Lake Toya Pleasure Boat

A 50 min cruise on large boats such as the “Espoir” — designed to look like an old castle from the Middle Ages. The natural scenery of the lake and mountains seen from the ship is wonderful and healing. The boat cruises around the four islands, and visitors can disembark and go for a walk […]

知念岬公園

太平洋に向かって突き出した岬の先端にある公園で、あまり人が多くない“穴場”だ。 高台にあり、三方が海に囲まれているので、視界を遮るものがなく非常に眺めが良い。 公園の下は、エメラルドグリーンの珊瑚礁となっており、その先はグラデ―ジョンが美しいコバルトブルーの海と水平線、青い空が広がっている。 そして沖縄で“神の島”と呼ばれている久高島も間近に見える。 また、知念岬は東側に向かって開けているので、海から昇ってくる真っ赤な太陽を見ることが出来る“日の出観賞スポット”としても有名だ。 そして周りに光源がほとんどない場所なので、夜は星空や月が非常にクリアに見える。 公園内はきれいに整備されており、赤瓦屋根の東屋や歩きやすい遊歩道があるので、散策すると非常に気持ちが良い。 なお、公園内に売店やレストランなどはない。

Sapporo Clock Tower

The clock tower was initially built in 1878 to serve as the military drill hall for Hokkaido University.

Osaka Castle Gozabune Boat

Take a 20-minute spin along the inner moat of Osaka Castle on this tourist boat, and you’ll be able to see Japan’s highest stone wall from a close proximity. Long ago, only those of a high status were able to ride this special boat layered with gold foil.

Former British Consulate of Hakodate

Established as the British Consulate of Hakodate from 1859 to 1934. Today, the rooms of the consulate serve as exhibits re-creating what it was like during operation, as well as the history of Hakodate Port. A charming tea room can be found in the former consulate too.

Tsubetsu Pass Observation Facility

Tsubetsu Pass is the highest of the four passes around Lake Kussharo, at 947 meters above sea level. It offers a 360-degree panorama with an unobstructed view of Lake Kussharo below, the Sea of Okhotsk, the Shiretoko Mountain Range, and Daisetsuzan. If your timing is right, be sure to see the sea of clouds and […]

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 […]

Doyamacho

Located in the Doyamacho area on the east side of Umeda Station there are around 230 restaurants – mainly gay bars – forming the largest gay town in west Japan. Foreigners are welcome in half of the bars so there is no need to feel nervous. On the other hand, if you have any issues, […]

Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery

Having won several international competitions, the Yoichi Distillery is the origin of the now famous Nikka Whisky brand. Participate in a FREE tour of the distillery process, with 2 kinds of whisky tasting! If you prefer to go along with a guide, you have to make online reservations 3–5 days in advance.

Animate Osaka Nipponbashi

The highest-class shop for anime goods in all of west Japan. Events and fairs are frequently held here.

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 […]

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 […]

Tsutenkaku

Tsutenkaku is the symbol of Shinsekai, and it is even called the “Eiffel Tower of Naniwa (Osaka)” – likely an over-exaggeration. It was built in 1912 but deconstructed in 1943 after experiencing a fire, and rebuilt in 1956 with a great increase in height from 64 meters to 103 meters. The 5th floor is known […]

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。

The Bank of Japan Otaru Museum

Former Bank of Japan Otaru Branch Museum of Finance Famous for designing Tokyo Station, Kingo Tatsuno was the man behind the plans for this building. Inside are contents relating to the history of “Wall Street of Northern Japan” and an exhibit of the work content when it was a branch of the Bank of Japan.

Ariake Garden

The complex includes more than 200 stores and restaurants, the largest hot spring facility in Tokyo, and Japan’s largest theater-style event hall.

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, […]

SMALL WORLDS TOKYO

With a total area of approximately 8,000 square meters, it is one of the largest indoor miniature theme parks in the world. The “miniature world in motion” is a fusion of sophisticated and cutting-edge Japanese technology on a scale of 1/80th of a miniature. There are a total of six areas, including an area that […]

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 […]

Nakijin Castle Ruin

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. […]