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.

Tree of Ken and Mary

Standing straight and tall towards the sky is this poplar tree. It measures 31 meters tall, and because there are no other tall trees it clearly stands out from a long distance.   The tree became famous when it was introduced as part of a 1972 commercial for Nissan’s Skyline sports car. In the ad was […]

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 […]

Hanazono Resort

There are eight courses, but since there are two beginner courses and one advanced course, we’ll call it a ski resort mainly targeting intermediate skiers. But because the resort faces northeast it doesn’t get much sunlight, and the slopes are always in good condition. Also, it is directly connected to the Park Hyatt, a top-class […]

4 Chome Nanba/1 Chome Nanbanaka

There is a relatively large gay town in Osaka centered on the fourth district and Namba-naka area of Namba. There are roughly LGBT 60 clubs/restaurants, with 40 of those being gay bars and many for elderly people. One of the main characteristics of the Minami gay bars is their small and fiercely individualistic character. Foreigners […]

Mt. Hakodate

The view from Mt. Hakodate is simply magnificent; so much so that it received the highest accolade – 3 stars – from global travel guide book Michelin Green Guide Japan.

Nipponbashi ・ Ota Road

Originally centered on household electronics and parts, in recent years the downtown Nipponbashi area has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of otaku shops, much like Akihabara. On the side of Otaroad (“otaku road”) there is a large parking lot, where you can often find “itasha” cars decorated with pictures of cute anime girls. […]

Otaru Canal

The canal – completed in 1923 – spans 1,140 meters in length and a sightseeing highlight. Along the canal, a promenade and stone brick warehouses stand seeming nostalgic. Once dusk settles in, a romantic fairy-tale-like scene emerges as the promenade and brick warehouses come to life from the warm glow of gas lamps. Nowadays, the […]

Goryōkaku Park

If you look at Fort Goryokaku from right above, you’ll see it is shaped like a pentagram. It is the first western style castle and where the last samurais fought the new government army 150 years ago. Today it exists as a park. It’s open from 5am and entrance is free (too generous)! When spring […]

Hoso-oka Observatory

Hoso-oka Observatory is located on a hill on the east side of Kushiro Marsh. There are several observatories overlooking the marsh, but this one is the only one that captures its entirety. It’s a must visit! From here, you can see a wonderful panorama of greenery, the Kushiro River meandering through the marsh, the majestic […]

6th G Building

In addition, there are numerous gay bars clustered in the “6th G Building”, so have a visit and see what’s there.

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 […]

Shikisai no Oka

Located atop a high hill, the garden is one of the must visit spots in Biei with a spectacular view. Enjoy in season flowers from spring to autumn. The garden takes up over 150,000 sq. m. of land and has roughly 30 kinds of flowers planted in stripes of red, yellow, pink, and white, so […]

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.

Sora Cinema Chitose