Tag: japan travel
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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…
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Akan National Park: Exploring Hokkaido’s Hidden Gems
September 14, 2025. Akan, Japan. Today, we drove from Shiretoko to Akan. We’re now in the center of Akan National Park, staying at the wonderful and accommodating Forest Akan Hotel on the shores of Lake Akan and at the foot of Mount Meakan. Along the way, we made several stops. Near Shiretoko, we stopped at…
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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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On to Hokkaido, an Island Filled with Adventure
September 4, 2025. Sapporo, Japan. Our twenty-day cruise around the beautiful islands of Japan has concluded, and we’re now embarking on a new adventure: exploring the northern island of Hokkaido. We traveled from the cruise port to Haneda Airport, one of Tokyo’s two major international airports, early in the morning. This gave us our first…
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Hiroshima a City Dedicated to Achieving World Peace and the Eradication of Nuclear Weapons.
August 29, 2025. Hiroshima, Japan. We started our day by visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, located within Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park. At the entrance, we were greeted by Makiko Yokohama, the daughter of a bombing survivor who is now 94 years old. Remarkably, her father only began speaking about his experiences four years ago,…
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Exploring the Natural Wonders of Kochi, Japan.
August 28, 2025. Kochi, Japan. During our last visit to Kochi, we restricted ourselves to exploring the city. This time, however, we ventured into the mountains with a rental car. Our first stop was at Oboke Gorge, a stunning river canyon carved by the Yoshino River over millions of years. We purchased tickets for a…
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A Day for The Arts in Osaka, Japan.
August 27, 2025. Osaka, Japan. Today we visited Osaka, Japan. There is so much to see and do here, but since we will be reunited soon for a longer stay and the summer heat was nearly unbearable, we decided to focus on indoor activities. We visited the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka, a strikingly modern…
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Koyaijingu Shrine Naiku, and Swimming in Chidorigahama Beach, Toba, Japan.
August 26, 2025. Toba, Japan. Our short visit to Toba, Japan, began with renting a car and driving up to Kōyaijingu Shrine. Nestled in a peaceful, forested setting, the shrine is surrounded by towering trees that are well over a hundred years old, creating a serene atmosphere perfect for quiet reflection. We enjoyed simply strolling…
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A walk around Yokohama. The Mitsubishi Minatomirai Industrial Museum and a Ride to The Sky Garden.
August 25, 2025. Yokohama, Japan. Today we were in port for just a few hours, giving us a chance to explore Yokohama City. We strolled for about an hour, admiring the clean, modern streets and waterfront views, before arriving at the Mitsubishi Minatomirai Industrial Museum. Admission was only 500 yen, and the exhibits offered an…