Weekend Activities

Toyota Plant and Museum Tour

Feb 26, 2015 By Bert Wishart

As the third largest producer worldwide, there can be no doubting the importance of the automobile industry to Japan’s economy, and here in Aichi we are at the heart of...[ Click to read more ]

Gattan Go!! Rail Mountain Biking in Hida Gifu

Jul 16, 2014 By Ray Proper

Looking for an interesting family day trip and adventure?  You may enjoy enjoy Gattan Go!!,  an innovative hybrid of bicycle and railroad comprised of two bikes linked to each other and...[ Click to read more ]

Hiking, Walking and Biking Nagano: Nagano City

Jun 19, 2014 By

Mystical Forests, Ninja Adventures, WWII Tunnels and Mountains Galore Many Japanese associate Nagano City with the iconic Zenkoji Temple, home to the oldest Buddha image in Japan. For non-Japanese, this...[ Click to read more ]

Experience the Tea Ceremony in Tokyo or Nagoya Japan

Jan 19, 2014 By Ray Proper

Tea; from the ever present green varieties that line shelves in the convenience stores here, to the black varieties that my English and Australian room-mates preferred when I first arrived,...[ Click to read more ]

SCMAGLEV and Railway Park Nagoya

Nov 25, 2013 By Ray Proper

The SCMaglev and Railway Park is a railway and train museum owned by the  Central Japan Railway Company in Nagoya, Japan.  The museum is a new edition to the list...[ Click to read more ]

Mt Togoku Fruits Park in Nagoya – Fruit Picking

Oct 28, 2013 By Ray Proper

Fruit picking is a popular family activity in Japan, and farms across the country offer the opportunity to pick fruit directly from the tree from their orchards.  Typically farms will...[ Click to read more ]

Non Hoi Park – Toyohashi Zoo and Botanical Garden

Aug 21, 2013 By Ray Proper

Non Hoi Park, or the Toyohashi Comprehensive Zoo and Botanical Garden is a garden, natural history museum, and amusement park a couple of hours from Nagoya in Toyohashi City.   It...[ Click to read more ]

Kawadoko: Riverside Terrace Dining in Kyoto

Jun 14, 2013 By Ray Proper

It’s summer — time for trips! If you’ll be visiting Kyoto this summer, one highly-recommended activity is kawadoko, or river dining. In Japan, eating outside in the summer is popular...[ Click to read more ]

Hiking and Hot Springs: Highlights of a Weekend in Nagano

Apr 16, 2013 By Ray Proper

Guest post from Peter Ninnes, author of Nagano Onsen Guide: The Top 100 Day-Use Hot Springs Hiking, Walking and Biking Nagano: 16 Tours in Ueda City and Environs Hiking, Walking...[ Click to read more ]

HimakaJima in Sparkling Mikawa Bay

Mar 26, 2013 By Ray Proper

This article, and HimakaJima itself,  caught my attention for various reasons: Chris Glenn knows where the good stuff in Japan is. It is a day trip from Nagoya. It is...[ Click to read more ]