Travel Tips

The Toyosu Fish Market plays a central role in Japanese food culture! Here you’ll find unique and delicious dishes approved by market workers, chefs, and food experts. It’s become more accessible to visit since its move from Tsukiji in 2018, making it a culinary stop for many!
Currently, operating hours have been shortened from 5:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to avoid the spread of Covid-19. Although, even before hour changes, many of the market’s shops opened early in the morning and closed past noon. A simple rule for market goers is to get there early!
This article will be introducing general information on the Toyosu Fish Market, such as operating hours and how to access the facility. We also tried some of the market’s delicious foods and have included our recommendations like sushi and set meals! Check out the restaurants we’ve made 2022 reports on as well as updates on some of the most popular spots!
*In order to avoid the spread of Covid-19, Toyosu Market had prohibited the general ma..

In the Susukino district of downtown Sapporo, Hokkaido, the Ippatsu Don grill offers a 120-minute all-you-can-eat Japanese Black beef course that makes it easy to “eat a lot of Japanese Black beef without worrying about the cost.”
Japanese Black beef, which is some of the highest quality beef in Japan, is popular worldwide. Its delicious, fine fat, known as “sashi,” melts in your mouth.
We tried the all-you-can-eat course, and will share how to get the most out of this value-priced meal.
Elegant, sophisticated shop in the heart of Susukino!
An unmistakable location
From Exit 4 at Susukino Subway Station, head south towards the shimmering neon lights of downtown Sapporo. About a 3-minute walk from the station, you’ll come to Ippatsu-Don’s lively building with “nobori” banners lauding the “all-you-can-eat Japanese Black beef” restaurant.
Ippatsu-Don is across the road from the Susukino Ichiba Market, so first-time visitors can easily find it.
A variety of seating: counters, private roo..

Himeji Castle is the largest and perhaps one of the most beautiful castles in Japan. If you’re there during the day, ghost stories might be the furthest thing from your mind. However, summer is traditionally a time for such stories thanks to the Japanese holiday of Obon, when spirits walk the earth.

Exploring the castle grounds leads you to the impressive main keep, which looks out over the city and has earned the nickname the White Heron Castle for its appearance. On the way down, you might see people gathered around a fenced-in well, looking down through the grate over it. It’s one of the last stop-offs you’ll hit on the self-guided castle tour.

Congratulations, you’ve found your way to Okiku’s Well, the real-life inspiration for the ghost legend that helped inspire the Koji Suzuki novel Ring and its many films and TV adaptations.

Origin Story: Banshu Sarayashiki
Photo: iStockThe White Heron Castle looms over the city.
What the castle and J-horror masterpiece Ringu have in common ..

With relatively cool temperatures and many spectacular natural landscapes, Japan's Tohoku region is the perfect destination for a summer getaway! Consisting of six prefectures in the country's northeast – Aomori, Akita, Iwate, Yamagata, Miyagi, and Fukushima – this area is filled with hidden gems.
Here we'll introduce some of Tohoku's top scenic summer spots, from dynamic cliffs to quiet coves where you can swim in the sea.
1. Miyagi: Saigyo Modoshi no Matsu Park, Matsushima
Photo courtesy of Miyagi Prefecture Tourism Association
Located in Miyagi Prefecture is Sendai, the largest city in the Tohoku Region. Matsushima, famous as one of Japan's Top Three Scenic Views, is a mass of nearly 260 islands, big and small, that float in and around Matsushima Bay.
Since ancient times, people have been fascinated by this beautiful natural landscape. In recent years, it has become one of Japan's leading tourist destinations.
Saigyo Modoshi no Matsu Park, located ato..

Hokkaido has a wide variety of flowers that grow in fields and gardens, bringing enjoyment from spring to autumn. Some can only be seen in Hokkaido, beckoning flower fans to regions rarely explored.
Here’s an introduction to the flowers that bloom in Hokkaido in each season, including some of the best viewing spots to guide you on your floral journey!
Hokkaido’s flower season lasts from April to October!
Hokkaido winters are long and severely cold, but magnificent flowers can be seen from when the snow melts in April to October when autumn leaves begin to fall.
The flower season is shorter than that of Honshu, but there are ways to enjoy flowers in Hokkaido that cannot be found in other prefectures.
Many native plants bloom only on remote islands and in unexplored regions. Given Hokkaido’s higher latitude, plants that live in the highlands of Honshu can be seen in lower areas in Hokkaido. Due to lower temperatures throughout the year, some flowers are also seen in different seasons ..

