The Waka Poetry Garden - Rikugien
Rikugien is a very nice garden for walking the park paths, up the gentle hills, and around the pond while taking in the sights and sounds of this park within the confines of a busy city. The garden was created based on the theme of Waka poetry. It's a typical example of the gardens of the Edo perio…(175 words)
Joe Peters
Tokyo City Park Subway Visit
When visiting Kyoto... do not forget the Gold Pagoda
I love Kyoto. It is a city with a soul. A city where people actually live. (weird to so but when living in Tokyo, Kyoto feels like a real city with people!) I often go there for my job (tough life, yes, I know!) and usually, I visit a new place, of some of my favorites: Adashino, a bit far in t…(341 words)
Claire
Kyoto Cherry blossom Mountain Nature Castle Snow Visit Imperial Palace
Dark Souls Cafe in Roppongi Until April
Oz cafe in Roppongi has collaborated with the game Dark Souls to bring you the Dark Souls Cafe! Open until April they have set up an entertaining theme restaurant with statues, decorations, swords, costumes, and a crazy themed menu. They will also hold special events such as the release of Dark Sou…(101 words)
Alex Kobayashi /Subtokyo
Roppongi Tokyo Restaurant Game Visit Dark Souls Subtokyo Themed Restaurant
Mineral-rich Hot Spring in Japan Great for Skin
It is a rare onsen (hot spring) where visitors can bathe in their bathing suits. When I first came to Japan way back when, I dreaded entering a hot spring area where naked bodies eased in and out of steaming mineral scented water. As I grew accustomed to the custom...I learned to practice the same …(431 words)
Enoshima Island
Day Spa Japan
Bathing suit friendly onsen
Hot Spring Japan
Shiatsu Massage Japan
Onsen
Shinjuku
Shibuya
Coffee
Kaitenzushi (Conveyor belt sushi)
The Plum Blossoms are the tough guys...
People think of Japan and many think of Cherry Blossoms first. Actually Apricot and Plum Blossoms are the tough guys, they push past the snow, they stand firm in rainstorms and endure the rainstorms... Posting this photo was inspired by a kind Facebook Friend who had spotted the early plum blos…(317 words)
Andrew Grimes
Tokyo Train Park Shinjuku Sushi Cherry blossom Cherry Flower Spring Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing)
Cherry blossoms: Sakura Time & Timing in Japan
Sakura 桜 are all things cherry, everything cherry blossoms and cherry trees. Think of sakura as a season in Japan, the height of spring. When will the cherry blossom start to open and how long will they last? This question is essential for hanami planning and discussed in detail in the media e…(345 words)
David
Spring Cherry blossom Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) Flower Asakusa Japanese Culture Japan Travel
Nostalgia in Yokohama
Yokohama is still something of a grand dame. Perhaps no longer the celebrated talk of the town, but with sparkle showing that, in her heyday, she was a beauty to be reckoned with.The long wandering walk from Kannai to Nihon Oodori gives a glimpse into the exciting Meiji and Showa days, when thi…(206 words)
Chiara
Yokohama Kannai Hotel Yamashita Park Chinatown
Museum of Industry and Technology
Nagoya is usually not on touristic tour in Japan. But if you are on business there, and you have some time to spend, or, if you are with your children and you want to attract their interest to science, or, they do love science, there is one place you want to visit: the Toyota Commemorative …(264 words)
Claire
Museum Visit Nagoya
Koyo in Inokashira Koen
Inokashira Koen, a brief walk away from Kichijouji station on the Inokashira line, is mainly famous for its beautiful cherry blossoms, which reflect on the lake, and for the 'cursed' swan boats. Supposedly, if you ride in a swan boat with your significant other, you will break up!However, the p…(181 words)
Chiara
Park Inokashira Park Kichijouji Tokyo Coffee Autumn Lake Museum
1-hour small yet great trip from Kyoto Station – Toji Temple
My favorite spot in Kyoto is Toji Temple, a world heritage site which has history of 1,200 years!Located within 15-minute walking distance from Kyoto station (1 Kujo-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto City), it is easy to access. As everybody knows the famous temple, you can ask anyone for the direction on the …(126 words)
Eddie
Trip Kyoto Tera (Temple) City History Taxicab World Heritage Site To-ji Temple
Kamakura: there is a reason why!
