skiing/snowboarding in Japan in winter is very high.   According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s accommodation statistics (2019), the percentage of foreignersread moreSki resorts with easy access from major cities

Ikura

Ekiben available in Tokyo 4

  在東京即可購得的各地鐵路便當特輯來到了第4彈,這次也是選在新宿車站來購買鐵路便當。 從第1彈到這回第4彈,總共向大家介紹了40款鐵路便當,而這些鐵路便當大部分都是在新宿車站,也就是在第3彈時曾經跟大家介紹過的兩個站內便當店中購買到的,由此可知在新宿車站真的可以買到許多不同種類的鐵路便當。 「新宿車站就能買得到的鐵路便當」預計還有10款會在第5彈時介紹給大家,在第5彈之後,我希望能夠用這幾次在購買便當時所蒐集到的各種資料,與大家分享像是便當熱量排行這種有趣、特別的排行榜。     1. Ikura and grilled fatty salmon belly bento (Aomori Prefecture) 2. Gyu Ben (Beef bento) (Ibaraki Prefecture) 3. Makunouchi bento (Tokyo) 4. Sangenton tonkatsu bento (Tokyo) 5. Crab, salmon roe and grilled scallop bento (Tokyo) 6. Beef Bento (Tokyo) 7. Beef sukiyaki and grilled meat bento (Tokyo) 8. 30-item balanced bento (Tokyo) 9. Shinshu Beef Rice (Nagano Prefecture, Yamanashi Prefecture) 10. Sanzoku-yaki Bento (Nagano Prefecture, Yamanashi Prefecture)     1. Ikura and grilled fatty salmon belly bento (Aomori Prefecture) Features : Ekiben (Lunch box) at Hachinohe Station. A luxurious ekiben with grilled fatty salmon belly and plenty of salmon roe on top. Ekiben available : Shinjuku Station Price (incl. tax) : Yen1,480 Nutritional Information Calories (kcal) : 740.0Protein (g) : 39.0Fat (g) : 17.0Carbohydrate (g) : 107.0Salt equivalent (g) : 2.8 Main ingredients White rice (domestically produced rice)Grilled fatty salmon bellySalmon roe soaked in soy sauceSalmon flakesThick-omelettePickled nozawanaKyoto-style chopped vegetables pickled in salt with red shiso leaves   2. Gyu Ben (Beef bento) (Ibaraki Prefecture) Features : Ekiben (Lunch box) at Mito and Iwaki Stations in Ibaraki Prefecture. This sumptuous bento features a bed of shigureni (beef boiled and seasoned in soy sauce and sugar)read moreEkiben available in Tokyo 4

uni oyster

Ekiben available in Tokyo 3

Ekiben (lunch box) available in Tokyo 3 english list   This is the third post in a series of special features on ekiben available in Tokyo. This time, we purchased ekiben only at Shinjuku Station. There are two ekiben stores in Shinjuku Station. The first, which sells a larger variety of ekiben, is the Ekiben-ya Itadaki. It is located between Lines 11 and 12 and Lines 9 and 10 in the South Exit ticket gates of Shinjuku Station. It is open from 6:30 to 21:00 (as of 15:00 on 30 August 2022), which is a long opening hour, making it a good ekiben shop for travelers. Next is the Ekiben-ya Shinjuku 5 kiosk. It is located in the middle of platforms 9 and 10 where Chuo Line limited express trains arrive and depart. It is open from 6:30 to 20:00. Shinjuku Station has the highest number of passengers in the world, and many limited express trains arrive and depart from the station, so demand for ekiben is strong. Why not choose from a wide variety of ekiben at Shinjuku Station? The average daily number of passengers at Shinjuku Station, including JR, Odakyu, and Keio lines, is approximately 3.53 million (2017),read moreEkiben available in Tokyo 3

wheel chair

Wheelchair Accessible Accommodation

Wheelchair Accessible Accommodation   English list   Traveling in a wheelchair in Japan can be challenging. It is hard to find which destinations are accessible, especially barrier-free hotels.   This site is for those who want to visit Japan and have the best time in a wheelchair. We made a list of 9 hotels that provide various accessible features for travelers in a wheelchair, and what is the best is that they provide bathing support services.   So you can enjoy a cozy time in a traditional Japanese bath or Onsen. This list is credible because it is based on a survey conducted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism.   繁体字(Traditional chinese list)   在日本旅行時、乘坐輪椅的旅客可能會感到不便,並很難找到可以讓輪椅進入的地方,尤其是無障礙酒店。   這個網站是為了讓乘坐輪椅的旅客也能於日本無障礙地享受旅行、我們列出了 9 間能提供無障礙設施及服務的酒店,他們還能提供入浴的支援服務。您可以在傳統的日式浴池或温泉中享受舒適的時光。這份名單是参考了國土交通省的問卷調査而作成。     1. Suzunoyado Tofuya (Yamagata Prefecture) 2. Arimakan (Yamagata Prefecture) 3. Fuji Lake Hotel (Yamanashi Prefecture) 4. Saito Hotel (Nagano Prefecture) 5. Atagawa Prince Hotel ( Shizuoka Prefecture) 6. Seizanyamato ( Shizuoka Prefecture) 7. Senoumi (Shizuoka Prefecture) 8. Resort Hills Toyohama Sora no Kaze (Mie Prefecture) 9. Sentoro (Saga Prefecture)   1. Suzunoyado Tofuya Web : https://tofuya.jp/spot/eat/ Wheelchair Accessible Taxi : Taxi-Himawari, Imamura Taxi, Sanyu Kaigo Taxi    Place to Visit: Uesugi Shrine Note: Japanese famous samurai,read moreWheelchair Accessible Accommodation

国立西洋美術館

20 BEST Art Museum in Kanto

20 BEST Art Museum in Kanto Art museums in Kanto are treasure boxes for people who love art. As Kanto is the center of the country, Art museums in Kanto got the most searches and tags in this genre. We have created the ranking of 20 Best Art Museums in Kanto based on the search engines. Let’s go to Art museums when you travel to Kanto!    關東地區的美術館絕對是藝術愛好者的寶箱。 由於關東是日本的中心,因此理所當然地關東的美術館在這種類型的搜索中獲得了最多的搜索和標籤。 我們根據搜索引擎的資料為您整理了關東20家最佳美術館排名榜。 當您前往關東時,讓務必去一去美術館吧!   Hokkaido & Tohoku Tokyo, Ibaraki Prefecture, Kanagawa Prefecture, Gunma Prefecture, Chiba Prefecture   Ranking 1.  Mori Art Museum (Tokyo) 2. The National Art Center (Tokyo) 3. Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (Tokyo) 4. Shimodate Museum (Ibaraki Prefecture) 5. Hakone Open-Air Museum (Kanagawa Prefecture) 6. Tokyo National Museum (Tokyo) 7. TeamLab Planets TOKYO (Tokyo) 8. Tokyo Photographic Art Museum (Tokyo) 9. Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (Tokyo) 10. Yokohama Museum of Art (Kanagawa Prefecture) 11. Ghibli Museum, Mitaka (Tokyo) 12. Hara Museum ARC (Gunma Prefecture) 13. Ueno Royal Museum (Tokyo) 14. Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum (Tokyo) 15. Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum (Tokyo) 16. Chiba Art Museum (Chiba Prefecture) 17. National Museum of Western Art (Tokyo) 18. O Art Museum (Tokyo) 19. Hakone Museum of Art (Kanagawa Prefecture) 20. Yamatane Museumread more20 BEST Art Museum in Kanto

