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Mt. Fuji shows its superb view around Lake Kawaguchiko. images

Mt. Fuji shows its superb view around Lake Kawaguchiko.

Mount Fuji was designated as an UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage Site in 2013.Mt. Fuji has been popular destination among overseas tourists. But many of Mt. Fuji tours offered to them are actually Hakone tours to view Mt. Fuji from Lake Ashi which is located at 30km south west of the mountain. …(841 words)

Hagi image

Hagi

[A Highly Recommended Glamping and Camping Site for the Family: "THE FARM"] images

[A Highly Recommended Glamping and Camping Site for the Family: "THE FARM"]

Recently, “glamping” (glamorous camping) and camping have become very popular among Japanese families and couples. If you wish to unwind from the hustle and bustle, and want to experience something the locals themselves enjoy doing, consider a staying a few nights at "THE FARM" in Chiba's Katori Ci…(692 words)

CHIBA-KUN image

CHIBA-KUN

I was born in Osaka Japan and Here is My View images

I was born in Osaka Japan and Here is My View

Let me compare Tokyo and Osaka in terms of culture by using a metaphor of kitchen accessory. Tokyo is "Sponge". It soaks up all kinds of information and people are somehow drawn to this metropolis. The majority of companies hold their headquarters in Tokyo and that's one of the reasons behind i…(450 words)

yumin image

yumin

Shopping Seasonal Japan - Limited Edition Products images

Shopping Seasonal Japan - Limited Edition Products

“Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence.Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance.Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence.Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance.” ― Yoko OnoOne of the many things I love about Japan is its distinctive four seasons. You…(259 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer image

Former Deep Japan Writer

Kusatsu Onsen (Hot Springs), relaxation Japanese style images

Kusatsu Onsen (Hot Springs), relaxation Japanese style

Going to hot springs in Japan is high on the list of great things to do and is a fantastic way to calm the nerves and get refreshed. Few things are as an authentic Japanese experience as going to a Japanese hot spring and enjoying the local Japanese cuisine and accommodations. Amongst hot springs, …(338 words)

Aron image

Aron

Kusatsu Onsen – one of Japan’s best hot spring resorts images

Kusatsu Onsen – one of Japan’s best hot spring resorts

Visiting an onsen (hot spring) is an authentic Japanese experience“Going to hot springs in Japan is high on the list of great things to do and is a fantastic way to calm the nerves and get refreshed. Few things are as an authentic Japanese experience as going to a Japanese hot spring and enjoyi…(480 words)

DeepJapan image

DeepJapan

UNKAI Sea of Clouds in Hokkaido images

UNKAI Sea of Clouds in Hokkaido

Unkai Terrace is located in the resort town of Tomamu in Hokkaido Japan, about a 2.5 hour drive from Sapporo. The word "Unkai" in Japanese means "sea of clouds" and the natural phenomena only occurs occasionally, typically on summer mornings. Resort Tomamu located in Shimukappu village has the unka…(313 words)

EmiOnishi image

EmiOnishi

Lake Shikotsu in Hokkaido images

Lake Shikotsu in Hokkaido

Lake Shikotsu is located near Chitose in Hokkaido. This lake is the second deepest lake in Japan. The average depth is 265 meters and the deepest point is 363 meters. One interesting thing about this lake is the water temperature stays the same virtually all year long. It is also the northernmo…(125 words)

Kevin image

Kevin

Enoshima Island is a Legendary Power Spot images

Enoshima Island is a Legendary Power Spot

I work on Enoshima, a small island with a legendary past that is known as a power spot. Enoshima has the myth of a five-headed dragon. The dragon was responsible for the hardships in the surrounding area, and the benevolent goddess Benzaiten eventually came from above to soothe the dragon’s rag…(782 words)