If you like both, Kamakura is a sure spot. There are many beautiful places in Kamakura and it is tough to sort them out and make choices. But if you like to take your time, try to go on a week day, and visit the Great Buddha, Hase tera and Gorakuji.Well, this is the ABC of basics but there …(391 words)
Claire
Kamakura Tera (Temple) Visit Sea Cherry blossom Lunch
Walk & Play at Sumida Park in Asakusa
When you visit Asakusa, don't only go to Senso-ji temple. Also go to Sumida River and take a walk in Sumida Park. The park has great views of Tokyo Skytree and a big playground for children. There are also two small cafes here overlooking the river. To reach Sumida Park go towards the river from As…(143 words)
David
Asakusa Playground Tokyo Skytree Park Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) Sumida river Tokyo Cherry blossom Children
Morning sumo practice in the Kitanoumi-beya
I got up early one morning to go visit the morning sumo practice, keiko, at the Kitanoumi-beya in Kotu-ku, Tokyo. We were instructed not to talk, move, or show the back of our feet out of respect to the training sumo wrestlers and trainees. One hour watching these men train for the upcoming tournam…(223 words)
Emelie Fågelstedt
Sumo History Osaka Sport Ticket Tokyo Trip Visit
Parks in Japan: Kairakuen
“Kairakuen”On Sunday, March 16, 2014 I visited a place call “Mito, Ibaragi” Prefecture. The thought I had was to do some investigative work on a person by the name of Mito Mitsukuni kou (commonly known as Mito Koomon) who appears on a very well-known Jidaigeki TV series.However, I found a treas…(607 words)
AustinA
Parks in Japan Cherry blossom Day trip from Tokyo Plum trees Japan Day Travel Japan Easy Access Adventure Mito Beautiful Spring Japan
Ohanami in Tokyo
If you have time now you should go to Yasukuni shrine and Chidorigafuchi beside of Kitanomaru park. A lot of Cherry blossom trees blooming now. Tomorrow will be rain so you should go now! You have casual Japanese good with sake for dinner at Yasukuni shrine. If you have time now just go!(53 words)
noby
Tokyo Park Cherry blossom Jinjya (Shrine) Sake (Rice wine) Cherry Dinner Chidorigafuchi
Tokyo bay cruise
If you are Tokyo tour proficient, you must know the name "Hato Bus". Well, Hato Bus is not only a tour bus company but also owns cruise company. You can enjoy nice lunch or dinner on the Tokyo bay cruise together with buy tour to other places. I went with family for Christmas lunch and it wa…(123 words)
KIH
Tokyo Cruise Tokyo Bay Bus Christmas English Lunch Dinner view
Happy Nogeyama Zoo in Yokohama
We visited Nogeyama zoo today.It is just about a right size zoo for little kids and my little boy was running all over. I admire Yokohama city to run this place as a free zoo beside Kanazawa zoo (also a free zoo) and Zoorasia (Admisson fee 600 yen/person). We would love to visit the other two i…(235 words)
EmiOnishi
Yokohama Zoo Nogeyama Zoo City Visit Children Respect for the Aged Day
La Folle Journee au Japon
If you happen to be in Tokyo during the "Golden Week" as you should prefer to, you can spend time walking the streets of Marunouchi and discover street performances and concerto.What is Golden Week: it is a week blessed with so many national holiday that you do not work at all during that week.…(224 words)
Claire
Tokyo City Music Event Marunouchi Golden Week
Hanami - another way to enjoy (for the next year)
Belatedly, let me introduce another way to enjoy cherry blossoms - please take this FYI for the next year :-)Yakata-Bune is the traditionally shaped smallish boat to go up and down the river. There are a few boat operators in Tokyo and one of them is in the canal near Shinagawa station. It ha…(170 words)
KIH
Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) Tokyo Asakusa Cherry blossom River Lunch view Cruise Yakatabune
Local Secret: YaNeSen
You know you are in for something special when, on the way to Nippori station on the eternally jammed Yamanote line, you find yourself in an almost empty train watching the buildings get smaller and smaller.Affectionately known as YaNeSen (Yanaka-Sendagi-Nezu), this part of Tokyo was untouched …(307 words)
Chiara
local secret Tokyo Visit Jinjya (Shrine) Curry Wagashi Nippori
The Hakone Open Air Museum : Amazing place!
