Interests

G'Day Japan! / Interests

SUB CATEGORY

Accommodations Art Culture Discover Entertainment Event Food and Drink Historic Sites Hot Springs Language Manga and Anime Shopping Snow Gear


DAY ONE: NATURAL IMMERSION

Kanagawa Discover Avatar photo GJ Editor

Owakudani geothermal area, Mount Fuji, Lake Ashi and Tonosawa hot springs     At 1,050 metres above sea level, the Owakudani geothermal area offers one of Hakone's best views of Mount Fuji. This valley steams and hisses with vapour coming straight through the earth's crust, and… Read More

TWO DAYS IN HOT SPRING HEAVEN, HAKONE

Kanagawa Hot Springs Avatar photo GJ Editor

With spectacular views of Mount Fuji and abundant natural hot springs, Hakone is a rewarding short trip close to Tokyo     Hakone has long been a favourite getaway spot for Tokyoites. An historic hot spring town located some 80 kilometres away from the city in Kanagawa Prefect… Read More

DAY TWO: HISTORY, CULTURE AND ART

Kanagawa Historic Sites Avatar photo GJ Editor

Hakone Sekisho checkpoint, Hakone Shrine, and the Hakone Open-Air Museum     As the tenth post town on the old Tōkaidō highway from Tokyo, Hakone was strategically important to the samurai government of Japan's Edo era (1603-1867). Its Hakone Sekisho building served as a checkp… Read More

SHIBU ONSEN

Nagano Basics Avatar photo GJ Editor

The neighbouring town to the snow monkey park, full of charm and tradition SHIBU Onsen is a quaint hot spring town in Nagano Prefecture that opens up behind a curtain of steam, revealing traditions and architecture of years passed, still standing tall and proud. The town's original spring-head w… Read More

Powder bliss in Nagano-Niigata ; OMACHI

Nagano Discover Avatar photo GJ Editor

Enjoy the finer things in a hot spring town on Hakuba’s doorstep   Just 40 minutes from Hakuba, Omachi is local to the ski resorts of Kashimayari Sports Village and Jiigatake. Its hot spring area of Omachi Onsenkyō is set in deep forest, and skiers and snowboarders overnight here from … Read More

Hakuba 47 Mountain Sports Park

Nagano Food and Drink Avatar photo GJ Editor

AMAZING TERRAIN AND PARKS A distinctively Gen Y resort in comparison to the many baby boomers in the Hakuba Valley, Hakuba 47 was born in 1990, and has since risen to prominence as one of the valley’s premier all-season resorts. Its winter scenery is nothing short of magical, with a skyline … Read More

Snowed under in Hokkaido ; ASHIBETSU

Hokkaido Hot Springs Avatar photo GJ Editor

Nature up a notch, in the heart of Hokkaido   LOCAL farmland around Furano is famous for its prime produce, and one of these farming districts is the city of Ashibetsu. With 89% of its land area composed of lush forests, it is filled with the fresh atmosphere of alpine countryside, enc… Read More

Snowed under in Hokkaido ; TOKACHIDAKE

Hokkaido Discover Avatar photo GJ Editor

For hungry riders on a raw powder diet   TOKACHIDAKE is nature in the Hokkaido Powder Belt 'as is'. There are no lifts, no groomed runs, and no crowds; just pure powder to be enjoyed. The area consists of Tokachidake, a 2,077-metre volcano, and Tokachidake Onsen, a hot spring village d… Read More

Snowed under in Hokkaido ; FURANO

Hokkaido Discover Avatar photo GJ Editor

> Full-service outdoor playground > Lower humidity means even drier powder snow > Authentic local culture and hospitality   Winter guests visit the city of Furano for skiing and snowboarding both locally, and nearby at backcountry spots and other resorts around the Hok… Read More

NISEKO-CHO AND KONBU ONSEN

Hokkaido Hot Springs Avatar photo GJ Editor

Hot spring heaven around the corner from Niseko @JNTO NISEKO still has a few secrets up its sleeve, and one of these is Niseko-chō, or the Niseko town district. Set within the forests and rivers of the lush Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Kaigan Quasi-National Park, it is naturally abundant, and a po… Read More

WHEN THE SNOW MELTS

Discover Avatar photo GJ Editor

Japan is stunning to visit at any time of year   Feast your eyes upon four of Japan's great seasonal activities and destinations in this feature. Although they showcase some of its quintessential natural and cultural heritage, these highlights can easily remain hidden behind the deep powde… Read More

HOTEL GRAND PHENIX OKUSHIGA

Nagano Basics Avatar photo GJ Editor

HOTEL GRAND PHENIX OKUSHIGA Situated amongst the 1500 metre high Okushiga Kogen, Hotel Grand Phenix was made to please skiers and sport enthusiasts. The hotel has a warm atmosphere with touches of Europeanstyle decors. Each of the room is prepared to provide guests with the utmost comfort dur… Read More

TOGURA-KAMIYAMADA ONSEN

Nagano Culture Avatar photo GJ Editor

Welcoming hot spring town with retro charm Togura-Kamiyamada Onsen carved itself a place on Japan's hot spring destination map just over 120 years ago in 1893. Times were tough, and to revive the local economy, the head of the town implemented a plan to dig for hot springs. Since the waters began… Read More

NAGANO CITY Powder bliss in Nagano-Niigata

Nagano Culture Avatar photo GJ Editor

NAGANO CITY -> Convenient winter holiday base 79 minutes from Tokyo -> Close to the Hakuba Valley, Nozawa Onsen and the snow monkeys -> Local attractions include Zenkō-ji temple, a National Treasure of Japan Nagano City is more than a famous gateway for pilgrims to Zenkō-ji, its icon… Read More

STAY IN THE HOSHINO RESORTS IN HOKKAIDO

Hokkaido Basics Avatar photo GJ Editor

Stay in Tomamu and Asahikawa,  and enjoy the best of Central Hokkaido! Great snow holiday areas in their own right, Tomamu and Asahikawa are also convenient bases for visiting Furano, Sahoro and Kamui, and enjoying the best of the Central Hokkaido region. This area is famous for even drier, fin… Read More

STAY IN THE HOSHINO RESORTS IN HOKKAIDO

Hokkaido Discover Avatar photo GJ Editor

Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU www.snowtomamu.jp/winter/en/ 079-2204 Nakatomamu, Shimukappu-mura, Yufutsu-gun 2+81-167-58-1111 Days 9:00-16:00, Nights 16:00-18:00, 16:00-19:00 (Fri-Sun, Holiday) Travelling times to Hoshino Resorts New Chitose Airport: 1 hr 30 min (car), Asahikawa Airport: 3 hrs (car) … Read More

Yamagata Snow Festival

Yamagata Event Avatar photo GJ Editor

Located just 2.5 hours north of Tokyo is Yamagata Prefecture - the powder rich and culturally rich ‘hot spring kingdom’ of the Tohoku area. Yamagata is known to be one of Japan’s heaviest snowfall areas, which attracts many during snow season every year, but it is also known well for the strong pr… Read More