Think you've seen all the historical shrines and famous buildings there are to be seen in Kyoto? Then maybe it's time to try a Kyoto day trip!
Besides the main places of interest that most tourists usually charge towards, Kyoto is also chock full of lesser-known attractions that offer equally exciting experiences, and that's what we're going to talk about today.
Although usually a little distance away from Kyoto's town center, these are nevertheless great places to visit, especially for a Kyoto day trip! What's more, these places can be conveniently accessed via public transport options such as trains and buses. See if you can fit one of them into your schedule!
1. Kifune Shrine: Spiritual sanctuary tucked away in the recesses of Kyoto (Kurama / Kifune area)
The majestic-looking main hall framed by leaves
Approach to the shrine, made up of a stone stairwell that seems to purify with every step taken
Head over to the Kessha building to pray for success in ..

Blessed with both gorgeous sea and lush mountains, Awaji Island is a popular getaway in the Kansai area and known for its resort atmosphere. For your next fun trip to Awaji Island, we’ve picked out four hotels and ryokans you should stay in.
With great locations where you can gaze at the beautiful sunset, a smorgasbord of delicious food made from all natural ingredients, and hot springs to rest yourself from your journey, we’ve picked up a list of different types of accommodation options! Each one is equipped to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
What kind of place is Awaji Island?
Awaji Island (also known as Awaji-shima) is an island connected with Kobe to the north via the Akashi-Kaikyō-Ōhashi bridge, and with Tokushima to the south via the Ōnaruto-kyōbridge.
Filled with lush nature and greenery, Awaji Island is a popular resort, with beautiful flowers throughout the seasons, local specialties such as Awaji Island onions, octopus, and Awaji-gyū beef, amongst a treasure trove of other g..

Hi there! My name is Atsumi, and one of my favorite things to do is introduce railways throughout Japan.
This time I combined a trip along the Enoshima Electric Railway with some walking tours recommended by a consultant, Mr. Toshiyuki, who joined me along with photographer Yoichi Yoshinaga, who is famous for taking aerial photographs of railways.
Enjoying a leisurely rest before our trip!
Today we will be visiting the following:
1. A Japanese style ice fruit café next to the railroad tracks
2. Enjoy seeing the trains from a European style cafe
3. Try Enoshima Island’s famous Enoden Monaka
4. Be thrilled by the sight of trains passing through the streets
1. Mushinan: Japanese style ice fruit café next to the railroad tracks
I was hoping to see something special, like a train on the street
Do you look for special sights using social media? I often go to social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc., to see beautiful scenery, delicious food, interesting scenery and more. And I..

In Japan, Otaru is also called “the museum without a roof.” This is a fitting appellation as Otaru today is lined with many historical structures. The area around the Otaru Canal is especially recommended, as a popular photo spot in itself, with its collection of historical buildings making picture-perfect scenery from whatever angle you snap.
The Otaru Canal Cruise is a great way to enjoy this area. This is a 40-minute boat ride visiting many unique spots that can only be seen from a boat. During this time, the captain explains the history of Otaru and its historic structures. It's guaranteed to leave you with many beautiful memories.
What exactly is the Otaru Canal Cruise?
It is a sightseeing activity that takes you by boat down the Otaru Canal and around the port to which it is connected. The Day Cruise provides good views of the buildings and their settings in the daytime. The lights from the buildings at night and 63 gas lamplights on the pathway running alongside the Otaru ..

Japan’s summers are getting hotter (and dangerous). The baking heat is getting worse year after year. Parents, couples, and expats on holiday often look for trips that combine cooling off with having fun. That being said, who doesn’t enjoy a good old-fashioned water park?

Japan has more than a few. So we have found the best water parks and waterslides across the country for the ultimate combination of cooling off and slip-and-slide excitement for a day out in Japan’s summers.

1. Sunshine Pool (Fukuoka)

Kids love dinosaurs, and kids love waterparks, so naturally, it was only a matter of time before someone thought to combine the two. At Uminonakamichi Seaside Park in Fukuoka, the Dinosaur Pool is a fun way to imagine yourself back in prehistoric times, thanks to its strange statues of dinosaurs and an ancient village theme.

The big attraction for waterslide lovers is the Dragon Sliders. There are three types of waterslides: Fire Dragon, which has a total length of about 100m. Tube D..