Sayaka image

Sayaka

Photography Workshops in English images

Photography Workshops in English

If you are a foreigner in Tokyo looking to learn some photography techniques in English, then you have some excellent opportunities here. In the almost 15 years that I have been in Japan, it was only about 4 years ago when I took up photography more seriously. I believe learning is a continuous pro…(396 words)

Ani image

Ani

Tenkara Fishing – From Ancient Japan to A Popular Sport With 80 Outlets in the United States images

Tenkara Fishing – From Ancient Japan to A Popular Sport With 80 Outlets in the United States

On a summer hike with a family friend in Winter Park, Colorado, we meandered into a conversation about Japan, my home for 29 years. Wow, Japan! That is so great! Tenkara is one of my favorite fishing styles! I love it!” My Cousin’s best friend’s husband from Boulder Colorado lit up with excitement …(953 words)

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Local Secret: Todoroki Valley images

Local Secret: Todoroki Valley

Tokyo offers a plethora of beautiful parks, from traditional Japanese landscaped gardens to European-influenced rose gardens. However, if you are looking for a walk on the wild side, while still retaining the ability to get a great cappuccino, then Todoroki is the place to go.Todoroki Keikoku (…(630 words)

Chiara image

Chiara

Worth to learn "IKEBANA" once you are in Japan! images

Worth to learn "IKEBANA" once you are in Japan!

Have you ever tried IKEBANA?IKEBANA is the Japanese traditional flower arrangement, but you never imagine there is much difference from the regular floral designs prevailing in Western style. Learning IKEBANA provides you understanding a true-feel about Japan and you can find who you are thro…(145 words)

Ami image

Ami

Running Long Distance in Tokyo Summer images

Running Long Distance in Tokyo Summer

Summer weather in Japan can challenge runners with staying hydrated. If you run for distance and have signed up for a race in the fall, then you need to train through the hot summer months, while still logging long kilometers. In August, the weather can get up to mid-30s with a great deal of humidi…(651 words)

Sweet42.195 image

Sweet42.195

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium images

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

If you ever visit Okinawa, make it a point to spend a day at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium (沖縄美ら海水族館), located in Motobu. The largest aquarium in the world until 2005, it houses over 26,000 animals with as many as 740 different species.The aquarium consists of four floors, with tanks ho…(149 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer image

Former Deep Japan Writer

Easy hike through Kamakura images

Easy hike through Kamakura

Seeking to combine some sight-seeing with a bit of hiking, I found a short hiking course in Kamakura, starting at Kita Kamakura Station and ending up near the Daibutsu, from where the walk can be extended until the sea shore.The trail starts right next to Jochiji temple, and winds into the hill…(427 words)

Chiara image

Chiara

Old Saidaiji Railway images

Old Saidaiji Railway

Saidaiji is well-known for its Hadaka Matsuri or Naked Festival but few people, even locals are aware that there was once a light rail line that ran to central Okayama City. Saidaiji Railway was in operation from 1911 to 1962 and provided transport along the 11.4 kilometers between what was then Sa…(364 words)

Kenji image

Kenji

Meet Yoshida No Udonburi-Chan, Udon Character From Mt. Fuji, Japan! images

Meet Yoshida No Udonburi-Chan, Udon Character From Mt. Fuji, Japan!

There is a very famous type of Udon in Yamanashi Prefecture’s Fujiyoshida City. It is a little bit heavier and stronger than regular Udon so when you try to bite through the noodles it will make your teeth work harder. This is called “Koshi no aru” Udon in Japanese.It is said that this Yoshida …(654 words)

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Japan Bible Home - Perfect Getaway place from Tokyo! images

Japan Bible Home - Perfect Getaway place from Tokyo!