The Hakone Open Air Museum is a beautiful landscape park with wonderful arts and the mountains as a backdrop. I recommend this as an unforgettable stop while exploring Hakone. We went there in the afternoon on the way back from our Hakone trip as it has been always my favorite Hakone spot. We stay…(255 words)
EmiOnishi
Museum Hakone Park Building Trip Lunch English Play Gallery Kids
Sasebo
Sasebo is located in Kyushu, in Nagasaki Prefecture. Sasebo is a very scenic city with a large natural sea port. There are 208 islands near Sasebo and there are many boat tours available. There are many wonderful views you will be able to capture during your trip to Sasebo.Sasebo is a touris…(112 words)
Kevin
Sasebo City Trip Visit Sea Castle Kyushu Nagasaki Huis Ten Bosch
Wisteria: Fuji - Spring Flowers in Japan
Tokyo changes all the time, but there are a few places left that feel unchanged. Kameido Tenjin Shrine is a place like this. I was there today for the wisteria flower festival and it was like walking through the old print from "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo" by Utagawa Hiroshige. Wisteria flo…(154 words)
David
Spring Flower Kameido Jinjya (Shrine) Japanese festivals Ukiyoe April
The beauty hidden in mountains of Japan. - Satoyamas
Here is an interesting tour which i recently used for vising Hida area in Gifu.The tour contains various components and its amazing to be in nature and classic township models from the past.you can check out the possibilities on their site including cycling tours! It sure is an experiences and …(72 words)
idivilayil
Beauty Nature Gifu
Golden Week in Nihonbashi
Time to Goldenweek here in Japan the end of April to the first week of May.Many people will go to overseas for a trip or going back to a home town.Many sightseeing places will be packed.If you would like to feel "modern Japan" during the golden week, I will recommend "COREDO Muromachi" in …(186 words)
yukorose
Golden Week Tokyo City
JRA Japan Horse Show on Golden Week
Japan Horse Show will be held on May 3 to 5 at Baji-Kouen that is now use for training hurdle race horses. This park contains several small playground for children with lots of big trees and it's a good place to visit taking lunch box. Attention ; no pets allowed inside.This is free charge …(126 words)
Moo Moo
Golden Week Horse Park Visit Event Museum Children Playground Setagayaku
Maid Cafe in Akihabara!
I’ve heard about Japanese “Maid Cafes” and I was very curious to see what kind of place it was. So I decided to go to one of them in Akihabara with my cousins. (There are many maid cafes in Akihabara) So here is my experience:When I got off at Akihabara station, a woman dressed up as a maid was…(276 words)
Natalie
Maid Cafe Akihabara Cafe Tokyo Food
Visiting Japan? There's an App for That!
For thousands of years, Japan has been building sustainable systems for everything, from rice planting to entertaining overseas visitors. So, if you're planning to visit, we've been waiting for you! All you have to do is plug in, let a Licensed Private Tour Guide know your interests and itinerary, …(221 words)
LoveJapanChika
Japan Travel Licensed Private Tour Guides
Kameido Tenjin Shrine
If you still have a few hours to kill in Tokyo, Kameido's Tenjin Shrine is a nice spot to visit. It is at walking distance from the Skytree Tower. I like the way modern constructions mixe with traditional ones.The shrine is located in quite a large parc with a pond and a forest of palawnia. Fuj…(303 words)
Claire
Jinjya (Shrine) Kameido Tokyo Sushi Visit
Yoshima YMCA Retreat
oshima Island is located off the southern tip of Shodoshima in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea. It has an area of 2.2 square kilometers and is about 1 kilometer from the main island of Shodoshima. Although Yoshima is part of Shodoshima and therefore Kagawa Prefecture, it is administered by the Kobe YMCA.…(421 words)
Kenji
Sea Sport Beaches Nature Outdoor recreation Tennis Okayama Kobe Bar Food
Hakone
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5201.html in the Hakone area. http://wikitravel.org/en/Hakone Hakone is a great place to visit for a day or two or more and is only around and hour and a half to two hours from Tokyo. And the other shot is of the large torii http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torii at the …(977 words)
TokyoTom
Hakone Yunessun Spa Resort Lake Ashi Owakudani Hotel Shopping Visit Museum Mount Fuji Tourism
Take a walk on the nearly wild side
One of the many characteristics of Japanese people is their large tolerance for fashion. Aoyama district is the fashionable place to be for all fashion victims "with classe". Aoyama street is the place to be for fashion designers of the world. They show off their season collections in really ni…(308 words)
Claire
Walk
Where can I take a nice jog in Nagoya?
