Saijo: The Home of Sake in Hiroshima Prefecture
Sep 29, 2021 By Admin
Hiroshima, or more precisely, Saijo, is known as one of the best sake brewing areas in the whole of Japan. Saijo is located approximately 40 minutes from Hiroshima Station, in the eastern area of Hiroshima Prefecture. Saijo serves as the administrative center of the larger Higashihiroshima City, but it is...[ Click to read more ]
“Take a hike!” in Hiroshima
By Michael Stigall
If you arrive in or depart Hiroshima Station from the East on one of the local trains or Shinkansen, you can see a large silver pagoda on the top of the mountain overlooking the station. Since there are so many other things to do in Hiroshima, many people never bother...[ Click to read more ]
Hiking to Koyasan in Wakayama Prefecture
Sep 28, 2021 By Justin Hanus
Wakayama prefecture is home to Koyasan — one of the most popular places for pilgrimages for more than a thousand years. There are actually a few trails to Koyasan, but the original is the Koyasan Choishi Michi trail. The name comes from the fact that it has choishi along the...[ Click to read more ]
Day Trips: Wakayama and the Kumano Kodo Trail (Easy)
Aug 31, 2021 By Bert Wishart
How many UNESCO Heritage sites do you think that you could fit in a day? One? Two? Three at the most? Well, if you visit Kumano Kodo in the southern Kansai region, then pretty much around every corner, you will see yet another sign pointing you in a UNESCO direction....[ Click to read more ]
Tour de Nagoya – See Nagoya in a Day
Aug 23, 2021 By Bert Wishart
Summer is a time for cycling, with the Tour de France the world's most famous race. Of course, there is no equivalent in our fair city of Nagoya, so I thought I would come up with one. But this is not a superhuman challenge of endurance like 'le Tour,' but...[ Click to read more ]
An Excellent Day Trip from Hiroshima: Onomichi
Aug 19, 2021 By Jade Brischke
One of the best day trips that you can make outside of the Hiroshima metro area is to the port city of Onomichi. Onomichi is roughly 90 minutes east of Hiroshima Station by local train, and it is a beautiful town to spend the day relaxing and taking in the...[ Click to read more ]
Places to Visit on a Walking Tour of Gion in Kyoto
Aug 18, 2021 By Justin Hanus
Gion is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Kyoto. It is famous for being the entertainment district of the city and for the presence of real geishas that you can often see walking along the streets. There are many interesting sites to see in Gion, all of which you can...[ Click to read more ]
Plum Blossom Viewing in Tokyo – The Top Umemi Spots!
Jan 29, 2021 By Bert Wishart
While the cherry blossom is the flower that tends to dominate the imagination of Japanese botanic appreciation, it is perhaps the plum (ume) blossom that should be the more celebrated. Reddish pink or white flowers, they are distinguishable from the sakura by their split ended petals and their strong sweet...[ Click to read more ]
Hiroshima’s Most Important and Spectacular Shrines and Temples
By Bert Wishart
While it is perhaps Kyoto that is Japan's best-known city for shrines and temples, it doesn't mean that you have to go quite that far to visit some breathtaking and historic places of worship. Hiroshima Prefecture has numerous beautiful shrines and temples, some of which are absolutely stunning, and all...[ Click to read more ]
Planning a Visit to Shiga Prefecture in Kansai
Oct 26, 2020 By Justin Hanus
Just to the east of Kyoto in the Kansai region is Lake Biwa — the largest lake in Japan. Surrounding the lake on all sides is Shiga Prefecture. Although Shiga is lesser known than many other places in Kansai, it’s definitely worth visiting for the large number of cultural sites...[ Click to read more ]