shaved ice

The BEST 5 Shaved ice in Chugoku & Shikoku

The BEST 5 Kakigori – Shaved ice (Japanese Traditional Summer Dessert, Chugoku & Shikoku)   english list   One of the best things in Japanese summer is Kakigori, which is a traditional Japanese ice dessert served with various syrups or fruits. It is honestly the best refreshing food during Japan’s hot and humid summer.   There are tons of cafes or restaurants that serve Kakigori so it is difficult to decide which one to go to. So we picked the best 3 or 5 Shaved Ice Stores for each prefecture based on the number of accesses on food reviews sites and the number of web searches. Some of them are located in parks or zoos, where you can enjoy it with your children.   On this page, we picked the best Kakigori from the Chugoku and Shikoku regions, a total of 9 prefectures. Why don’t you try this Japanese summer dessert when you travel there?   繁體字(traditional chinese list)   日本的夏天最好就是配上冷冰冰的刨冰(かき氷)了。那是一種淋上各種糖漿或水果的傳統日本冰甜點。這大概是對付在日本夏季的炎熱天氣來説最好的食物吧! 在日本賣刨冰的店可説是數之不盡,要去哪一家想必也令大家頭痛。   但是不用擔心,我們根據食評網站的引用次數和網絡搜索引擎的搜尋次數,為大家整理出在每個縣市精選了3至5家最佳刨冰店,當中既有在公園也有在動物園內的刨冰店,適合一家老少一起去享受!當你夏天來日本旅行時,也來試試這種冷冰冰的日本夏季特色甜點吧!   在這篇文章,我們為您從中國・四國地區總共 8 個縣中,挑選了最好的刨冰 Chugoku (Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi) Tottori 1. Kissa Beniya 2. Sankaku Goori 3. Obanyaki Ueda   Shimane 1. Watanabe 2. Takozen   Okayama  1. Arigatou Farm 2. Rikkaen 3. Omachido 4.read moreThe BEST 5 Shaved ice in Chugoku & Shikoku

十和田現代美術館

10 BEST Art Museum in Hokkaido & Tohoku

10 BEST Art Museum in Hokkaido & Tohoku       Japan’s local museums are treasure boxes for people who love art. They got a number of searches and tags and some of them are higher than the ones in big cities such as Tokyo. For example, for the number of tags of The Miyagi Museum of Art, there were 12,000~ in SNS. If you recognize that the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo is only 15,000 tags in SNS, you will know that 12,000~tags is a huge number for a local museum.     日本鄕下的美術館絕對是藝術愛好者的寶箱。 它們獲得了大量的搜索量和標籤數,其中一些更高於東京等大城市。例如宮城美術館在SNS上的tags數就有12,000。如果你知道連東京都現代美術館都只有 15,000 個tags數時,你就會明白 12,000~個tags數對於一個地方美術館來說是一個巨大的數字了。   Hokkaido & Tohoku Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Yamagata   Ranking 1.The Miyagi Museum of Art (Miyagi prefecture) 2. Yamagata Museum of Art (Yamagata prefecture) 3. Towada Art Center (Aomori prefecture) 4. Aomori Museum Of Art (Aomori prefecture) 5. Rokuhana Forest (Hokkaido) 6. Sapporo Art Park (Hokkaido) 7. Iwate Museum of Art (Iwate prefecture) 8. Otaru Municipal Museum of Art (Hokkaido) 9. Hokkaido Asahikawa Museum of Art (Hokkaido) 10. Hokkaido Museum of Art (Hokkaido)   1. The Miyagi Museum of Art (Miyagi prefecture) Address : 34-1, Kawauchi-Motohasekura, Aoba-ku, Sendai URL : https://www.pref.miyagi.jp/site/museum-en/index.html 2. Yamagata Museum of Art (Yamagata prefecture) Address : 1-63 Otemachiread more10 BEST Art Museum in Hokkaido & Tohoku

cyclist

Best 100 cycling roads in Japan

Best 100 cycling road in Japan      We present the model routes for cycle tourism set by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport. We have now listed 100 model routes. The Japanese Government designated six “NATIONAL CYCLE ROUTES,” of 100 routes, which meet strict standards in terms of both tangible and intangible. We looked at English and traditional Chinese websites for foreigners who do not fully understand Japanese to experience cycle tourism in Japan. As a result, we listed 60 English websites and 46 traditional Chinese websites with links. Foreign travelers can easily understand the foreign language websites of Okayama and Fukuoka prefectures. Both prefectures have a wide variety of cycling routes, making them a good choice for many cyclists. As travelers need to rent bicycles, we have also listed 66 sites where we were able to find information on bike rental on their official websites. We hope that you will include cycle tourism as one of your travel options in Japan. 這次將為各位介紹國土交通省制定的100條自行車旅遊示範路線。並且其中 6 條為日本政府嚴格篩選、符合標準路線的指定“全國自行車道”。 我們搜索了各自行車路線的英文及中文網站,以便不懂日文的旅客能於日本體驗自行車旅遊。現時已發布了 60 個英文網站及 46 個中文網站。 岡山縣和福岡縣均設有翻譯網站以便外國遊客閱覧。兩個縣均有多種自行車路線,因此非常推薦給許多騎自行車的人。 此外,我們也考量到各位旅客可能需要租用自行車,並於官方網站上發布了 66 個提供自行車租用服務的網站。期待各位旅客能把自行車旅遊作為到訪日本理由之一。   National Cycle Route Hokkaido & Tohoku Hokkaido, Miyagi, Fukushima Kanto Ibaraki, Tochigi, Chiba, Kanagawa Chubu Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Yamanashi, Nagano, Shizuoka, Aichiread moreBest 100 cycling roads in Japan

crane

Summary of July itinerary in Japan (Hokkaido)

Summary of July itinerary in Japan (Hokkaido) From Saturday, July 2 to Monday, July 4, I traveled to Hokkaido (Kushiro and Akkeshi). On this trip, I was able to eat more seasonal seafood and local cuisine than on any previous trip. I was also able to enjoy the great national parks at Lake Akan and the Kushiro Marshland, as well as the wonderful flora and fauna, including nationally protected species like the marimo and the Japanese (tancho) crane. Even in early July, when it was extremely hot in Japan, the temperatures in Kushiro and Akkeshi were 5 to 10°C cooler than in Honshu, making it the perfect summer vacation. I strongly recommend this itinerary for July in Japan. Here is a summary of the trip and some notes.   Table of contents 1.”100 best of local dishes” and “Local dishes loved by the nation” by this itinerary in Japan 2. Seasonal “PRIDE FISH” by this itinerary in Japan 3. Travel precautions for the itinerary in Japan 4. Travel in a light style 5. July 2 (Saturday) Day 1 6. July 3 (Sunday) Day 2 7. July 4 (Monday) Day 3   Again, each time, this itinerary was also created withread moreSummary of July itinerary in Japan (Hokkaido)

Crane Park

July itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Hokkaido)

July itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Hokkaido) (Monday, July 4th)   Table of contents 1. Kushiro Shitsugen (Kushiro Marshland) 2. Kushiro Japanese Crane Reserve   1. Kushiro Shitsugen (Kushiro Marshland) On the last day of my trip to Kushiro and Akkeshi, I went to Kushiro Marshland by “Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko-go“. The Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko-go I used is as follows. Depart Kushiro Station at 11:06,  arrive at Kushiro Shitsugen Station at 11:32,  Fare Yen 440 The “Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko-go” has unreserved seats in Car No. 1 and reserved seats in Cars No. 2 to 4. Cars No. 2 to 4 are observation cars with large windows, so you can fully enjoy the view of Kushiro Marshland. The observation car (reserved seat) costs Yen 530 in addition to the fare, but it is worth it. There are two types of seats in the observation car (reserved seats): box seats and bench seats for two. Bench seats are located on the right side of the train in the direction of travel, at right angles to the window, so they offer a better view of the scenery. However, it is the box seats that offer the best view of Kushiro Marshland. Box seats areread moreJuly itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Hokkaido)

Oyster

July itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hokkaido Meal edition)

July itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hokkaido Meal edition) (Sunday, July 3)   Table of Contents 1.  Oyster Bar Pitresk (Conchiglie) 2. Charcoal Grill Aburiya (Conchiglie) 3. Azumaya Kawakita Branch   1.  Oyster Bar Pitresk (Conchiglie) After finishing sightseeing in Akkeshi in the morning, I had raw oysters at Oyster Bar Pitresk in the Akkeshi Taste Terminal “Conchiglie” while drinking Akkeshi Whiskey. It is an alternative to a waiting bar before lunch. “Oysters from Akkeshi” (season: May-August, December-February) are Hokkaido’s summer “PRIDE FISH” as selected by Japan Fisheries Co-operative. The year-round low sea water temperature in Akkeshi makes it possible to ship oysters year-round. There is an island called Oyster Island (officially Benten Island) in Lake Akkeshi where oysters are cultivated. “Oysters from Akkeshi” are actually delicious from fall to winter when the meat becomes plump and tasty, but since Akkeshi is the only area where oysters can be eaten in summer, it is chosen as the “PRIDE FISH” of summer. The whisky produced at the Akkeshi Distillery is also a specialty of Akkeshi. Akkeshi Distillery started distilling whisky in October 2016 with a strong desire to “make whisky like Islay malt using traditional Scottish methods. Two years after theread moreJuly itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hokkaido Meal edition)

Kushiro sunset

July itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hokkaido)

July itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hokkaido) (Sunday, July 3)   Table of Contents 1. Kokutaiji Temple 2. Akkeshi Shrine 3. Shogyoji Temple 4. Akkeshi Taste Terminal, Conchiglie 5. Akkeshi-Ohashi Bridge 6. Lupin the Third Wrapping Train 7. Flower Clock and Kushiro Sunset     1. Kokutaiji Temple I headed from Kushiro City to Akkeshi-cho to fully enjoy sightseeing in Akkeshi on July 3 (Sun.). I used the following transportation to Akkeishi-cho. Depart Kushiro Station at 8:18,  Nemuro Line “bound for Nemuro Station”,  arrive at Akkeshi Station at 9:11,  Fare Yen 1,130 After arriving at Akkeshi Station, I immediately changed to a bus and headed for Kokutaiji Temple. The transportation I used was as follows. Depart Akkeshi station at 9:15,  Kokutaiji line,  arrive at  Kokutaiji Temple at 9:22,  Fare Yen 170 Kokutaiji Temple was built by the Edo Shogunate in 1804 and is one of the three official temples in Ezo. The other two are Usu Zenkoji Temple (Date City) and Samani Tojuin Temple (Samani Town). The three official temples in Ezo were intended to provide funeral rites for Japanese who died in Ezo (present-day Hokkaido) and to propagate Buddhism to the Ainu people. They were also meant as aread moreJuly itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hokkaido)

Ainu theater

July itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hokkaido)

July itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hokkaido) (Saturday, July 2)   Table of Contents 1. Ainu Kotan 2. Lake Akan Cruise 3. Ainu Theater 4. Nusamai Bridge   1. Ainu Kotan I traveled to Kushiro City and Akkeshi City in Hokkaido for three days and two nights from July 2 (Sat) to 4 (Mon). Of course, we also delivered our luggage and enjoyed “luggage-free travel” on this trip. Flights from Haneda Airport to Kushiro Airport are as follows Depart Haneda Airport at 8:05,  JAL541, arrive at Kushiro Airport at 9:40 Kushiro Airport is nicknamed “Tancho Kushiro Airport”. It is named after the red-crowned cranes that breed in the Kushiro Marshlands and other areas around Kushiro. A crane monument is placed at the bus stop after arriving at Kushiro Airport. I took a bus from Kushiro Airport to Lake Akan. The bus I used is as follows. Depart Kushiro Airport at 10:00,  Airport Liner No.1,  arrive at Akanko Onsen at 11:15,  Fare Yen 2,190 It takes 45 minutes (about 20 km) from Kushiro Airport to Kushiro Station. On the other hand, the distance from Kushiro Airport to Lake Akan is 55 km, more than twice the distance from Kushiro Station, butread moreJuly itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hokkaido)

Sumiyoshi taisha

Summary of June itinerary in Japan ( Osaka, Kyoto )

Summary of June itinerary in Japan ( Osaka, Kyoto )   I traveled to Osaka, Kyoto, and Aichi Prefectures from Wednesday, June 8 to Friday, June 10. On this trip, I was able to eat a lot of seasonal seafood and local cuisine such as sea bass and sweetfish, and visit wonderful sightseeing spots such as world heritage sites, national treasures, and national important cultural properties. I strongly recommend that you travel in June, especially in Osaka, Kyoto, and Aichi Prefectures, which are not suitable for travel in July and August due to the extremely hot weather. Here is a summary of our trip and some notes.   Table of contents 1.”100 best of local dishes” and “Local dishes loved by the nation” by this itinerary in Japan 2. Seasonal “PRIDE FISH” by this itinerary in Japan 3. Travel precautions for itinerary in Japan 4. Travel in a light style 5. June 8 (Wednesday) Day 1 6. June 9 (Thursday) Day 2 7. June 10 (Friday) Day 3   Again, each time, this itinerary was also created with the objective of “eating all the seasonal seafood and local cuisine”. Food is the first priority, and sightseeing spots are second. Nevertheless,read moreSummary of June itinerary in Japan ( Osaka, Kyoto )

Miyama's Thatched Village

June itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Kyoto, Aichi prefecture)

June itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Kyoto, Aichi prefecture) (Friday, June 10)   Table of contents 1. Miyama’s Thatched Village (Kayabuki-no-Sato) 2. Miyama folklore museum 3. Chii Hachiman Shrine 4. Kobayashi Family Residence 5. Nagoya City Hall / Aichi Prefectural Office   1. Miyama’s Thatched Village (Kayabuki-no-Sato) I went to Miyama, Nantan City, Kyoto Prefecture, in the morning on June 10. The transportation I used was as follows Depart Kyoto Station at 8:04,  San-in Line “bound for Sonobe”,  arrive at Sonobe Station at 8:51 Depart Sonobe Station at 8:52,  San-in Line “bound for Goma”,  arrive at Hiyoshi Station at 9:01 Depart Hiyoshi Station at 9:10,   Miyama Sonobe Line “bound for Kyu Chii Elementary School”,  arrive at Miyama Clinic at 9:45 Total fare: Yen 1,370 I got off at the Miyama Clinic bus stop and rented a bicycle at the Kyoto Tamba Kogen Quasi-National Park Visitor Center to go to Miyama’s Thatched Village (Kayabuki-no-Sato). Electric bicycles were Yen 1,500 per day. However, the price will double to Yen 3,000 per day from July 1, 2022. The Kyoto Tamba Kogen Quasi-National Park Visitor Center (bike rental office) offers free luggage storage. It took about 20 minutes to get to “Miyama’s Thatched Villageread moreJune itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Kyoto, Aichi prefecture)

Toji

June itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Kyoto prefecture)

June itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Kyoto prefecture) (Thursday, June 9)   Table of contents 1. Toji Temple 2. Fushimi Inari Taisha 3. Hotoji Temple 4. Tofukuji Temple 5. Saisho Kongoin Temple / Funda-in (Sesshuji Temple) 6. Unryu-in 7. Sennyuji Temple   1. Toji Temple I went to Toji Temple at 8:00 in the morning on June 9. Toji Temple is registered as a World Heritage site as a component of “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities),” and its Kondo and five-story pagoda are designated as national treasure buildings. The five-story pagoda of Toji Temple is visible from the Shinkansen, making it the most viewed temple by visitors to Kyoto. Toji Temple was founded in 796. It was built as an national temple for the protection of the Heian-kyo capital. Later, in 823, Emperor Saga bestowed Toji Temple to Kukai (Kobo Daishi), who made it the Konpon Dojo (fundamental training hall) of Shingon esoteric Buddhism. Toji Temple is the only remaining structure from the Heian-kyo period. Due to several fires, no buildings from the time of its foundation remain in Toji Temple. However, the orderly arrangement of the temple buildings in a straight line from south toread moreJune itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Kyoto prefecture)

Kanshinji Temple

June itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Osaka prefecture)

June itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Osaka prefecture) (Wednesday, June 8)   Table of contents 1. Tsutenkaku Tower 2. Yasui Shrine 3. Shoman-in 4. Shitennoji Temple 5. Sumiyoshi Taisha 6. Kanshinji Temple 7. Eboshigata Hachiman Shrine 8. Nagano Shrine   1. Tsutenkaku Tower Traveled to Osaka and Kyoto prefectures from June 8th (Wednesday) to 10th (Friday). It was a sunny day for all three days on the trip just before the rainy season. I often cycled around sightseeing spots on all three days, and my face and arms were tanned black. On Wednesday, June 8th, I flew from Haneda Airport to Itami Airport, took a limousine bus to Osaka City, and then went around sightseeing spots in Osaka. The transportation I used are as follows. Depart Haneda Airport at 7:30,  JAL103,  arrive at Itami Airport at 8:35 Depart Itami Airport at 9:05,  limousine bus “bound for Namba Station”,  arrive at Namba Station at 9:30,  Fare Yen 650 The limousine bus is fast and convenient from Itami Airport to Namba Station. Since the limousine bus uses the highway, it only takes 25 minutes from Itami Airport to Namba Station. By the way, it takes 16 minutes by subway from Shin-Osaka stationread moreJune itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Osaka prefecture)

sweatfish

Summary of May itinerary in Japan (Kumamoto trip)

Summary of May itinerary in Japan (Kumamoto trip) I travelled to Kumamoto Prefecture (partly Fukuoka Prefecture) from Tuesday, 17 May to Thursday, 19 May. On this trip I was able to eat a lot of seasonal seafood and local cuisine and visit wonderful tourist attractions such as World Heritage Sites, national treasures and national important cultural properties. As my main objective was to eat local cuisine, I was able to eat more local dishes than I have on previous trips. I would strongly recommend this May Japan itinerary to everyone. A summary of this trip and some notes are reported below.   Table of contents 1.”100 best of local dishes” and “Local dishes loved by the nation” by this itinerary in Japan 2. Seasonal “PRIDE FISH” by this itinerary in Japan 3. Travel precautions for itinerary in Japan 4. Travel in a light style 5. May 17 (Tuesday) Day 1 6. May 18 (Wednesday) Day 2 7. May 19 (Thursday) Day 3   As I repeat every time, this itinerary was also created with the purpose of “eating out seasonal fish and shellfish and local dishes.” Food is the highest priority, and tourist destinations are the second priority. However, Iread moreSummary of May itinerary in Japan (Kumamoto trip)

manda

May itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Kumamoto prefecture)

May itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Kumamoto prefecture) (Thursday, May 19)   Table of contents 1. Einoo Tsurugi Shrine 2. Misumi Port Ferry Terminal (Pyramid of the Sea) 3. Misumi Station 4. Misumi West Port 5. Miike Coal Mine Manda Pit 6. Miike Coal Mine Miyanohara Pit   1. Einoo Tsurugi Shrine I went to “Einoo Tsurugi Shrine”, which is about a 10-minute walk from the accommodation “Kappo Ryokan Shoukin-kan” on the morning of May 19th. Einoo Tsurugi Shrine was founded in 713. It is said that Kaidogami (Tamayori-Hime) came on the back of a huge “Ray (Batoidea)” and was enshrined. At the dinner I had at Nishiki Sushi the day before, the master told me about Einoo Tsurugi Shrine. Residents around Einoo Tsurugi Shrine still do not eat “Ray (Batoidea)” as a god’s companion. A torii stood in the sea overlooking the Shiranui Sea. The precincts of Einoo Tsurugi Shrine (Uki City) are known as a viewing point for the Shiranui phenomenon. It has been designated as a national scenic spot as “Shiranui and Mizushima”. In 2022, the Shiranui phenomenon is scheduled to appear on the night of August 26th.   2. Misumi Port Ferry Terminal (Pyramid of theread moreMay itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Kumamoto prefecture)

kumamon

May itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Kumamoto prefecture)

May itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Kumamoto prefecture) (Wednesday, May 18)   Table of contents 1. Shin-Yatsushiro Station / Yatsushiro Station 2. Kumamon Port Yatsushiro 3. Former Gunchiku-Shinchi Kogo sluice gate 4. Yatsushiro Municipal Museum 5. Shohinken 6. Yatsushiro Castle Ruins / Yatsushiro-gu 7. Ryuo Shrine 8. Shunkoji Temple 9. Yatsushiro Shrine (Myoken shrine)   1. Shin-Yatsushiro Station / Yatsushiro Station I moved from Hitoyoshi City to Yatsushiro City in the morning of May 18th (Wednesday). The transportation I used is as follows. Depart Hitoyoshi IC at 9:54,  highway bus “bound for Shin-Yatsushiro station”,  arrive at Shin-Yatsushiro station at 10:34 Depart Shin-Yatsushiro Station at 10:46, Kagoshima Main Line “bound for Yatsushiro”,  arrive at Yatsushiro station at 10:50,  total fare Yen 1,590 At Shin-Yatsushiro Station, there is Kumamon with a fireworks shaku ball. Kumamon with this shaku ball is named after the “Yatsushiro National Fireworks Competition Festival“. The “Yatsushiro National Fireworks Competition Festival” is held in October every year. In Yatsushiro City, there are more than 100 Kumamon in the city. There is also a Kumamon map. I didn’t know in advance that there were so many Kumamon in Yatsushiro, but I did see so many Kumamon in the city. Ifread moreMay itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Kumamoto prefecture)

Aoi shrine

May itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Kumamoto Prefecture)

May itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Kumamoto Prefecture) (Tuesday, May 17)   Table of contents 1. Aoi Aso Shrine 2. Oikami Shrine, Hitoyoshi Castle Ruins 3. Iwaya-kumanoza Shrine 4. bridges, railroad tracks 5. Gansei-ji Temple 6. Kamada Shoyury / Tateyama Shop 7. Hitoyoshi Railway Museum, Hitoyoshi Station 8. Yamada Daio Shrine   1. Aoi Aso Shrine I traveled to Kumamoto prefecture from May 17th (Tuesday) for 2 nights and 3 days. First, I flew from Haneda Airport to Kagoshima Airport. The planes I used are as follows. Depart Haneda Airport at 7:40,  ANA2471,  arrive at Kagoshima Airport at 9:30 When I arrived at Kagoshima Airport, there was a footbath called “Oyattosa” near the bus stop. The great thing about “Oyattosa” is that people in wheelchairs can use the footbath while riding in a wheelchair. I think it’s a great initiative. I went to Hitoyoshi City by limousine bus. The limousine bus I used are as follows. Kagoshima Airport is overwhelmingly closer to Hitoyoshi City than Kumamoto Airport, so I used Kagoshima Airport. Depart Kagoshima Airport at 9:45,  arrive at Hitoyoshi IC at 10:37,  Fare Yen 1,420 After arriving in Hitoyoshi city, I had lunch and rented a bicycle to seeread moreMay itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Kumamoto Prefecture)

Bonito no tataki

Summary of April itinerary in Japan ( Kochi, Ehime )

Summary of April itinerary in Japan ( Kochi, Ehime )   I traveled to Kochi and Ehime prefectures from April 18th (Monday) to April 21st (Thursday). On this trip, I was able to eat a lot of seasonal seafood such as first bonito of season and local dishes such as Uwajima Tai-meshi. In addition, I was able to visit many wonderful tourist destinations such as national treasures, national important cultural properties, and national Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings. This is the April Japan itinerary that I highly recommend to everyone. Here is a summary of this trip and some notes. As I repeat every time, this itinerary was also created with the purpose of “eating out seasonal fish and shellfish and local dishes.” Food is the highest priority, and tourist destinations are the second priority. However, I aimed to visit as many tourist spots as possible, such as national treasures, national important cultural properties , and national Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings.   Table of contents 1.”100 best of local dishes” and “Local dishes loved by the nation” by this itinerary in Japan 2. Seasonal “PRIDE FISH” by this itinerary in Japan 3. Travelread moreSummary of April itinerary in Japan ( Kochi, Ehime )

Taisanji Temple

April itinerary in Japan Day 4 (Ehime Prefecture)

