Dim lights, narrow passageways, and the aroma of soba reveal a side of Asakusa far removed from the crowds around Kaminarimon. Beneath Asakusa Station and the EKIMISE department store, this inconspicu...

A wooden schoolhouse, retro storefronts, and old movie posters recreate early Showa-era Japan on a cape overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. Built around the set of the film “Twenty-Four Eyes,” the studio...

Use this guide to plan a visit to Sengan-en, an Edo-period Shimazu villa and garden overlooking Kinko Bay and Sakurajima. Check access, admission, and seasonal highlights before exploring the Goten re...

Discover the Sacred Island of Miyajima – A Journey Through History, Nature, and Local Delights! Join us on an unforgettable tour of Miyajima, known as the "Island of the Gods," where you’ll explore i...

Oita Marine Palace Aquarium “Umitamago” brings visitors close to dolphins, walruses, penguins, fur seals, and marine life from the Bungo Channel. Highlights include the Giant Circular Tank, Grand Cora...

“Inaka” refers to Japan’s peaceful countryside—rich in tradition, surrounded by nature, and full of local charm. Yuki Town, affectionately known as “Hiroshima’s Hidden Retreat” for generations, is one...

Centered on a canal in Osaka’s Minami district, Dotonbori is known for giant three-dimensional signs, takoyaki and okonomiyaki restaurants, sightseeing cruises, and neon reflected across the water. It...

Stone walls climb the mountainside toward Matsuyama Castle, an Edo-period fortress overlooking the Matsuyama Plain and Seto Inland Sea. Ride the ropeway or single-seat lift up Mount Katsuyama, then ex...

Use this guide to plan a visit to Sakurajima, Kagoshima’s active volcano in Kinko Bay. Compare ferry access, choose the best season, and explore viewpoints and landscapes shaped by eruptions. Highlights include the Kurokami Buried Torii Gate, Yunohira and Arimura observatories, Sakurajima Visitor Center, and Akamizu Viewpoint Plaza. Ride the Sakurajima Ferry, relax in the seaside footbath at Lava Nagisa Park, and sample local dishes made with Sakurajima komikan and daikon. Restaurant and hotel recommendations provide additional options for planning a day trip or overnight stay.

Golden rice terraces, fiery gorge foliage, and calm Seto Inland Sea views reveal Kagawa’s changing character from September through November. Explore Ritsurin Garden, climb the 785 stone steps to Koto...

Crisp alpine water, cedar-lined temple paths, and towering cirque walls shape a journey through Komagane. Ride the ropeway to Senjojiki Cirque at about 2,600 meters for an easy loop beneath the Centra...

Kokonoe “Yume” Otsurihashi crosses the Narukogawa Gorge at a height of 173 meters, offering panoramic views of Shindo-no-Taki Falls, Kyusuikei forest, and the Kuju Mountains. A grated section at the bridge’s center adds a direct view to the valley floor, while fresh greenery, autumn foliage, and winter snow transform the surrounding scenery. The guide can help plan access, hours, admission, suitable footwear, local food, and visits to nearby Kuju Flower Park, Sujiyu Onsen, and Chojabaru Visitor Center.

Use this guide to plan a Kagoshima trip across volcanic landscapes, historic towns, hot springs, and remote islands. Compare seven areas, choose transportation, check seasonal clothing, and follow a t...

Use this guide to plan a trip to Yakushima, a World Natural Heritage island of ancient cedar forests, mountains, waterfalls, beaches, and subtropical coastline. Compare flights and ferries, choose isl...

A three-day, two-night journey from Osaka to Beppu combines a Sunflower ferry voyage across the Seto Inland Sea with hot springs, local food, and a stay at KAI Beppu. Onboard highlights include island and bridge views, regional cuisine, a public bath, projection mapping, and cultural activities. In Beppu, the route continues with the Hells Tour, jigoku-mushi steam cooking, onsen culture programs, ocean-view rooms, and local nightlife. The guide provides a sample itinerary and booking options for combining the ferry and ryokan.

Mihama American Village is a sprawling waterfront entertainment district in Chatan on Okinawa’s main island. Its brightly colored buildings, vintage American decorations, winding passages, restaurants, shops, and purpose-built photo spots create the feeling of exploring an open-air theme park. Visit for lunch and an hour of wandering, or arrive later to watch the district shift from playful daytime color to illuminated evening atmosphere. The wide Depot Island Boardwalk provides a relaxing finale, with restaurants, tropical planting, and sunset views across the East China Sea.

Aoshima Shrine stands on a subtropical island off Miyazaki City, surrounded by blue water and the distinctive rock formations known as the Devil’s Washboard. Explore the vermilion Main Hall, forest-li...

Located in Saitama an hour away from Ikebukuro, Heirin-ji is a Rinzai temple of the Myoshin-ji Branch. The temple was originally founded in 1375 in Iwatsuki city by Sekishitsu Zenkyu, also in Saitama....

Milky white water, a faint sulfur scent, and forested mountain views define Shirahone Onsen, a secluded hot-spring area in the Northern Japanese Alps. Its springs emerge clear, then turn creamy as dissolved hydrogen sulfide and calcium react with the air; the shade can vary with the weather and time of day. Bathing traditions here stretch back more than 600 years, reflected in the saying that three days in the water will ward off colds for three years. Soak beside the river at the public open-air bath or stay at a ryokan such as Awa no Yu, Konashi no Yu Sasaya, or Shirafune Grand Hotel. Snow can close some baths in winter, while autumn brings vivid foliage around the outdoor pools.

Old-fashioned local trains follow the Sea of Japan coast on a summer journey from Masuda to Shimonoseki. Watch ocean views along unfold the San'in Main Line as the route crosses from Shimane into ...

Clear mountain streams curl around moss-covered rocks as this three-day route reveals Tokyo’s wild western edge. Hike the historic Okutama Mukashi Michi past stone monuments, shrines, forest, and Lake...

A sweeping arc of sand, pine trees, and powerful Pacific waves makes Katsurahama one of Kochi’s defining coastal landscapes. See Sakamoto Ryoma’s towering statue gazing toward the ocean, then explore his life at the nearby memorial museum. Follow the shore to Ryuo Cape for cliff-top views, moonlit scenery, and the small Watazumi Shrine overlooking the sea. Katsurahama Aquarium adds close encounters with local marine life, while Umi no Terrace offers bonito, Tosa Akaushi beef, local sweets, sake, and souvenirs within the park.

Autumn color spreads above the sheer cliffs as Manai Falls drops into the narrow waters of Takachiho Gorge. See the nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument during a season that adds warm reds and golds to its dramatic columnar rock formations. The gorge’s exposed walls reveal a long natural history shaped by ancient volcanic activity and erosion, while views from the paths and boats place visitors between the waterfall, calm river, and towering stone.

Sheer columnar cliffs rise above the Gokase River, where Manai Falls plunges about 17 meters into the gorge below. Ancient pyroclastic flows from Mount Aso cooled, hardened, and slowly eroded into a s...