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 around the Kanto area, Yoshimi actually holds a very interesting gem that would fancy history junkies. It is home to one…
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 one’s fondness for nature and the outdoors. Almost everyone can get to enjoy hiking in nature trails and prefectural parks spread across the country.…
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 its western neighbor, Tokyo, it is one of the often visited areas in the country. The prefecture is a usual waypoint for foreign tourists…
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 July, there is a popular celestial tale that is celebrated across Japan. It is based on an ancient Chinese folklore about a…
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 municipality of the prefecture, much of its area is occupied by mountains, forests and networks of fresh water bodies. With…
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, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. In case you don’t know, it’s a bimillennial quote…
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 body of water that served a very vital role in the growth of Japan. Surrounded by three prefectures ,Tokyo, Kanagawa…
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 of the year when everything around just suddenly wakes up from a seemingly long sleep. Plants and trees start coming back…
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 that thrives easily on relatively cold climates. Growing up to a height of 6 inches, this plant is usually used…
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. It is the time of the year when just about everywhere, flowers are blooming left and right, painting the town in vivid…
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, fresh rivers and waterfalls and breathtaking sceneries Japan, despite having a highly urbanized reputation, has impressively maintained a balance between rapid…
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. Fuji. On this this site stood a former farming village known for its traditional houses from the Edo era. The place was…
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 central Tokyo is the district of Asakusa. A place where early movie theaters in the country flourished, it was known…
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 time of the year. Visitors from all over the world come just to see them in full bloom. Cherry blossoms…
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 limited stay. But if given a little luxury of time, getting off the beaten track from time to time can be…