April itinerary in Japan Day 4 (Ehime Prefecture) (Thursday, April 21)   Table of contents 1. Taisanji Temple 2. Taihoji Temple 3. Bansuiso 4. Matsuyama Castle, Ishiteji Temple, Dogo Onsen (for 2020 visit)   1. Taisanji Temple I went to Taisanji Temple on the morning of April 21st (Thursday). The transportation from the Okaido where I was staying to Taisanji Temple is as follows. Depart city hall at 8:33,  Iyotetsu Bus “bound for the Driver’s License Center”,  arrive at Katamawari at 9:05,  Fare Yen 720 It takes about 15 minutes on foot from the Katamawari bus stop to the Taisanji main hall. It is a little over 5 minutes on foot to the Ninomon (Deva gate), which is a national important cultural property, but you need to walk a gentle slope for about 10 minutes from the Ninomon to the main hall of Taisanji Temple. The slope to the main hall gets tired when we walk. It was sung in a Buddhist pilgrim’s hymn as “If you go up to Taisan, you may sweat. No suffering shall later come the next life”. Ninomon (Deva gate) is an eight-legged gate built by Irimoya (building with a gabled, hipped roof), which wasread moreApril itinerary in Japan Day 4 (Ehime Prefecture)

Garyu

April itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Ehime Prefecture)

April itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Ehime Prefecture) (Wednesday, April 20)   Table of contents 1. Uwajima Historical Museum / Kabasaki Battery Site 2. Warei Shrine / Taga Shrine 3. Tensha-en Garden, Nanyo Gokoku Shrine, Kiya Ryokan 4. Uno-machi cityscape 5. Ozu cityscape 6. Uchiko cityscape   1. Uwajima Historical Museum / Kabasaki Battery Site In the morning of April 20th (Wednesday), I rented a bicycle at the Uwajima City Tourist Information Center “Shiroshita” and went around the city of Uwajima. I think that the rental cycle is the best because the distance for sightseeing in Uwajima city is too long to go around on foot and the number of buses is small for going around by bus. Uwajima City Tourist Information Center “Shiroshita” is a new facility that just opened in August 2021 at the entrance of Uwajima Castle. The rental cycle fee is Yen 2,000 a day for GIANT’s E-bike. The Uwajima Historical Museum has been relocated and used as a building built as the Uwajima Police Station in 1884. The light pink building creates a soft atmosphere that does not seem to be a former police station. The architectural style is pseudo-Western style architecture. It is aread moreApril itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Ehime Prefecture)

rice field

April itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Kochi, Ehime)

April itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Kochi, Ehime) (Tuesday, April 19)   Table of contents 1. Shimanto River Cycling 2. Ekawasaki Station 3. Matsumaru Station 4. Okuuchi rice terraces (Yuzuriha rice terraces) 5. Uwajima Station 6. Uwajima Castle     1. Shimanto River Cycling I went cycling on the Shimanto River from 8 am on April 19th (Tuesday). It is a 42km long-distance cycling from Nakamura station downstream to Ekawasaki station upstream. It is exactly the same distance as the marathon course. Since it is a “luggage-free trip”, it is possible to cycle by dropping off (borrowing at Nakamura Station and returning at Ekawasaki Station).  The route goes upstream of the river, but the slope is so gentle that it didn’t bother me. It took three and a half hours. I thought there were other cyclists besides me, but I never saw them. I rented a bicycle at the Shimanto Tourism Association at Nakamura Station the day before for a fee of Yen 2,000 for 24 hours, so I was able to leave the hotel in the morning. The Shimanto River is the longest river in Shikoku with a total length of 196 km. It is the 11th longest riverread moreApril itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Kochi, Ehime)

不破八幡宮の本殿

April itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Kochi Prefecture)

April itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Kochi Prefecture) (Monday, April 18)   Table of contents 1. Kochi Prefectural Kochi Otemae High School 2. Landscape of Kure Port and Fisherman Town 3. Kure Hachimangu Shrine 4. Nishioka Brewery 5. Ichijo Shrine 6. Fuba Hachimangu Shrine   1. Kochi Prefectural Kochi Otemae High School I traveled to Kochi and Ehime prefectures from April 18th (Monday) for 3 nights and 4 days. This time as well, I sent my luggage to my travel destination and enjoyed the “Luggage-free trip”. I flew from Haneda Airport to Kochi Ryoma Airport. The planes I used are as follows. Depart Haneda Airport at 7:55,  ANA561,  arrive at Kochi Ryoma Airport at 9:15 Planes before takeoff were lined up at Haneda Airport. I could see the Yokohama Bay Bridge from the plane, but after that I couldn’t enjoy the scenery with the clouds. However, the weather improved over Kochi, and I was able to enjoy the view of Kochi Prefecture from the sky. I arrived at Kochi Ryoma Airport and took a limousine bus to Kochi Station. The limousine buses I used are as follows. Depart Kochi Ryoma Airport at 9:20,  Limousine Bus Kochi Airport Line,  arrive atread moreApril itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Kochi Prefecture)

Shirakawago

Create an itinerary to tourist destinations by JNTO No.7

Create an itinerary to tourist destinations recommended by JNTO   No.7 The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)’s wonderful Japanese guidebook “100 EXPERIENCES IN JAPAN” does not include “traffic information” for public transportation. In order to make a better itinerary for overseas travelers, we will post traffic information for arriving at the tourist spots listed in “100 EXPERIENCES IN JAPAN” from Tokyo Station and Osaka Station by 12:00 noon as much as possible. Traffic information, travel time, and fares are based on Google map and Yahoo route information. Please contact us if your desired arrival time is different or if you have traffic information from places other than Tokyo Station and Osaka Station.   RELAXATION Table of contents for RELAXATION 1. Luxury floating ryokan in Setouchi (Hiroshima Prefecture) 2. Stayover at this unique new Yamagata concept hotel (Yamagata Prefecture) 3. A night to remember at a traditional boathouse (Kyoto Prefecture) 4. Paradise awaits at a UNESCO world heritage site (Kagoshima Prefecture) 5. Starlit camping on the Goto Islands (Nagasaki Prefecture) 6. Luxury lodging in Japan’s paradise (Okinawa Prefecture) 7. Embrace rural charm in one of Japan’s most scenic villages (Gifu Prefecture) 8. Heartwarming farm stays in rural Japan (Akita Prefecture) 9. Loseread moreCreate an itinerary to tourist destinations by JNTO No.7

towada art center

Create an itinerary to tourist destinations by JNTO No.6

Create an itinerary to tourist destinations recommended by JNTO   No.6 The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)’s wonderful Japanese guidebook “100 EXPERIENCES IN JAPAN” does not include “traffic information” for public transportation. In order to make a better itinerary for overseas travelers, we will post traffic information for arriving at the tourist spots listed in “100 EXPERIENCES IN JAPAN” from Tokyo Station and Osaka Station by 12:00 noon as much as possible. Traffic information, travel time, and fares are based on Google map and Yahoo route information. Please contact us if your desired arrival time is different or if you have traffic information from places other than Tokyo Station and Osaka Station.   ART Table of contents for ART 1. Voted as the best Japanese garden in the world (Shimane Prefecture) 2. Experience the wonder of art on a canvas of islands! (Kagawa Prefecture) 3. A world-class modern art museum in the heart of scenic Aomori (Aomori Prefecture) 4. Create your own lacquerware masterpiece to take home (Fukui Prefecture) 5. The secrets of bonsai unveiled:living works of art (Saitama Prefecture) 6. East Asian art galore in a striking, scenic setting (Kanagawa Prefecture) 7. Explore Japan’s rich history of cultural exchange withread moreCreate an itinerary to tourist destinations by JNTO No.6

Myooin

Summary of March itinerary in Japan (Hiroshima, Okayama)

