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THE CITY OF TREES AND WATER Exploring Morioka, Iwate's historic castle town Morioka's famous rock-splitting cherry blossom tree, the "Ishiwari-zakura" is almost as old as the history of the city as a prominent feudal castle town. This beautiful feature of the local heritage trail is believed to … Read More
UNTOLD BEAUTY Hachimantai is a nature lover's paradise Make sure you bring an extra SD card when you visit Hachimantai, because chances are you'll find it hard to put your camera away. The area is dominated by a vast section of Towada-Hachimantai National Park, and puts on a mesmerising disp… Read More
APPI, THE POWDER PALACE OF IWATE Appi brings a modern sophistication and unspoilt beauty to powder-rich snow holidays in the Tohoku region It's no mean feat to start out as an extra, and end up stealing the show from lead actors who have been in the role for decades. This is exactly what Appi h… Read More
THE IWATE WINTER BUCKET LIST The beauty of Iwate in winter has traditionally been kept a secret by heavy snowfall, which cut off access to much of its mountainous interior for extended periods. However, thanks to what is Japan’s highest number of bullet train stations in a single prefecture, vis… Read More
Welcome to Osaka The birthplace of the sushi train, spiritual home of the okonomiyaki pancake, and a mecca for comedians, Osaka is a city that is always up for fun times. Its beautifully restored feudal masterpiece, Osaka Castle, along with Japan's tallest building, Abeno Harukas, represent the… Read More
Osaka Castle, Osaka Aquarium & Tempozan Ferris Wheel This route covers the traditional heart of Osaka, and the city's bay area. It's especially nice during early spring, when you'll want to linger in Osaka Castle Park and enjoy the sea of cherry blossoms. The park is perfect for a run,… Read More
Osaka Science Museum, Floating Garden Observatory & Abeno Harukas As well as a food mecca, Osaka is a famous source of innovation and new ideas in Japan. It's the city where Panasonic was founded, as well as Nissin Foods - the company that blessed the world with instant ramen noodles. This ro… Read More
Naniwa-no-Yu, Santa Maria & Hep Five Just when you thought you'd seen it all, you discover that there's a natural hot spring walking distance from Tenjinbashisuji 6-chome (T18) on the Tanimachi Line, just two stops from Higashi-Umeda (T20) in the heart of downtown Osaka. It's called Naniwa-no-… Read More
Osaka Museum of Housing and Living, Tsutenkaku Tower & Hozenji Yokocho Discover the traditional atmosphere of Osaka on this route, starting among merchants houses and other classic pieces of architecture that portray the city circa 1830 - 1844. They are featured in the Edo period streetscape a… Read More
location.href = '/kokuyas-special-chance-lucky-dip/'; Shibu Onsen is a small, hot-spring district town in Nagano Prefecture that opens up behind a curtain of stream, revealing traditions and architecture of years passed still standing tall and proud. This town was discovered 1,300 years ago by a … Read More
An ancient bathhouse and four sublime hot spring inns in a secluded coastal retreat Just an hour from Kanazawa by train, Wakura Onsen is an idyllic hot spring village overlooking the Sea of Japan from the sheltered eastern side of the Noto Peninsula. It was developed by the local Maeda clan fo… Read More
From to craft to cars, Kaga has a range of attractions ideally suited to family groups Okashi-jo Kagahan & Nippon Origami Museum Okashi-jo Kagahan is one of the Kaga area's most well-established traditional sweet makers, and with more than 300 types to choose from under the one ro… Read More
Stay in Kanazawa to dig deeper and experience Ishikawa's diverse regional culture Kaga Area Visit the Kaga area from Kanazawa for a full-bodied mix of local culture, hot springs and mountain scenery. Centred on the city of Kaga, an hour to the south of Kanazawa by train, it has six ma… Read More
Kanazawa's cultural riches make the city an incredibly rewarding day trip from Nagano or Tokyo Early: Hirokoji & Myoryuji Temple Now that the Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train has put Kanazawa just over an hour from Nagano, and only two and a half from Tokyo, Kanazawa's special castle town… Read More
From one of Japan's most beautiful gardens to modern art Morning: Kanazawa Station, Omi-cho Market Even before setting foot in Kanazawa's cultural heritage area, gold leaf greets visitors to the city with a shine on the bullet train platforms of Kanazawa Station. First priority? Fresh… Read More
Kenrokuen Garden, Myoryuji Temple, Kanazawa Station & Omi-cho Market Kenrokuen Garden Featuring an inspiring series of landscapes imbued with deep philosophy and spirituality, Kenrokuen Garden is an iconic part of Kanazawa's cultural heritage, and one of Japan's three most beautif… Read More
Connect with the city's living cultural heritage Try a hands-on creative workshop in Kanazawa for a more intimate insight into the city's cultural riches, and find out why it has been recognised as a UNESCO City of Crafts and Folk Art. http://www.kanazawa-kankoukyoukai.or.jp/feature/taiken-prog… Read More
Castle town charm, and gastronomic delight Kanazawa was founded amidst the storm of famine, rebellion and civil war that raged during sixteenth-century Japan, and richly matured as a castle town to become one of the most influential cities in the country. A patchwork of gently undulating plat… Read More
Japan's bullet train now gets you to one of the country's most culturally rich gems in record time Ishikawa Prefecture offers a kaleidoscope of colour and flavour throughout the four seasons, showcased beautifully in its capital city of Kanazawa. A historic centre of gold leaf produc… Read More
SHIBU ONSEN The neighbouring town to snow monkey park, full of charm and traditions Shibu Onsen is a small, hot-spring district town in Nagano Prefecture that opens up behind a curtain of steam, revealing traditions and architecture of years passed, still standing tall and proud. This town was… Read More