You might of heard of Kin-shachi if you have visited Nagoya.The Kin-shachi or the golden dolphin is known for the symbol of Nagoya.Where does this Kin-shachi come from?There is actually two and they proudly sit on top of the the Nagoya castle.The Nagoya castle is known for one of the we…(159 words)
Yuuki I
Nagoya Park City History Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) Castle Kids Nagoya Castle
Mt. Fuji Station #5 (Fuji Subaru Line)
Mt. Fuji, as most of us know, is the highest peak in Japan, standing at 3,776 m (12,388 ft) and it is a very popular tourist destination, with an estimated 320,000 climbers scaling the mountain during the two month summer season (from July 1st to August 31st) annually. The mountain's new new statu…(547 words)
jdlawrence
English Mount Fuji Mountain Mt Fuji 5th Station Shizuoka Summer Tera (Temple) Trip World Heritage Site Yamanashi
Asakusa area has a lot of great sightseeing spots
Asakusa area has a lot of great sightseeing spots and you can ride on a “jinrikisha” (rickshaw) to travel around popular historical spots, enjoying interesting explanations given by jinrikishaman. You can select a tour time from a couple of options such as 30 minutes and 60 minutes. We had one arou…(110 words)
Daijo
Asakusa Communication jinrikisha
Kabuki - True Japanese Traditional Entertainment!
Perhaps I may be minority here, but many Japanese people have never seen Kabuki or Sumo live. Until today, I couldn't care less, honestly.But, boy was I wrong! I went to the latest one at Meiji-za (not Kabuki-za) with my mother where Ichikawa Somegoro did a very interesting and entertaining p…(228 words)
KIH
Entertainment Kabuki Ticket English Play Live Guide
Sunsets in Japan
As Japan is an island nation, if one enjoys sunsets and I think pretty much everyone loves sunsets, then this island nation of Japan has coastlines galore. Take a break from the big city, take a train or drive to the coast, take some photographs with your family and friends. These particular phot…(74 words)
Kevin
Sasebo Trip Kyushu Sunsets Hakkeijima Sea Paradise Train City Sea
Where to visit when your in Aichi
Recommended place for family, couples, and friends.Nagashima Onsen has it all.I went there last year stayed at a near by Ryokan for a night.The first day my friends and I went to the Theme Park.One of the many must rides is the Steal Dragon.It takes you up 97 meters feet dangled from yo…(208 words)
Yuuki I
Visit Aichi Izakaya Park Shopping Onsen River Japanese inn Amusement park Nagoya
Psychedelic Buddhas
Fukagawafudo is so funky. There is a hidden path behind the main stage (?) with thousands of crystal towers. I visited many temples but this is something insanely beautiful. All I can say is wow, who made these???Then go upstairs. There is a dark room with glow in the dark buddhas. There ar…(84 words)
Hitomi
Tokyo
Local Secret: Kappabashi
A 15 minute walk down 'Butsudan Road' (where all the Buddhist altar companies have their showrooms) from Ueno station lies Kappabashi, a street full of restaurant goods. These range from awesome crockery to individual taiyaki (fish-shaped cake) forms, and of course the amazing plastic food you…(167 words)
Chiara
local secret Building Asakusa Coffee Ueno Rice cracker Souvenir