Tag: Japan Travel Tips
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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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Exploring Nara: Japan’s Historic Capital and It’s Sacred Sika Deer
September 22, 2025. Nara, Japan. Today we took the train from Kyoto to Nara, Japan. Nara is a city steeped in history and culture. It served as Japan’s first permanent capital from 710 to 784, a period known as the Nara period, which saw a flourishing of Buddhist culture. The city is home to numerous…
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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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Exploring Mount Asahi-dake: Hokkaido’s Majestic Volcano
September 8, 2025. Higashiwaka, Japan. Today we drove from Furano to Mount Asahi-dake. Asahi-dake, also known as Mount Asahi, is a majestic stratovolcano and the highest mountain on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. Standing at 2,291 meters (7,516 ft), it is a central and prominent feature of Daisetsuzan National Park. The mountain’s native Ainu name,…
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A Morning Walk in Tokyo and Travel to Minakami
August 7, 2025. Tokyo, Japan. Day 2 Today was packed with activity as we tried to take in a bit of Tokyo and then travel to Minakami. Being jetlagged, we were wide awake at 5 a.m. and decided to get out on the street to beat the summer heat. We had a wonderful stroll through…