Top Hanami Sites Near Kobe
Feb 20, 2023 By Justin Hanus
Spring is just around the corner, which means Hanami time is here again for many Japanese residents. Hanami means "flower viewing" in Japanese (from the Japanese for flower - "hana"), and, up and down the country, people gather together to spend time with each other and appreciate the beauty of...[ Click to read more ]
Tokyo’s Japanese Gardens
Jan 30, 2023 By Michael Stigall
Let's be honest for a moment: Tokyo is an amazing place, but sometimes all that concrete and urban bustle can get to even the best of us. What does a person do on those kinds of days? Well, there is always a train out of town somewhere quieter, or maybe...[ Click to read more ]
Kobe’s Winter Wonderland: Mount Rokko
Jan 21, 2023 By Justin Hanus
Japan hosted the first-ever Winter Olympics in Asia at Sapporo in 1972, but the country already had a rich history of playing on snowy mountain slopes. Although you won't find the world-class ski runs of Nagano and Shiga in Kobe, you will find Mount Rokko: a range of 1,000-meter high...[ Click to read more ]
Strap on Your Skates in Kansai This Winter
By Justin Hanus
Ice skating has a long history as skates made of animal bones dating back 5,000 years were found at the bottom of a lake in Switzerland. It's unknown when the Japanese first strapped on their ice skates, but modern skating did not come organically to the country. According to Joseph...[ Click to read more ]
Best Zoos, Farms and Aquariums in Kumamoto
Jan 20, 2023 By Justin Hanus
Spending time with nature and observing diverse animals and creatures in zoos and aquariums is a great way of relaxing for a few hours and providing entertainment and education for young children. Here is a selection of zoos and aquariums in Kumamoto, where you can see a range of species...[ Click to read more ]
Winter Illumination in Tokyo
Dec 26, 2022 By Michael Stigall
Christmas time in Tokyo can be a bit surreal. On the one hand, there are Christmas markets, gigantic sales, innumerable shopping centers, and more decorations than you would expect, but on the other hand, all magically disappear by December 26th. This is not the case with one local tradition, illumination....[ Click to read more ]
The JR Kyushu Trains with the Best Views
By Justin Hanus
All the Design & Story Trains of the JR Kyushu railway are designed to bring passengers unique experiences. However, a few trains stand out for providing outstanding views along the way. Ibusuki No Tamatebako The idea for the Ibusuki No Tametebako train came from the folk tale Dragon's Palace. When...[ Click to read more ]
Skiing in Hiroshima: Day and Weekend Trips!
Dec 25, 2022 By Matt Mangham
Hiroshima isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think of skiing in Japan. We’re a long way from the Nagano Alps and even further from Hokkaido, but people do go skiing in the Prefecture or just over the border in Shimane. There are a number of options,...[ Click to read more ]
Skiing in Nagoya: Day and Weekend Trips!
Dec 24, 2022 By Bert Wishart
There’s nothing more exhilarating than standing on the top of a slope, the pure white snow stretching out below you, or that moment when you lean forward and the wind begins to rush around your face as you start down the mountain in graceful arcs to the bottom. Yes, the...[ Click to read more ]
Skiing in Kansai: Day and Weekend Trips!
Dec 12, 2022 By Justin Hanus
Skiing might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of tourist attractions in Japan. However, many skiing enthusiasts visit each winter, keen to experience the powder-dry snow. Kansai has many skiing locations — and they tend to draw in fewer tourists than regions like Hokkaido...[ Click to read more ]
