Mt. Nabewari is one of the peaks of the Tanzawa mountain range in the Kanagawa Prefecture. Although often overshadowed by its popular neighboring summits, Nabewariyama is never short of scenic trails, stunning views and of course, some good grind to Read more…
Oya is a small municipality in the Tochigi Prefecture, lying north of the Kanto Region. While the town itself isn’t that popular in the international tourism, it does hold something which very unique to itself. Underneath the town is Read more…
Mt. Fuji has been a subject of many artworks across centuries. Staring at its iconic profile, one has to wonder, how does it feel to stand on top of Japan’s highest point? While the idea Read more…
Yoshimi is a small town in the Saitama Prefecture. Coming from central Tokyo, it will take a little under two hours to get here. Although it is not you’re obvious destination if for your holiday trip Read more…
Reaching Mt. Tonodake’s summit can be quite a challenge especially for first timers. It has long stretches of pure climb with very limited flat or descending portions to recover. Japan is one of the best places to kick-start Read more…
Every mountain you’ll ever climb will be different. But sometimes, there are those that simply stand out. For me, Mt, Nokogiri belongs to that group. Chiba is one of the seven prefectures of the Kanto region. As Read more…
Tanabata or Star Festival is a celebration of the meeting between two star-crossed lovers, Altair and Vega, who were separated by the silver river, Milky Way. The night sky is full of stories and myths. During Read more…
Although it has stayed under the radar especially among foreign tourists, there are actually plenty to things to discover about Okutama. Okutama is a town located on the western outskirts of Tokyo. Though it is the largest Read more…
Proverbs are proverbs – they are well known and generally true. I remember this popular one back from my grade school days posted on a wall of our classroom. On a colorful text it says, Read more…
Covering only five hectares, Sarushima is just a tiny island. But despite its small area, there are already plenty of things to do and enjoy for a whole day of stay. The Tokyo bay is a 580 square-mile Read more…
Around late April to mid May, the Miharashi Hills of Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki Prefecture lights up with over 4.5 million nemophilas across a 3.5 hectare field. Ahh, spring, what a lovely season. It’s the time Read more…
The Fuji Shibazakura Fetival is a celebration and appreciation of the beauty of the phlox moss. It is one of the highlights of the Fuji Five Lakes during spring. Moss phlox is a small flowering plant Read more…
The Ashikaga Flower Park at Tochigi Prefecture is a 9-hectare garden that showcases a wide variety of flowers. During springtime, countless wisteria blossoms take the center stage attracting people from all places. Spring is a colorful season in Japan. Read more…
Mt. Mitake in the western side of Tokyo is one of the popular choices for those looking for a day trip to the mountains. Part of the 1250-square kilometer Chichi-Tama-Kai National Park, it features unspoiled forest, Read more…
Iyashi no Sato literally translates to “Healing village”, which is undeniably a perfect description about this place Nenba is an area situated at the northwest shore of Lake Sai (Saiko), one of the five lakes around Mt. Read more…
The Oiran Dochu is a parade of what was an everyday scene in old Yoshiwara. It is a meeting between a tayu, a high-ranked oiran (courtesan) and her costumer. One of the popular tourist destinations in Read more…
Spring is a magical season in Japan. After months of hibernating, different flowers bloom left and right adding colors to what’s already a colorful nation. Cherry Blossom or Sakura is among the country’s most famous attractions during this Read more…
A lot of times when we travel, we have the natural tendency to follow where the crowd goes – to somewhere well known and established. It is good, especially if you have a very Read more…
Miura is a city of Kanagawa Prefecture situated at the southernmost tip of the Miura Peninsula. Bordered by the Sagami Bay and the Pacific Ocean, it is one of the major fishing ports in Japan. Tuna or maguro is Read more…
Japan is a country where more than 70% of its area is comprised of mountains. With this topography combined with its high location in the northern hemisphere, it actually has its own version of the Alps. Read more…
Parks are just about everywhere in Japan. Varrying from a small landscaped lot with a playground, to forests with towering trees and hiking trails, every city or municipality has at least one. For me, they are one of Read more…
Japan is one of the top modern countries in the world. To be living here and witnessing amazing technology and inventions I’ve never seen before is indeed an experience. But amidst the marvels of modern day Japan, Read more…
I’ve always wanted to experience hiking outside the Philippines. But of all my oversea trips in the past years, I’ve never really had enough time or the chance to do it. Perhaps now that I’ll Read more…
Just a little over a century ago, Yokohama was a small fishing village in Japan. Lying south of Tokyo and alongside the shoreline of Japan’s main island, it became one of the first ports in the Read more…
The opeN Notes goes to japan! And this week we saddle up with some new friends on the way to the beautiful Kamakura City. And because the popular sights are scattered around the city, there’s Read more…
As most of my closest friends already knew, my full-time career as an engineer has recently lead me to a major crossroad. And now, after making some very tough decisions, here I am in Japan for at Read more…
Taal volcano is one of the most popular tourist spots in the country. A beauty that has probably been printed on millions of postcards, it is an icon of Philippine tourism. At plain sight, Read more…
The Dumagat tribe is an indigenous group in Luzon. With physical features similar to the Aetas, they trace their origins from the Negritos, one of the first inhabitants in the Philippines. Early Dumagats tend to move Read more…
Because of the mountainous and overlooking scenery of the Rizal province, it has become the typical route for bikers and cyclist looking for a weekend spin near Metro Manila. This combination of beauty and madness Read more…
Baras, and more specifically Puraran, takes you back when these were merely distractions and bonding with nature was the way to truly experience your travel. Baras is one of the eleven municipalities of Catanduanes. Situated Read more…