Most people know Minakami for skiing in winter, water sports in summer and bungee-jumping. It is a good place to make a one day trip from Tokyo and you can find a lot of economical ski lots and eating places. However, in summer this year I visited this place tucked away in the mountains and I w…(460 words)

Biju Paul image

Biju Paul

Visiting Nokogiriyama images

Visiting Nokogiriyama

Earlier this month I was able to visit a mountain a bit further from my normal territory, in Chiba prefecture. Nokogiriyama is located in Futtsu, South Western Chiba, and the name of the mountain translates to "Saw Mountain" due to the mountain region running from East to West creating a saw-toothe…(460 words)

Alex Kobayashi /Subtokyo image

Alex Kobayashi /Subtokyo

The Best Views of Fuji images

The Best Views of Fuji

Kintoki Mountain is a hiking route starting in Hakone or Ashigara. The trail is steeped in legend and named after the legendary Japanese children`s tale, Kintaro. Kintaro is the story of a boy raised in the mountains with animals as friends. There are tales of him wrestling bears, running with deer…(261 words)

Kintaro-man image

Kintaro-man

Gourmet Cycling in Kushiro images

Gourmet Cycling in Kushiro

In October, I participated in a gourmet bicycle tour in Kushiro, which featured prominently the Ainu culture that permeates life throughout the area, particularly in its cuisine. The 3-day tour covers about 150 kilometers, roughly evenly divided in the three days of the tour. The ride itself was ca…(868 words)

DeepJapan Editor image

DeepJapan Editor

Southern Japan travel: Okinawa & Kyushu images

Southern Japan travel: Okinawa & Kyushu

One-day itinerary for Okinawa’s main island Honto“Most people head to Okinawa to enjoy the beautiful beaches and rugged coastlines, which are considered among the world's most beautiful with large coral reefs and an abundance of marine wildlife. For travelers who are in Okinawa for the first ti…(511 words)

DeepJapan image

DeepJapan

Sushi With a Special Twist images

Sushi With a Special Twist

Sushi for all intents and purposes is synonymous with pretty Japanese cuisine, which specifically is fairly significant. Many people the world over basically enjoy this delicious really Japanese treat every day in all corners of the globe, which is quite significant. However very few may particular…(453 words)

CHIBA-KUN image

CHIBA-KUN

Tama River Rafting images

Tama River Rafting

Flowing from high in the mountains of Yamanashi the Tama River makes its way to the ocean after traversing a nearly 140 kilometer long trail. The last several kilometers of the river is the dividing line between Tokyo and Kanagawa. The river is dammed along the way, forming Lake Okutama, a major so…(616 words)

Joe Peters image

Joe Peters

In Basho's Footsteps images

In Basho's Footsteps

In May 1689 the great Haiku poet Matsuo Basho sold his house and began travelling north through Japan. His written impressions of the journey, over 1200 miles later, became The Narrow Road to the Deep North, a compilation of travel sketches in prose and verse which is a famous reminder of Basho’s o…(379 words)

InBasho'sFootsteps image

InBasho'sFootsteps

Tourist Tip #3: Stay Away from Souvenir Shops images

Tourist Tip #3: Stay Away from Souvenir Shops

Here's a quick tip to make your memories of Japan more memorable for you and your friends back home: stay away from souvenir shops!Like anywhere else in the world, souvenir shops, by nature, tend to offer only the most generic - and usually hokiest - of gifts. I've seen wares that - at best - w…(219 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer image

Former Deep Japan Writer

Hakone & Lake Ashi images

Hakone & Lake Ashi

If you are in search of that idyllic movie setting lakeside outing, then you have stumbled upon the right guiding information here. Look no further than a visit to the city of Hakone, which lies in the Kanagawa prefecture. Just under a two hour drive from Tokyo proper, you can be immersed in nature…(227 words)

Alex image

Alex

Beautiful Places to Visit in Japan images

Beautiful Places to Visit in Japan

TripAdvisor published a list of 20 beautiful spots to visit in Japan that are not so well known yet. Let this list inspire you when you plan your next trip - there are islands, forests, temples, and lakes included here that not every guidebook describes. Go out of the city and explore the nature an…(252 words)

David image

David

Kinokoen Oyama no Taisho images

Kinokoen Oyama no Taisho

Providing the rich bounty of nature to urban dwellersEating wood-grown shiitake mushrooms freshly picked? There is a place where such a luxurious delight, hardly imaginable by city dwellers, can be experienced all year round. It is called Kinokoen Oyama no Taisho, a restaurant run by a farmin…(561 words)

Kanagawa P.G.T.D. image

Kanagawa P.G.T.D.

