Genroku Sushi

Near the shop there is a hand holding sushi prominently sticking out from a wall, originally installed in 2010. The type of sushi being held is red-fleshed (lean) tuna. Size 2.4m tall, 2.4 wide  

Niseko Grand Hotel

This onsen facility is highly recommended for womeen; said to beautify the skin. There are two types of spring water each containing ingredients that make the skin moist and silky smooth. The “moist” type cointains a large amount of metasilicic acid – a natural moisturizing ingredient – which is effective for beautiful skin. In fact, […]

YANAGAWA TACHIBANA-TEI OHANA

The Tachibana Residence was built in 1738 by the fifth lord of the Yanagawa domain as his private residence. In 1910 during the Meiji period (1868-1912), a guest house and Japanese garden were built, and today the entire 23,100 m2 site is designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty in Japan.

Doraemon Wakuwaku Sky Park

Themed after Doraemon’s “himitsu no dogu” (secret gadgets). Various attractions and a strange photography spot are inside the park, as well as a shop and a cafe.

Akan Sightseeing Cruise

The Akan Sightseeing Cruise circumnavigates Lake Akan and operates 4 to 11 times a day between May and November. The boat departs from the pier on the south side of the lake and cruises for about 85 minutes, taking in the view of Mt. Oakan and Mt. Meakan, with stops at Churui Island (where the […]

Kuromon (black gate)

Located on the approach to Suiyu Jinja (shrine), this gate is painted all black and can be called the symbol of Akizuki. It was built in the early Kamakura period (1185-1333) as the back gate of Koshosan Castle, the predecessor of Akizuki Castle, but in 1624, it was moved as the main gate of Akizuki […]

Noboribetsu Grand Hotel

Noboribetsu Grand Hotel is an elegant hotel with a European atmosphere and is also called “Noboribetsu’s Guesthouse. It offers three types of baths: open-air baths, indoor baths, and private baths. Enjoy three types of hot spring water quality (sulfur spring, iron spring, and common salt spring). The open-air rock and cypress baths present you with […]

ニライ橋・カナイ橋

県道86号線から国道331号線へ下っていく途中にある、全長約660mの絶景スポット。 高低差約80mの断崖の上下を、連続する2つの橋が、大きくカーブを描きながら結んでおり、通るとまるで空中をドライブしているかのような感覚になる。 ちなみに上(山側)がニライ橋で、下(海側)がカナイ橋 ※ニライカナイとは、現地の言葉で「海の向こうにある理想郷」という意味だ。 ニライ橋・カナイ橋をドライブする場合は、海を見下ろす絶景を眺めることが出来る、山側から海側へと下るルートを採るべきだ。 ※海側から山側へと上るルートはあまり眺めが良くない。 なお、ニライ橋・カナイ橋のドライブには、橋の上は駐車禁止で、かつ急なカーブが多い道であるため、運転者はじっくり絶景を見ることが出来ないという“致命的な”欠点がある。 車を運転する君は、トンネル(ニライ橋・カナイ橋の頂上付近)にある展望所に行け。 この展望所は、海からは多少遠いが、標高が150mもあるので、ニライ橋・カナイ橋の全景や太平洋を見渡すなどの素晴らしいパノラマビューを楽しむことが出来る。

Seven Stars Tree

On the northern side of Highway 237 stands a single Japanese oak tree in the middle of the rolling hills. The tree suddenly earned fame in 1976 as the world’s 4th largest tobacco manufacturer, JT, used the tree as the package image of their Seven Stars cigarette brand. That’s pretty much all there is to […]

Daiichi Takimotokan

Noboribetsu’s oldest hot spring hotel (established in 1858) located next to Jigokudani. The hotel is rich in hot spring water and has access to wide variety of spring types. The spacious 5,000 m2 bathhouse has a variety of bathtubs of different qualities and temperatures — 35 in total: 18 for men, 17 for women — […]

Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street

Because the strip is about 2.6 kilometers long, walking its total length will take approximately 40 minutes. Weekends will be especially crowded, so it will take longer. If you’re short on time, then just walk around 5 chome. The characteristics of each chome are as follows. 3 to 6 chome are generally very lively.  Most […]

Toyako Manseikaku

Toyako Manseikaku has two large baths. One is “Hoshi–no–yu,” a large bath with an open–air view on the top floor. From here, you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of Lake Toya and the blue sky. Like the Toya Sun Palace Resort & Spa, the baths have an “infinity” design that allows you to see […]

Nezu Shrine

This venerable shrine is said to have been founded by Yamato Takeru (72-114), a legendary hero in ancient Japanese history, and has a history of more than 1,900 years. It is one of the ten shrines of Tokyo and often appears in period dramas on Japanese television. The shrine pavilion, built in 1706, is the […]

Osaka Castle Park

Rinku no Yu

Rinku no Yu is a hot spring located in Rinku Pleasure Town SEACLE on the mainland, the opposite shore of Kansai International Airport. The prices are cheap; a good place to visit if you have time until your flight. There are various baths and saunas such as outdoor hot springs and rock baths, and you […]

The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living

This museum, located along the Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street, is a life-size replica of the streets of Osaka during the early 1830s of the Edo Period. Many tourists love to dress up in kimono here for just an extra 500 yen (in addition to the admission fee), then take many photos along the photogenic streets. It’s […]

Nakatsugu Shrine of Munakata Taisha

Nakatsugu enshrines Tagitsuhime no Kami, the second of the three Munakata goddesses. It is located on a hill on a straight line between Hetsugu on the mainland and Okitsugu on Okinoshima Island. A small river called the Ama-no-kawa flows through the precincts of the shrine, and the Vega shrine and the Altair shrine are located […]

Yumoto Isaribikan

This place has a large cypress bath and an open air rock bath with a nice ocean view. Enjoy it at the low cost of ¥500.

Aidomari Hot Spring

This is the easternmost hot spring in Japan. It is a very “wild” open-air bath, with a bathtub surrounded by a wooden frame dug into the gravel of the shore. Naturally, it is a pleasant experience to soak in the bathtub while enjoying the view of the ocean, but there are no stores, so you […]

Sōhonzan Shitennōji

A temple with a long history, a rarity in Osaka. It is the first ever state-sponsored temple in Japan built by order of Prince Shotoku (574-622) in 593. He was also a magnificent statesman who is revered by Japanese even today. Shitennōji has been destroyed countless times by fire caused by wars, lightening, and typhoons, […]

Shiretoko Sightseeing Boat “Aurora”

This is cruise takes passengers on a large ferry to the west coast of the Shiretoko Peninsula, where precipitous cliffs continue. There are two courses: Secret ground Shiretoko Cape route Departs from Utoro Port and returns to Shiretoko Cape in 3 hours and 45 minutes (operates from June–September) Kamuiwakka Waterfall Route Returns to Kamuiwakka Waterfall […]

Jigokudani(Hell Valley)

Jigokudani is the aftermath of a volcanic repution that took place 10,0000 years ago. The crater you see today has diameter of 450 meters and an area of 11,000 square meters, and is the most popular tourist attraction in Noboribetsu Onsen. Located in the northeastern part of Noboribetsu Onsen, Jigokudani or “Hell’s Valley” gets its […]