The Kansai Region consists of Hyogo, Kyoto, Mie, Nara, Osaka, Shiga, and Wakayama prefectures. The area is considered the cultural heart of Japan and is home to many World Heritage sites. Here is a short run-down, with regards to sightseeing, on each of the prefectures within Kansai – from a personal perspective. … More What & Where is it? Kansai Explained
Many of Japan’s best tourist destinations have been preserved due to their locations well off the beaten path. The town of Tsuwano sits in a valley in western Shimane Prefecture near the border with Yamaguchi Prefecture. It is known as the Little Kyoto of the San-in Region and is highly recommended for travelers willing to … More ‘Little Kyoto’ – Tsuwano, Shimane Prefecture
Matsumoto, a lovely small-sized city in Nagano Prefecture, is home to one of Japan’s most beautiful castles and is well worth a visit.Matsumoto-jo has the oldest donjon remaining in Japan – construction began in 1592. It is one of five castles designated a ‘National Treasure of Japan’. It has also earned the name, Karasu-jo, or … More One Night in Matsumoto
Filled with impressive sightseeing spots, both natural and man-made, Aomori and Akita prefectures are perfect for anyone wanting to ‘get away from it all’. Even during Golden Week, crowds are minimal and cherry blossoms are often still in bloom. This is a recommended 4 day, 3 night trip that can easily be adapted or shortened. … More 3 Nights/4 Days in Northern Tohoku
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
Recently, many foreign tourists travel to Wakayama Prefecture to visit Mt.Koya and the famous Kumano Kaido. Most are unaware of Shingu, a lovely little city that has its own collection of impressive sightseeing spots, including sections of the famous path and other related World Heritage Sites. Most of Shingu’s attractions are centrally located and can … More World Heritage Site hunting in Shingu, Wakayama
The Seto Inland Sea’s ‘art island’, Naoshima, is now on the bucket list of many tourists. Most visit the island and then head off to another famous location on the Japanese main island of Honshu. Unfortunately, they miss the opportunity to explore many fantastic lesser known sightseeing spots in the rest of Kagawa Prefecture. If … More Touring Shikoku’s Kagawa Prefecture (after Naoshima)
Aizu Wakamatsu is located in the center of Fukushima Prefecture and is nicknamed the ‘Samurai City’ due its prominence as a former castle town of the Aizu domain. The city is full of impressive historic sites and is one of my favorite sightseeing destinations. Here is a list (in no particular order) of many of … More Aizu Wakamatsu: The Samurai City
The Tokyo American Club has been supporting Fukushima through volunteer projects for many years. In appreciation, the locals often encourage us to return as tourists. On one of those trips, I co-led a tour for the Women’s Group (now called ‘Connections’) to highlight some of the prefecture’s wonderful sightseeing spots. If you really want to … More Fukushima City and Nihonmatsu City – Overnight Sightseeing Tour
excursionsjapan.com 