Summary of March itinerary in Japan (Hiroshima, Okayama)   I traveled to Hiroshima and Okayama prefectures from March 22nd (Tuesday) to March 25th (Friday). I was able to eat a lot of seasonal fish and shellfish and local dishes, and visited wonderful tourist destinations such as World Heritage Sites, National Treasures, National Important Cultural Properties, and National Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings on this trip. It was the most visited tourist destination in the four-day domestic trip so far. I was able to enjoy fresh seafood such as seasonal oysters and agricultural products unique to the production areas such as Kuwai (sagittaria rhizome, Fukuyama City) and Yellow Chinese chives (Kurashiki City), which are overwhelmingly produced in Japan on this trip. In addition, I was able to eat Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki and Onomichi ramen, which are typical local gourmet foods. This is the March Japan itinerary that I highly recommend to everyone. Here is a summary of this trip and some notes.   Table of contents 1.”100 best of local dishes” and “Local dishes loved by the nation” by this itinerary in Japan 2. Seasonal “PRIDE FISH” by this itinerary in Japan 3. Travel precautions for itinerary in Japan 4.read moreSummary of March itinerary in Japan (Hiroshima, Okayama)

Abuto Kannon

March itinerary in Japan Day 4 (Hiroshima, Okayama)

March itinerary in Japan Day 4 (Hiroshima, Okayama) (Friday, March 25)   Table of contents 1. Stone light house 2. Ota family residence 3. Hosenji Temple, Myorenji Temple, Nunakuma Shrine, Ankokuji Temple 4. Masuya Seiemon House, Ryoma’s hidden room 5. Fukuzenji Temple, Taichoro 6. Bandaiji Temple, Abuto Kannon 7. Myooin Temple 8. Kusado Inari Shrine 9. Ohashi family residence 10. Ohara Museum of Art, Shin-Kojima-Kan (provisional name) 11. Walk around Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter 12. Former Ohara’s house, Yurinso   1. Stone light house I went to Tomonoura by bus from Fukuyama Station on the morning of March 25. The buses I used are as follows. Depart Fukuyama Station at 8:20,  Tomo Railway Bus “bound for Tomo Port”,  arrive at Tomonoura at 8:50,  fare Yen 530 I got off at Tomonoura bus stop, but if you want to start walking around the all‐night light stone lantern, it is more convenient to get off at Tomo Port bus stop, which is the end point. The Tomonoura Tourist Information Center is just off the Tomonoura bus stop. You should get off at Tomonoura bus stop to collect tourist information. Tomonoura is an old town that has been a village since ancient times,read moreMarch itinerary in Japan Day 4 (Hiroshima, Okayama)

Jodoji Temple

March itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Hiroshima prefecture)

March itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Hiroshima prefecture) (Thursday, March 24)   Table of contents 1. Takehara Preservation District of Important Historical Buildings 2. Taketsuru Sake Brewery 3. Shunpu-kan / Fukko-kan 4. Onomichi Hondori Shopping Street 5. Tenneiji Temple 6. Saikokuji Temple 7. Saigoji Temple 8. Jodoji Temple 9. Fukuyama Castle     1. Takehara Preservation District of Important Historical Buildings On the morning of March 24, I took a bus from Hiroshima Station to the “Takehara Preservation District of Important Historical Buildings”. The buses I used are as follows. Depart Hiroshima Station at 8:34,  Geiyo Bus “bound for Tadanoumi Station”,  arrive at Takehara Station at 9:38,  fare Yen 1,210 It is a little over 10 minutes on foot from Takehara Station to “Takehara Preservation District of Important Historical Buildings”. I went to Takehara Station, but from Hiroshima Station, getting off at the bus stop “Takehara chuo(in the center of Takehara)” is closer to the “Takehara Preservation District of Important Historical Buildings”. You can also go from Hiroshima Station to Takehara Station by train instead of by bus. However train takes more than two hours, because train operates on winding seaside railroad. It is almost twice as long as aread moreMarch itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Hiroshima prefecture)

厳島神社

March itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hiroshima prefecture)

March itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hiroshima prefecture) (Wednesday, March 23)   Table of contents 1. Hokoku Shrine, Five-storied Pagoda 2. Mt. Misen 3. Hayashi family residence 4. Daishoin Temple 5. Itsukushima Shrine 6. Daiganji Temple 7. Kokuzenji Temple   1. Hokoku Shrine, Five-storied Pagoda I went to Miyajima (the Island of Itsukushima) on March 23rd. The public transportation I used is as follows. Depart Hiroshima Station at 7:50,  Sanyo Line “bound for Iwakuni”,  arrive at Miyajima-guchi Station at 8:18 Depart JR Miyajima Ferry at 8:30,  “bound for Miyajima Pier”,  arrive at Miyajima Pier at 8:40,  Total fare Yen 600 I left early in the morning, but Miyajima Ferry was quite crowded with junior high school and high school students on school trips. Miyajima is famous as one of the three most scenic spots of Japan. Matsushima in Miyagi and Amanohashidate in Kyoto are also the three most scenic spots of Japan. I went to Matsushima in September 2021 and Amanohashidate in October 2021. Therefore, by visiting Miyajima this time, I was able to go to all the three most scenic spots in Japan within a year. The statue of Kiyomori Taira is located just off Miyajima Pier. Itsukushima Shrineread moreMarch itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hiroshima prefecture)

Fudoin

March itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hiroshima prefecture)

March itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hiroshima prefecture) (Tuesday, March 22)   Table of contents 1. Fudoin 2. Memorial Cathedral for World Peace 3. Shukkeien (Asano Park) 4. Hiroshima Castle 5. Atomic Bomb Dome 6. Children’s Peace Monument 7. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum 8. Shirakami-sha Shrine   1. Fudoin I traveled to Hiroshima and Okayama prefectures from March 22 (Tuesday) for 3 nights and 4 days. This time as well, I sent my luggage to my travel destination and enjoyed the “luggage-free trip”. I flew from Haneda Airport to Hiroshima Airport. The planes I used are as follows. Depart Haneda Airport at 8:15,  ANA673,  arrive at Hiroshima Airport at 9:45 I arrived at Hiroshima Airport and went to Hiroshima city by limousine bus. The limousine buses I used are as follows. Depart Hiroshima Airport at 10:05,  arrive at Hiroshima Station Shinkansen Exit at 10:55,   Fare Yen 1,370 After arriving in Hiroshima city, I ate okonomiyaki and headed to Fudoin. The public transportation I used is as follows. Depart Hiroshima Station at 12:00,  Sanyo Line “bound for Onoura”,  arrive at Shin-Hakushima Station at 12:03 Depart Shin-Hakushima Station at 12:10,  Astramline “bound for Chorakuji”,  arrive at Fudoin-mae Station at 12:14,  total fareread moreMarch itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hiroshima prefecture)

takachiho

Create an itinerary to tourist destinations by JNTO No.5

Create an itinerary to tourist destinations recommended by JNTO   No.5 The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)’s wonderful Japanese guidebook “100 EXPERIENCES IN JAPAN” does not include “traffic information” for public transportation. In order to make a better itinerary for overseas travelers, we will post traffic information for arriving at the tourist spots listed in “100 EXPERIENCES IN JAPAN” from Tokyo Station and Osaka Station by 12:00 noon as much as possible. Traffic information, travel time, and fares are based on Google map and Yahoo route information. Please contact us if your desired arrival time is different or if you have traffic information from places other than Tokyo Station and Osaka Station.   NATURE Table of contents for NATURE 1. Find your spiritual side on the famous Kumano Kodo Trail (Wakayama Prefecture) 2. Explore Kumamoto’s active volcano Mount Aso up close (Kumamoto Prefecture) 3. Explore a ravine in a land of myth and legend (Miyazaki Prefecture) 4. Magnificent unspoiled beech forest in Tohoku (Aomori Prefecture) 5. Hike the Hachimantai Hills (Iwate Prefecture) 6. Natural therapy in Nagano’s forests (Nagano Prefecture) 7. A sheltered and secluded Shikoku Valley (Tokushima Prefecture) 8. Stroll beneath the majestic Great Wisteria (Tochigi Prefecture) 9. A singularlyread moreCreate an itinerary to tourist destinations by JNTO No.5

