Travel Tips

Iwate Prefecture boasts the largest area in the Tohoku Region. Morioka City is the prefectural capital and is conveniently located near the Kitakami and Nakatsugawa Rivers, looking up at the famous peak of Mt. Iwate.
Morioka is famous for its picturesque natural landscape, as well as its popular local cuisine. Among Morioka's famous foods are the “Morioka sandaimen” – the Three Great Noodles of Morioka: Morioka Reimen, Morioka Jajamen, and Wanko Soba.
These three noodle dishes are Morioka specialties that have been loved by tourists and locals alike for a very long time.
Morioka Reimen: A Product of Trial and Error
Morioka Reimen, the specialty noodle dish of Morioka, was developed by Teruhito Aoki, founder of the famous local shop Shokudoen, nearly 60 years ago.
Upon establishing Shokudoen in 1954, Mr. Aoki undertook the task of trying to reproduce the reimen noodle dish he tried in Korea in his youth. Korean reimen noodles were gray in color and contained buckwheat flour, so h..

Noboribetsu Onsen is one of Hokkaido’s most famous hot springs resorts. Here, natural hot springs containing sulfur and minerals bubble up from the ground, creating curious geothermal features – like the Noboribetsu Jigokudani, or ‘Hell Valley.’
What better way to enjoy this hot springs paradise than by staying at an onsen ryokan in Noboribetsu? These six conveniently located, budget-friendly traditional hot springs hotels are the best places to stay in Noboribetsu while enjoying a relaxing visit. Pick your favorite and book with Live Japan!
1. Dai-ichi Takimotokan: Making Noboribetsu Onsen guests happy since 1858
The Dai-ichi Takimotokan Hotel is the oldest hot spring resort in Noboribetsu. It was established in 1858 by Kinzo Takimoto when he created it for his ailing wife. Many other hot spring inns have opened in this area since then.
In addition to being long-established, this is an expansive resort with a huge variety of baths in which to soak. It is also in a great location as it..

Takayama City is located in Hida Region in the northern part of Gifu Prefecture. This city has a charming townscape and is a popular tourist destination because of its historical buildings and traditional culture which has been in place since the Edo period (1600 to 1868). Most people know it by the name Hida Takayama.
This article lists a number of sightseeing spots that will allow tourists to fully enjoy the charm of Hida Takayama. We will also provide information on dishes that highlight Hida-gyu or Hida beef as a part of the exquisite Wagyu brand.
Let’s jumpstart this list by seeing some of the most common tourist spots in this city.
Main image credit: Alexander Hagseth / Shutterstock.com
1. Visit Takayama Jinya, the last magistrate’s office in Japan
Takayama Jinya is a government office that served as the workplace of magistrates and county officials dispatched by the military government or bakufu. Sixty of such offices existed in Japan by the end of the Edo period. Still, at pres..

When traveling in Hokkaido, what kind of souvenirs can you get? Well, there is so much to choose from!
You'll be spoilt for choice, from the famous Shiroi Koibito sweet snacks to Jaga Pokkuru potato chips.
We visited Tanukiya, a long-established souvenir shop on Tanukikoji Shopping Street in Sapporo City, where we found out about “Classic sweets and secret snacks that have been gaining popularity!”
We'll look at eight recommended Hokkaido snack souvenirs that have been rising in popularity.
Tanukiya – with its long history – tells us all about Sapporo snacks
Find Tanukiya by looking for its symbolic Tanuki (raccoon dog) statue out front
We visited Tanukiya, a souvenir shop founded in 1916, to hear about their snacks.
Located in Sapporo's best shopping district, Tanukikoji Shopping Street is lined with restaurants and various shops.
It is about a 3-minute walk from Susukino, the largest shopping district in northern Japan, and a 5-minute walk from Odori and Susukino s..

The Moomins are characters in a cartoon series developed by Finnish illustrator Tove Jansson, and they're extremely popular in Japan. Since 2005, August 9th has been designated as Moomin Day, and it coincides with Jansson's birthdate. To celebrate Moomin Day, Saitama's Moomin Valley Park will be hosting a week full of fun activities from August 3rd to 9th.
The park will have a variety of special decorations on display, and limited-edition goods such as t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, and even commemorative Moomin dorayaki will be available to purchase.
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There will also be five types of special Moomin drinks on offer, and they're each priced at ¥ 700 – the flavors include strawberry milk, strawberry soda, mango soda, mango milk, and milk tea.
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For the hands-on types, the park is hosting a create-your-own Moomin mug event on August 8th only. This is priced at ¥ 3000 and is on a first come, first served basis on..

