Doai Station on the JR Joetsu Line in Minakami, Gunma is Japan's 'mole station': its down-line platform sits about 70 m underground, reached by a staircase of 486 steps. What to expect, the sparse train times, the cafe and glamping, and how to fit it into a Minakami trip.
Beat the 40°C summer at Spa Resort Hawaiians in Iwaki, Fukushima: a giant all-weather dome where the pools are real hot-spring water, plus Japan's longest body slide, a live hula show born from a coal town, and easy access from Tokyo.
Lake Suwa in Nagano: see Mt. Fuji over the lake from Takabocchi and Tateishi Park, ride the 16 km loop, catch the August 15 fireworks, and soak in Kamisuwa Onsen.
Hakuba is the only place in Japan where you can ski an Olympic course in February, swim in a glacial alpine pond in August, photograph cherry against snow peaks in April, and watch foliage burn against green forest in October. A year-round guide with all four seasons.
Unzen sits on a volcano, at about 700 meters up on the Shimabara Peninsula in Nagasaki, and you notice this before you see any of it. The road from the coast narrows, bends, and then suddenly you smell sulfur —…
Nestled on the serene shores of Lake Yunoko in the heart of Oku-Nikko, Kamenoi Hotel Oku-Nikko offers a tranquil escape into Japan’s stunning natural landscapes. During a winter visit, I discovered this hotel is more than just a place to…
When winter blankets Japan in a layer of pristine snow, the historic town of Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture transforms into a breathtaking wonderland. While many tourists flock here for the autumn colors, a winter visit offers a serene, almost magical…
Kotohira Kadan 2026 — historic Kagawa ryokan founded 1627 at the foot of Konpira-san. 18 rooms across 4 buildings, Konpira Onsen, Sanuki kaiseki, ¥27k-283k/night, 5 min from JR Kotohira. Guest register includes Mori Ogai and Yosano Akiko.
Imagine waking up completely surrounded by a serene forest, with sunlight filtering through the trees onto your bed. This isn’t a dream, but an experience offered at COMOREBI Yufuin, a luxury glamping resort in Oita, Japan. This article provides a…
Intro While most of Japan is still in winter, the plum trees in Atami are already in bloom. The Atami Plum Blossom Festival (熱海梅園梅まつり, Atami Baien Ume Matsuri) is held in a garden of 469 plum trees in the hills…
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