gunkanjima

Create an itinerary to tourist destinations by JNTO No.4

Create an itinerary to tourist destinations recommended by JNTO   No.4 The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)’s wonderful Japanese guidebook “100 EXPERIENCES IN JAPAN” does not include “traffic information” for public transportation. In order to make a better itinerary for overseas travelers, we will post traffic information for arriving at the tourist spots listed in “100 EXPERIENCES IN JAPAN” from Tokyo Station and Osaka Station by 12:00 noon as much as possible. Traffic information, travel time, and fares are based on Google map and Yahoo route information. Please contact us if your desired arrival time is different or if you have traffic information from places other than Tokyo Station and Osaka Station.   CITIES Table of contents for CITIES 1. Immerse your body and mind ina high-tech museum without borders (Tokyo) 2. Explore Japan by luxury train (Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka) 3. A hidden gem of samuraiera streets in Kurashiki (Okayama Prefecture) 4. Prepare yourself for the ultimate Japanese denim experience (Okayama Prefecture) 5. Set sail to the “abandoned city” of Gunkanjima (Nagasaki Prefecture) 6. Japan’s “underground temple”: a must-visit for urban architecture fans (Saitama Prefecture) 7. A deep dive into a rich legacy of manufacturing technology (Aichi Prefecture) 8. Expand yourread moreCreate an itinerary to tourist destinations by JNTO No.4

snow crab

Summary of February itinerary in Japan (Hyogo, Tottori, Shimane)

Summary of February itinerary in Japan (Hyogo, Tottori, Shimane trip)   I traveled to Hyogo, Tottori, and Shimane prefectures from Wednesday, February 23rd to Sunday, February 27th. I was able to eat a lot of seasonal fish and shellfish and local dishes, and I was able to visit wonderful tourist destinations such as national treasures and national important cultural properties on this trip. Since this trip was mainly on the Sea of ​​Japan side of Hyogo, Tottori, and Shimane prefectures, I was able to enjoy the fresh seafood of the Sea of ​​Japan such as live snow crab. In addition, I was able to fully eat food of the mountains such as “Botan nabe (wild boar meat hot pot)”. This is the February Japanese itinerary that I highly recommend to everyone. Here is a summary of this trip and some notes. I will comment repeatedly every time, but this itinerary was also created with the purpose of “eating out seasonal fish and shellfish and local dishes.” Food is the highest priority, and tourist destinations are the second priority. However, we aimed to visit as many tourist spots as possible, such as national treasures and national important cultural properties.   Tableread moreSummary of February itinerary in Japan (Hyogo, Tottori, Shimane)

Matsue Castle

February itinerary in Japan Day 5 (Tottori, Shimane)

February itinerary in Japan Day 5 (Tottori, Shimane) (Sunday, February 27)   Table of contents 1. Walk around Yonago city 2. Yakumo Honjin 3. Kamosu Shrine 4. Matsue Castle 5. Jozan Inari Shrine 6. Karakoro Art Studio 7. Yuushien 8. Yonago Kitaro Airport   1. Walk around Yonago city I took a walk in Yonago city on the morning of February 27. First, I went to the Yonago Castle Ruins. Yonago Castle once had a five-storied castle tower and a four-storied turret, and was called “the best castle in the Sanin region.” It is said that Yonago Castle started around 1591 when Kikkawa Hiroie built a castle on Minatoyama at an altitude of about 90m. Honmaru, Ninomaru, etc. are designated as national historic sites. In addition, Yonago Castle was selected as the strongest castle in the NHK New Year’s special feature “Japan’s Strongest Castle Special 10th-A Castle with a Superb View That You Want to Visit Someday” broadcast on New Year’s Day 2022. This is because the magnificent view from the castle tower overlooking Oyama, Nakaumi, the Sea of ​​Japan, and the city area was highly evaluated. I wanted to climb to the castle tower ruins, but I gave upread moreFebruary itinerary in Japan Day 5 (Tottori, Shimane)

Kurayoshi Shirakabe Dozo-gun

February itinerary in Japan Day 4 (Tottori prefecture)

February itinerary in Japan Day 4 (Tottori prefecture) (Saturday, February 26)   Table of contents 1. Tottori Sand Dunes 2. Tottori Station / Kurayoshi Station 3. Kurayoshi Shirakabe Dozo-gun 4. Walk around Kurayoshi 5. Toyoda family residence 6. Kurayoshi Yodoya 7. Hasedera temple 8. Yonago Station   1. Tottori Sand Dunes I took a bus from Tottori Station to Tottori Sand Dunes on the morning of February 26. The buses I used are as follows. Depart Tottori Station 9:10,  39 Tottori Sand Dunes Line “bound for Sand Dunes Hall”,  arrive at Sand Dunes Hall 9:32,  fare Yen 380 Tottori Sand Dunes is about a 1-minute walk from the Sand Dunes Hall. Tottori Sand Dunes is a tourist destination that represents Tottori prefecture, and I have visited it several times. However, this was my first winter visit. The Tottori Sand Dunes is a vast sand dune 2.4km north-south and 16km east-west. It is the largest sand dune in Japan that can be visited. It has been selected as a national natural monument. Although the Tottori Sand Dunes in winter had a little snow, it wasn’t completely piled up, so the scenery was not good. There was a lot of snow inread moreFebruary itinerary in Japan Day 4 (Tottori prefecture)

White Stork

February itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Hyogo, Tottori)

February itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Hyogo, Tottori) (Friday, February 25)   Table of contents 1. Sakataru Shrine 2. Hyogo Park of the Oriental White Stork 3. Walk around Toyooka city 4. Tottori Castle Ruins, Jinpukaku 5. Minoura family samurai gate 6. Tottori Toshogu 7. Tottori City History Museum 8. Fukuda family house   1. Sakataru Shrine I took a taxi to Sakataru Shrine in the morning of February 25. I really wanted to go to Hyogo Park of the Oriental White Stork by bus, but I missed the bus, so I had no choice but to take a taxi to Sakataru Shrine at the end of Hyogo Park of the Oriental White Stork. However, this led to a lucky event as described below. As a result, it was all right. As the name suggests, Sakataru Shrine is a shrine related to sake. The god of worship is Sakamizuo no Mikoto and Sakamizume no Mikoto, the ancestor of Toji and the guardian deity of the sake brewer. I couldn’t go this time, but in Toyooka City, there is a shrine called Nakajima Shrine that enshrines the gods of sweets (Tajimamori), and is revered by confectionery companies nationwide. The main shrineread moreFebruary itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Hyogo, Tottori)

Kaibara Hachiman Shrine

February itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hyogo prefecture)

February itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hyogo prefecture) (Thursday, February 24)   Table of contents 1. Taiko Yagura 2. Kaibara Hachiman Shrine 3. Tanba City Hall Kaibara Branch, Great Zelkova tree (Kinone bashi) 4. Oda Shrine / Takeisao Shrine 5. Former Hikami Junior High School Building 6. Kaibara feudal lord Oda clan former residence Nagaya-mon, Kaibara Domain Jinya 7. Shinkoro 8. Izushi Castle Ruins 9. Meiji-kan 10. Sukyoji Temple (Takuandera Temple) 11. Izushi Sake Brewery 12. Former Fukutomi House 13. Sakuraya 14. Kogoro Katsura dwelling site 15. Oryu lantern 16. Eirakukan 17. Hide Shrine     1. Taiko Yagura I had breakfast at the hotel and took a bus to Kaibara station. The bus I got on is as follows. Depart Sasayamahoncho 9:12,  Shinki Bus “bound for Tanba Medical Center”,  arrive at Kaibara Station 9:42,  fare Yen 720 The main purpose of Kaibara is to visit “Kaibara Hachiman Shrine”, a national important cultural property. It was my first visit to Kaibara. It was a fun city to walk around. When you go to Tanba Sasayama, I definitely want you to go to Kaibara. First of all, I went to “Taiko Yagura”. It is less than 5 minutes walk from Kaibararead moreFebruary itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hyogo prefecture)

tanba sasayama

February itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hyogo prefecture)

February itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hyogo prefecture) (Wednesday, February 23)   Table of contents 1, Taisho Romankan 2, Sasayama Castle Ruins 3, Aoyama Historical Village & Dekanshokan museum 4, Sasayama samurai districts 5, Sasayama merchant districts 6, Makekirai Inari 7, Tanba Sasayama City Historical Museum 8, Kasuga Shrine 9, Seiganji Temple 10, Sasayama Castletown Hotel NIPPONIA   1, Taisho Romankan From Wednesday, February 23, I traveled to Hyogo, Tottori, and Shimane prefectures for 4 nights and 5 days. This time as well, I sent my luggage to my travel destination and enjoyed the “luggage-free trip”. First, I flew from Haneda Airport to Osaka Itami Airport and headed for Tanba Sasayama City. The planes I used are as follows. Depart Haneda Airport at 7:25,  JAL103,  arrive at Osaka Itami Airport at 8:35 Arrived at Osaka Itami Airport and went to Tanba Sasayama city by monorail, Hankyu Railway, JR and bus. The public transportation I used is as follows. Depart Osaka Airport Station at 8:53,  Osaka Monorail,  arrive at  Hotarugaike Station at 8:55 Depart Hotarugaike Station at 9:03,  Hankyu Railway Takarazuka Main Line Express for Takarazuka,  arrive at Takarazuka Station at 9:23 Depart JR Takarazuka Station,  Limited Express Kounotori No. 3, read moreFebruary itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hyogo prefecture)

tea picking

Create an itinerary to tourist destinations by JNTO No.3

Create an itinerary to tourist destinations recommended by JNTO   No.3 The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)’s wonderful Japanese guidebook “100 EXPERIENCES IN JAPAN” does not include “traffic information” for public transportation. In order to make a better itinerary for overseas travelers, we will post traffic information for arriving at the tourist spots listed in “100 EXPERIENCES IN JAPAN” from Tokyo Station and Osaka Station by 12:00 noon as much as possible. Traffic information, travel time, and fares are based on Google map and Yahoo route information. Please contact us if your desired arrival time is different or if you have traffic information from places other than Tokyo Station and Osaka Station.   CUISINE Table of contents for CUISINE 1. Kobe beef:beyond words! (Hyogo Prefecture) 2. An authentic Japanese drinking tour in the back alleys of Sendai (Miyagi Prefecture) 3. Bring edible art to life at this hands-on wagashi workshop (Kagawa Prefecture) 4. Otherworldly dining in the heart of Japan’s snow country (Nagano Prefecture) 5. A stayover in the green tea heartlands (Shizuoka Prefecture) 6. Refined macrobiotic cuisine in surroundings over a century old (Fukuoka Prefecture) 7. Learn the art of Japanese cuisine from a true master (Gifu Prefecture) 8. Insightsread moreCreate an itinerary to tourist destinations by JNTO No.3

Mt. Fuji golf

Create an itinerary to tourist destinations by JNTO No.2

Create an itinerary to tourist destinations recommended by JNTO  No.2 The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)’s wonderful Japanese guidebook “100 EXPERIENCES IN JAPAN” does not include “traffic information” for public transportation. In order to make a better itinerary for overseas travelers, we will post traffic information for arriving at the tourist spots listed in “100 EXPERIENCES IN JAPAN” from Tokyo Station and Osaka Station by 12:00 noon as much as possible. Traffic information, travel time, and fares are based on Google map and Yahoo route information. Please contact us if your desired arrival time is different or if you have traffic information from places other than Tokyo Station and Osaka Station. This time it’s “OUTOOORS”, so almost all of them are inconveniently accessible by public transportation. We recommend that you always check the travel time when making a plan. OUTOOORS Table of contents for OUTOOORS 1. An exceptional island paradise (Okinawa Prefecture) 2. Swoosh down the snowy slopes of a volcano (Hokkaido) 3. Ultimate stand-up paddling awaits (Hiroshima Prefecture) 4. Sea-view cycling at its best (Ehime Prefecture, Hiroshima Prefecture) 5. Experience rural hearts and homes (Shiga Prefecture) 6. Soar above sweeping sands by paraglider (Tottori Prefecture) 7. Explore a primevalread moreCreate an itinerary to tourist destinations by JNTO No.2

ouchijuku

Create an itinerary to tourist destinations by JNTO No.1

Create an itinerary to tourist destinations recommended by JNTO   No.1 The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)’s wonderful Japanese guidebook “100 EXPERIENCES IN JAPAN” does not include “traffic information” for public transportation. In order to make a better itinerary for overseas travelers, we will post traffic information for arriving at the tourist spots listed in “100 EXPERIENCES IN JAPAN” from Tokyo Station and Osaka Station by 12:00 noon. For tours that start before noon, we will post an example of traffic information in time for the tour to start. Traffic information, travel time, and fares are based on Google map and Yahoo route information. Please contact us if your desired arrival time is different or if you have traffic information from places other than Tokyo Station and Osaka Station. TRADITION OUTDOORS CUISINE CITIES NATURE ART RELAXATION   Table of contents for TRADITION 1. An enticing evening with authentic geiko awaits (Ishikawa Prefecture) 2. Train with a true mountain mystic in Yamagata (Yamagata Prefecture) 3. Dance like no-one’s watching in historic Tokushima (Tokushima Prefecture) 4. Watch sacred dance and feel yourself whisked away to bygone times (Hiroshima Prefecture) 5. Learn lost arts at the ancestral home of the ninja! (Mie Prefecture) 6. Experience oneread moreCreate an itinerary to tourist destinations by JNTO No.1

Five-Story Pagoda

Summary of January itinerary in Japan (Yamagata trip)

Summary of January itinerary in Japan (Yamagata trip)   I traveled to Yamagata prefecture (Tohoku region) from January 25th (Tuesday) to January 28th (Friday). On this trip, I was able to eat a lot of seasonal fish and shellfish and local dishes, and I was able to visit wonderful tourist destinations such as the national treasure and national important cultural properties. Although it was a trip within the same prefecture, Yamagata Prefecture had different cultures and food cultures depending on the region, so it was a very satisfying trip. This is the January itinerary in Japan that I highly recommend to everyone. In addition, I will report a summary of this trip and some notes.   Table of contents 1.”100 selections of local dishes” and “Local dishes loved by the nation” by this itinerary in Japan 2. Seasonal “PRIDE FISH” eaten in this Japanese itinerary 3. Travel precautions (local trains) for itinerary in Japan 4. Travel in a light style 5. January 25 (Tuesday) Day 1  6. January 26 (Wednesday) Day 2 7. January 27 (Thursday) Day 3 8. January 28 (Friday) Day 4   As I repeat every time, this itinerary was also created with the purpose of “eatingread moreSummary of January itinerary in Japan (Yamagata trip)

The former Tsuruoka Police Office

January itinerary in Japan Day 4 (Yamagata Sightseeing+Meal)

January itinerary in Japan Day 4 (Yamagata Sightseeing+Meal) (Friday, January 28)   This time, I traveled a long time and visited few sightseeing spots, so I will write the sightseeing and meals in one blog. Thank you for your understanding.   Table of contents 1. Konpiraso 2. Chido Museum 3. Shonai Clan School Chidokan 4. Fruit shop Aomoriya 5. Mitsubo   1. Konpiraso After enjoying the bath at SHONAI HOTEL SUIDEN TERRASSE from the morning, I had a ramen as a brunch at the ramen shop “Konpiraso” in Sanze. The means of transportation from Suiden Terrace to “Konpiraso” are as follows. A taxi from SUIDEN TERRASSE to Tsuruoka Station takes less than 10 minutes and costs about Yen 1,000 Depart Tsuruoka Station at 10:17,  Uetsu Line “bound for Murakami”,  arrive at Sanze Station at 10:32,  fare Yen 330 It is less than 20 minutes on foot from Sanze Station to “Konpiraso”. I arrived at “Konpiraso” at 10:50, but the numbered ticket was already 29th. “Konpiraso” is open at 11 o’clock, but it seems that the store will open shortly before it opens, and it was already full. “Konpiraso” is still a very popular ramen shop. This was my third visit.read moreJanuary itinerary in Japan Day 4 (Yamagata Sightseeing+Meal)