Welcome to the ‘little Kyoto' of Japan's snow country THE city of Iiyama lies at the northernmost tip of Nagano, one of Japan’s snowiest prefectures. The Iiyama Valley is at its centre, and the gorgeous landscapes of Madarao Kogen and the heart-shaped Hokuryuko Lake surround the city. Often… Read More
> Japan's biggest resort area > Hot spring heaven > Snow Monkeys AND Snow Monsters It's become common knowledge that Japan has a number of impressive powder resorts, all vying for attention with their huge snowfalls, relaxing hot springs, and exceptionally good local cuisine. Ther… Read More
SHIGA KOGEN'S BIGGEST Yakebitaiyama Ski Resort is the largest of the interconnected resorts in the Shiga Kogen area, and was the stage of the first ever Olympic snowboarding race at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. This very race track is now its Olympic Course - a 650-metre speed run wit… Read More
QUALITY FROM THE TOP DOWN From the summit of the Higashi Tateyama Ski Resort, the Northern Japanese Alps dominate the horizon. The scale of this view is as breathtaking as the runs that fly down the mountain, and it's an absolute must-try for skiers and snowboarders in the Shiga Kogen resort… Read More
POWDER AT THE FRONT DOOR Tsugaike Kogen transforms from a highland oasis of colour in the off-season to a powder paradise in winter. One of the Hakuba Valley's biggest resorts, the ten courses within its 196 hectares are connected by 20 lifts, and there is a good variety of convenient slope-… Read More
History flows through this Snow Monkey town near AN idyllic hot spring inn town some 30 kilometres from Nagano City, Yudanaka Onsen is a popular base for visitors to the nearby Zenkō-ji Temple, Jigokudani Monkey Park, Hokusaikan Museum, and Shiga Kogen resort area. The town is the final stop o… Read More
Imagine a steep, snowy alpine slope of forty-five degrees or more, dotted with cliff faces, rocks, trees and natural features. This type off-piste terrain is a freerider’s dream, and this past January 2017, Hakuba Village played host to the first ever Freeride World Tour in Asia. For those w… Read More
©Y.Shimizu/©JNTO Japan is the land of delicious food. With fresh produce and amazing flavours, it offers plenty of options for all of the foodies out there. Here are four must-trys: Okonomiyaki A distant cousin of the pancake, okonomiyaki is simple, but oh-so-sa… Read More
Sarah was inspired by the fact that Kyoto is a city where one can come in contact with and experience Japanese culture on a daily basis. Kyoto is introduced as a historical and traditional setting in most researching it. However, Sarah found that Kyoto is also quite an innovative, modern destina… Read More
When my son heard my husband and I discussing a possible trip to Japan, his eyes instantly sparkled, and he whispered 'can we go and see a samurai?' To ease ourselves into the world of the samurai in Tokyo, our first step was to visit the Samurai Museum in Shinjuku. The museum provides free … Read More
Mount Fuji, for obvious reasons, is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Japan. The allure of this sacred mountain was no different for Meg and her friend Liv, who stayed in Gotemba to be close to it. On the way, Meg and Liv quickly realised that this had unexpectedly taken them on an adventur… Read More
Melanie booked her trip to Japan wanting to immerse herself in a culture she was unaware of, yet interested in. She had no idea where to go or what to expect, and in her search for tours and experiences, she came across Freewheeling Japan, a cycling tour of Tokyo city. The tour guide was an America… Read More
‘I went to Nozawa Onsen not sure what to expect,’ recounts Chris of his experience visiting this traditional hot spring village in winter. He was soon won over by the the friendliness of the locals, and the fantastic hospitality at the ryokan inn he stayed in. The show-stopper of Chris's visit w… Read More
Going on a date in Tokyo is essentially a date with the city itself. You get to know each other just by being there, and wherever you look, something fascinating is looking right back at you. My ideal date with Tokyo city begins in Omotesandō, exploring the streets to find a cute cafe to brunch … Read More
One of my favourite places in Japan is Kamakura, a historic coastal town surrounded by nature, just one hour from Tokyo. The best way to explore is by foot - a stroll is a great way to soak up the relaxed atmosphere, and there are street vendors offering traditional snacks by the wayside. You ca… Read More
Nursing a warm latte, the famous Shibuya scramble crossing sprawls beneath me. My eyes wander over brightly coloured billboards, trucks that blare out J-pop tunes, and young pretty things immaculately dressed, sharing the streets with salarymen and the eccentric. I’m in Shibuya, one of Tokyo’s most… Read More
There are many sumo stables in Tokyo’s Ryogoku district, but only a small handful offer access to tourists. Even then, their requirements are so strict that you really must be part of a guided tour - a traditional Japan bucket list essential. Kasugano Beya, near Ryogoku Station, is perhaps the … Read More
Experienced traveler and blogger Kim-Ling tells us that visiting World Heritage sites while overseas will allow you to form your own connection to a country. It also enables you to gain a greater understanding of its culture and history. ‘From the Zen Japanese gardens, located in busy cities, to… Read More
Leah, her two children and partner visited Japan for the very first time over Easter break 2017. During their holiday they visited Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. And in each city, they visited one theme park: Tokyo DisneySea, Universal Studios Japan and Toei Studio Park ‘Before heading to a travel dest… Read More
A seafood lover's paradise near Sapporo, steeped in historic charm A VISIT to Otaru is a trip back in time to nineteenth-century Japan. Beautifully maintained European heritage buildings constructed during this era still line its picturesque canal district, and on the inside, yield m… Read More