Knowing, Being, Doing images

Knowing, Being, Doing

I've been posting something like the following in various places on the internet, but Deep Japan is probably the most appropriate context for this topic -- because "deep Japan" is probably the most appropriate place to think about these things.The starting point is "now".Now is the only ti…(600 words)

Adam F image

Adam F

Experience Zen images

Experience Zen

People feel different things when they hear the word “Zen.” It can conjure images of rock gardens, meditating monks, or spiritual Nirvana. Zen(禅) has influenced and can be found in many of the things we find around us daily. The meaning of zen varies with different schools of practice, but a good …(227 words)

Kintaro-man image

Kintaro-man

Name Drop images

Name Drop

Usually when I meet Japanese people, even though I speak Japanese, they may be hesitant to properly introduce themselves to me, particularly if it is a group with multiple people and one distinct leader, or connection between my group and theirs. One thing I try and make a point of is coming across…(200 words)

KurtisW image

KurtisW

Yatai while doing hanami images

Yatai while doing hanami

Yatai or open-air food stalls are seen at festivals and big events. I love stopping at several yatais when I go do hanami at Gumyoji. During the sakura-blooming season, there is a row of yatai along the river in Gumyoji. Along the river, there are also cherry-blossom trees! Therefore, it is a great…(131 words)

RieS image

RieS

A breathtaking run to Minatomirai images

A breathtaking run to Minatomirai

As a person who lives in Yokohama, my favorite jogging route starts at Motomachi Station. Turn a right and run to the park that is right in front of the first crossroad. When you go up an incline, there is a Bridge below the highway that leads you to the Yokohama Doll Museum and Yamashita Park - a …(212 words)

RieS image

RieS

Japan's Animal Viewing Oasis is Tama Zoo images

Japan's Animal Viewing Oasis is Tama Zoo

Tama Zoo is one of the most popular Zoos in Japan.I recommend that you should go to Tama-zoo because it is surrounded by nature and will make for a lovely full day of fun.You will enjoy all the animals and insects located in Tama-zoo. Get off at the TAMA-DOUBUTSUEN (Keio-Line),where you wil…(82 words)

yumin image

yumin

Come and visit "Mihamaen" in Makuhari, Chiba!!! images

Come and visit "Mihamaen" in Makuhari, Chiba!!!

Mihamaen is located in the Makuhari Kaihin Park, 10 minute walk from Kaihin Makuhari Station of JR Keiyo Line. The place is a stroll-round garden with a pond, where you see the beauty of the nature with its changing scenery as you walk around. There is a tea room right in the middle of the garden. …(94 words)

Hatha Yoga Lover image

Hatha Yoga Lover

When visiting Kyoto... do not forget the Gold Pagoda images

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 image

Claire

nature airliner images

nature airliner

nature airliner emerged as a husband-and-wife folk duo in the summer of 2010, when Japanese photographer Eiko Hosaka Tiernan (vocals) and Canadian musician Laurier Tiernan (guitar) joined forces to start playing unplugged shows of Laurier's unreleased songs which suited Eiko's voice. The first sing…(183 words)

Laurier Tiernan image

Laurier Tiernan

I appreciate the thought, not the gift... images

I appreciate the thought, not the gift...

It never happened to you? Then throw me the first stone!In Japanese, there is a special word for that: Arigatai meiwaku. Litteraly, the "embarrassment that you have to thank for". The thing is, while being very much happy to know that I was part of your thought while you were abroad, I real…(284 words)

Claire image

Claire