The southern island of Ishigaki is famous for its clear emerald-green water and beautiful white sandy beaches.
Browse & Book hotels in Okinawa
1. Kabira Bay
One of the most famous spots in Ishigaki – and one of the Top 100 Landscapes of Japan – Kabira Bay is truly picture perfect.
The colors of the ocean are said to change with the tides, turning from shades of turquoise to emerald.The popular glass-bottomed boats reveal a pristine underwater world below, where black pearls are cultivated. Though swimming is not allowed due to strong currents, visitors can still enjoy the beach and the gorgeous views.
Kabira Park Observation Deck
Kabira Park, Kabira, Ishigaki City, Okinawa 907-0453, JapanBook Now ▶ Okinawa Glass Boat Tour at Kabira Bay and Snorkeling Tour at Fantom Island
2. Scuba & Snorkeling
The warm tropical waters around the islands of Okinawa make it Japan's diving paradise.
It is estimated that about 200 of the world’s 800 coral species flourish in the reefs of this region, ..

With the release of the Lightyear movie at the start of this month, all things Toy Story are back in vogue. In line with the movie release, limited-time Toy Story Aliens pop up café events are taking place in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya starting in late July and early August.
The events include themed menus, with offerings like a space curry, a green pasta featuring broccoli, edamame, spinach, and snap peas, or three types of alien burgers featuring either teriyaki soy meat, tomato soy meat, or chicken and potato (all priced at ¥ 2079 including tax).
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Even the drinks stick to the theme, with one of the highlights being the alien smoothie (¥ 1089 including tax). The smoothie has a banana yogurt flavor, and you can also purchase the glasses the smoothies come in for an additional ¥ 1650 including tax.
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Like most pop-up cafés, you can also find a variety of event-exclusive merchandise available for purchase if you're looking..

For fans of Sanrio and adorably presented food, a limited-time event starting this August at the Nagoya Hilton will be right up your alley. The Dark Forest Harvest Festival sweets buffet includes a variety of mouthwatering desserts which are inspired by Sanrio favorites like Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, and Kuromi.
Some of the sweets on offer include Kuromi's Dark Forest Cake (a white chocolate mousse cake topped with cherries and Kuromi decorations), an Autumn Cinnamoroll Cake (a fluffy roll cake filled with purple taro cream and chestnut paste), and pumpkin Mont Blancs (milk chocolate cream, chocolate crumbles, pistachio cream, and pumpkin Mont Blanc cream, topped with pumpkin seeds).
The event will also include savory dishes such as chicken tikka masala, penne arrabiata with black olives and bacon, and a German potato salad to name just a few. The full menu can be explored here.
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As for the drinks, guest can choose from a variety of Ronnefeldt teas..

When you want your accommodation to have incredible natural surroundings but the creature comforts of home, glamping is a great option. A portmanteau of the words glamorous and camping, this style of accommodation brings a little luxury to the great outdoors, and more glamping destinations have been popping up across the country in recent years. One incredible glamping destination in Japan can be found at the Shakushiyama Gateway Camp, which boasts some incredible views of Mount Fuji.
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There are several types of glamping tents available at the premises, including luxury four bed tents (Dome A, Dome B, and Dome C), deluxe twin tents (Dome D, Dome E, Dome F, and Dome G), and premium twin tents (Dome H, Dome I, and Dome J). The four bed tents would be perfect for family trips or to accommodate larger friend groups, and the twin tents would work well for a couple's getaway.
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Part of what makes glamping such an appealing opt..

Spring and summer are when parks and gardens all over Japan come alive with gorgeous flowers and the festivals that celebrate them.
And while most people have probably heard of Sakura Matsuri, or cherry blossom festivals in Japan, there's some more flower festivals you won't want to miss!
The 15th Annual Fuji Shiba-sakura Festival
On Saturday, April 16, 2022, the Fuji Shiba-sakura Festival returns to the Kanto Region. This year marks the event's 15th annual run, and will coincide with the debut of the largest English garden in the Tokyo metropolitan area, the Peter Rabbit™ English Garden.
Shibazakura, or moss phlox, is a creeping evergreen plant that blankets the field in bright carpets of pink when it flowers in the spring. And at the Fuji Shiba-sakura Festival, the sight is even more spectacular to behold as the venue happens to sit before a breathtaking backdrop of Mount Fuji.
(Image: PR Times)
The garden spans approximately 15,000 square meters and is home to nearly..