Omihachiman is overlooked by almost all non-Japanese traveling to the Kansai region. Located only one hour by train from Osaka Station or 40 minutes from Kyoto Station, the town has a lot to offer without the crowds of its more famous neighbors. In the 16th century, Hidetsugu Toyotomi (nephew of the powerful daimyo Hideyoshi Toyotomi) … More Top 10 – Historic Omihachiman
There are two main types of giant Buddhist statues in Japan, Daibutsu (Giant Buddha) and Dai-Kannon (Giant Goddess of Mercy). Older statues are made of bronze or stone. Newer ones tower over local landscapes, are made of reinforced concrete, and can be explored – internally. Five impressive ‘ascendable’ statues surround Tokyo and all are worth … More Best ‘Ascendable’ Tokyo Area Giant Buddhist Statues
Many lovely Western homes, built in the early 1900’s, can be found in the Yamate area of Yokohama. Some have been converted into museums and cafes. Seven historic homes are now owned by the government and are open to the public, free of charge. Although they can be explored year-round, the best time to visit … More Touring Historic Homes in Yokohama – December is best!
Just a short train ride out of Tokyo’s city center is a lovely green oasis that surrounds a small lake called Senzokuike. Just across from a train station of the same name, the 77,000 square meter park (41,000 square meters of which are covered in water) is great for boating, bird watching, picnics, cherry blossom … More Tokyo Oasis: Senzokuike
Minami Boso is a collective term for the cities of Tateyama, Minami Boso, Kamogawa, and Katsuura, which make up the southern tip of Chiba’s Boso Peninsula. The area is full of wonderful sightseeing spots, but many are hard to reach by mass transportation and so they are often overlooked. This is a list of my … More Best of Minami Boso, Chiba Prefecture
Every year, from mid-September to mid-October, a park in Koma, Saitama Prefecture turns vivid red when approximately 5 million red spider lilies spring up from the ground in a forested area cris-crossed by walking paths. It is a wonderful day trip from Tokyo and is easy to access by mass transportation. Use hyperdia.com to find … More Kinchakuda Red Spider Lily Festival, Saitama Prefecture
Kawasaki is only ten minutes by train from Shinagawa Station, but it seems worlds away. As one of the largest industrial areas of Japan, the city is not known for its sightseeing spots. However, the area around Kawasaki Station is well worth visiting, especially for anyone who enjoys bargain shopping. In addition, famous Kawasaki Daishi, … More Day Trip: Environs of Kawasaki Station
Mt. Mitake is one of Tokyo’s best one-day hiking destinations. A hike here can be tailored to many skill levels, but is especially good for beginners as there is a lot to see without too much difficulty. After traveling by train or car into the mountainous Westernmost section of Tokyo, take a scenic cable car … More Self-guided Tour: Hiking Mt. Mitake’s Rock Garden
The town of Oya, near Tochigi Prefecture’s capital, Utsunomiya, is relatively unknown but is an excellent day trip from Tokyo. Oya-ishi, a porous stone created from ash and lava, has been quarried in the area for centuries. It is mostly extracted from underground, so the town’s landscape has not been scarred. However, man-made arches, holes, … More ‘The City of Stone’ Oya, Tochigi
Clematis-no-oka opened in 2002 and is a collection of four museums and four restaurants spread around a large nature park & garden in the city of Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture. In addition to indoor exhibits, many beautiful works of art can be seen throughout the compound – similar to Hakone’s Open Air Museum. The first museum, … More Garden & Museums of Clematis-no-Oka
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