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 — […]

Niseko Ekimae Onsen Kiranoyu

This onsen facility is only a one-minute walk from JR Niseko Station, and the prices are very reasonable. It is one of the few hot spring spas in Niseko that can be reached without a car. There is a Western-style bathhouse with a granite open-air bath and Jacuzzi, and a Japanese-style bathhouse with a rock […]

Senso-ji

The oldest temple in Tokyo.   Though the temple has the same characters as “Asakusa”, it is read “Senso-ji”, not “Asakusa-dera”. In the year 628, 2 fishermen (brothers), built Senso-ji to enshrine the the bodhisattva of mercy and salvation after going out to nearby Sumida River and catching a statue of the bodhisattva Kannon with […]

海遊館

Lake Akan

Lake Akanko is a freshwater lake located in eastern Hokkaido with a circumference of 30 km and an area of 13㎢. The entire area is included in the Akan-Mashu National Park, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Hokkaido. The blue surface of the lake, the beautiful silhouette of Mt. Oakandake, Mt. […]

Yuyake Dandan

The staircase at the entrance (east side) of Yanaka Ginza shopping street is called Yuyake Dandan. It is located on a small hill, so on a clear day, you can see the beautiful sunset and the orange-colored city below. Although it is an ordinary place, it has a nostalgic atmosphere and is often used as […]

Lake Kussharo

Lake Kussharo, with a circumference of 57 km and an area of 79.3 km2, is the largest caldera lake in Japan. It was formed about 30,000 years ago inside the Kussharo Caldera, which is the largest caldera in Japan, measuring about 26 km east to west and 20 km north to south. Incidentally, the word […]

Lake Akan Hot Springs

Due to the volcanic land, the area around Lake Akan gush with high quality hot springs; one hot spring town on the lake’s south shore has around 20 lodging facilities. Among them, roughly 10 of the lodges (like the 2 below) allow you to enjoy their hot spring for about ¥1500 without having to stay […]

Kushiro City Marshland Observatory

The Kushiro City Marshland Observatory is the best-maintained observatory near the city and the airport, and is located at the western edge of Kushiro Marsh. From the observation deck on the third floor and the rooftop, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the marshland, Kushiro city, and the Pacific Ocean. The first floor has […]

Kushida Shrine

The shrine is widely known and beloved by Fukuoka citizens as “Okushida-san”, the chief guardian of the city of Hakata. The shrine is also the site of Hakata Gion Yamakasa, a summer festival famous throughout Japan, and Hakata Okunchi, an autumn festival. Located near the southern entrance to the Kamikawabata shopping street, the shrine is […]

Osaka Tenmangu Shrine

This shrine is where the Tenjin Festival, one of the three greatest festivals in Japan, is held. The shrine has a long history stemming from 650, when Emperor Kotoku built Naniwa Nagara-Toyosaki Palace. The “Shrine of General ” was founded to the northwest of the palace as a guardian deity. In 949, the God of […]

Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu

Formerly a shipbuilding dock, the multicomplex shopping area is a motif of 4 ships. Because it faces Tokyo Bay, presenting a beautiful view, visitors get a sense of openness or spaciousness. Over 180 shops are located inside including restaurants and cinema.

Sugi no Baba

This is a 500-meter walkway leading from the Akizuki Museum to the Akizuki Castle Ruins. It was once lined with cedar trees and used by samurai warriors to practice horsemanship, hence the name “Sugi no Baba.” The cedar trees were replaced by a large number of cherry trees in celebration of Japan’s victory in the […]

Mount Io

Mount Io is a 512-meter-high active volcano located between Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo. Its other name is Atosanupuri, meaning “naked mountain” in Ainu. In the past, it was used as a mine to extract sulfur. With the blue sky in the background, the plumes of smoke and the sound of gurgling are quite impressive. […]

Nusamai Bridge

Nusamai Bridge is a large and magnificent 124-meter-long bridge that spans the mouth of the Kushiro River. Its location in the city center makes access to it easy. From the bridge, you can enjoy a picturesque view of the setting sun melting into the sea and the Kushiro River and Kushiro Port turning a beautiful […]

Toya Sun Palace Resort & Spa

Bathe in a variety of baths at this luxury hotel. The open–air bath overlooking Lake Toya offers a great view and a sense of freedom. It’s like an infinity pool, where the surface of Lake Toya and the surface of the bath seem to merge into one. The large indoor bath is like a “semi–open–air […]

Munakata Taisha Okitsu-miya Yohaisho

A shrine built in the 18th century near the northern tip of Oshima to worship Okinoshima Island, which is off-limits to visitors. It stands in the middle of the slope facing the coast, with the magnificent ocean spread out below. On a clear day, Okinoshima Island can be clearly seen floating on the horizon. The […]

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 […]

Otaru Music Box Museum

The largest music box shop in all of Japan. Inside the brick building built in 1912 is a 9 meter atrium and an attic filled with the warm presence of wood.Around 3,400 various kinds of music boxes are on display and sold. It’s grand sight,Within walking distance from the flagship is a workshop where you […]

Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shopping Street

A roughly 160m-long shopping arcade lined with 50 or so stores that sell kitchen utilities, machines and tools targeted at professional chefs and cooks. Of course, you don’t have to be a professional to shop here, so if you’re interested in cooking, it may be worth having a look for new kitchen utensils here. The […]