Tag: Japan things to do
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Experience Golfing in Minakami, Japan. The Forest and Sky
October 3-4, 2025. Minakami, Japan. If you are remotely interested in golf, then you must not leave Japan without playing a round or two. As we scouted the Minakami area for our return trip in 2026, we came upon the Minakami Kogen Resort 200. This wonderful hotel resort offers a variety of amenities that cater…
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Exploring Tomioka Silk Mill: A UNESCO Heritage Site
October 1, 2025. Tamioka, Japan. Today, we drove to the small town of Tomioka in Gunma Prefecture to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site known as the Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Sites. The Mill was integral to silk production in the late 1800s when Japan was forced to industrialize its production of silk in…
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Exploring Tōkamachi Japan and The Tunnel of Light: A Must-See Art Installation in Kiyotsu Gorge
September 30, 2025. Tōkamachi, Japan. Today we drove to Tōkamachi in the Niigata Prefecture. Tōkamachi’s main attraction is skiing, as it receives the heaviest snowfall of the entire main island of Japan. Because of this, there are ski slopes everywhere. We decided to venture a bit into the mountains in search of natural beauty, and…
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Hiking Naramata Dam and a Chance Encounter with Japanese Snow Monkeys
September 29, 2025. Minakami, Japan. Today we climbed the Naramata Dam. The Naramata Dam is a significant multi-purpose dam located in Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, in the upper part of the Yu no koya area. It is a rock-fill dam with a height of 158 meters (518 ft), making it one of the highest…
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An Unexpected Encounter with Higashi Hongan-ji. A Beautiful Temple In The Heart of Kyoto
September 25, 2025. Kyoto, Japan. Today was supposed to be a day of recovery from sightseeing. However, an innocent bus ride toward Kyoto Station in search of souvenirs turned into an unexpected temple visit. One bus stop short of our destination, we noticed a massive temple structure, which prompted us to ring the bell and…
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Kyoto Gyoen Park and Imperial Palace: Nature Meets History
September 24, 2025. Kyoto, Japan. Today we meandered through the street of Kyoto and ended up without intention at the Kyoto Imperial Palace. Along the way we walked through the open air markets, we saw artisans quilting, cheese making, witnessed an Anti-Nuclear Power street protest and had a wonderful breakfast at a small Cafe. Kyoto…
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The Unique Features of Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto
September 24, 2025. Kyoto, Japan. After almost two months in Japan, it’s hard to find a temple that stands out from the rest. The architecture and design are often very similar, and visits can start to feel monotonous. However, Fushimi Inari Taisha is a bit different. This is one of Japan’s most famous and historically…
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Experiencing Authentic Noh Theater in Osaka: A Journey Through Time with Miwa
September 21, 2025. Osaka, Japan. Today we returned to Osaka to attend a Noh theater performance at the Yamamoto Noh Theater. We purposely took the express train this time and noticed it was half the cost of the day before—perhaps due to weekend rates. Noh is a major form of classical Japanese dance-drama that has…
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Exploring Kyoto: A Walk Through Temples and Crowds
September 19, 2025. Kyoto, Japan. Today we traveled from Osaka to Kyoto. Mistakenly taking the semi-rapid train made for a pleasant and hassle-free transition to a new city in Japan. Upon arrival, we found a quiet city with narrow streets and a very calm vibe. After checking in, we decided to head to the nearby…
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Osaka Castle and Dotonbori: A Day in Osaka’s Bustling Streets
September 18, 2025. Osaka, Japan. We returned to Honshu Island, Japan’s largest island. We flew from the small airport in Memanbetsu, Hokkaido, to Sapporo, and then on to Osaka. Upon arrival, we immediately sensed a major shift from the slow pace of Hokkaido to the hustle and bustle of a big city. We arrived at…