Travel Tips

Sakunami Onsen is one of the main hot-spring Areas in Sendai City, in Miyagi Prefecture. Alongside great hot-spring inns, there are many great restaurants, traditional-crafts shops, and scenic spots. The Sakunami Onsen area is easily accessible, being only a 30-minute drive from JR Sendai Station, and about 40 minutes by train.
Today we'll look a 4 ryokan hot-spring inns and day-trip plans for your visit to Sakunami Onsen and its many sightseeing spots.
All the facilities we are introducing are implementing measures against Covid-19.
Main image courtesy of Yosenkaku Iwamatsu Ryokan
1.a. Nikka Whiskey Sendai Factory Miyagikyo Distillery2.b. Is that a gorilla profile?! Check out Kamakurayama3.c. Enjoy lunch at the Yu no Machi Sakunami tourist Information Plaza Lasanta4.d. Add Yosenkaku Iwamatsu Ryokan's hot springs to your day-trip5.e. Find your souvenirs at Hiraga Kokeshi Store6.f. Homei Shijuhachi-taki FallsSendai's Sakunami Onsen Area
Photo courtesy of Sendai Interna..

Several rivers and canals flow through this former castle town, with boat rides especially popular in the spring when cherry blossoms line the banks. Toyama is also famous as the northern entrance to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route.
Browse & Book hotels in Toyama
1. Toyama Castle Park
This spectacular green park is the site of the iconic Toyama Castle, once home to the Maeda clan. It is a popular relaxation spot and a famous cherry blossom destination for the locals.
The park offers a striking view of the castle’s moat and tower.
Toyama Castle Park
1 Honmaru, Toyama, 930-00812. Fugan Canal Kansui Park
This park sits by a canal just 9 minutes from the North Gate of JR Toyama Station.
It is filled with fun things to do, including a square with a spring and waterfall, a playground for kids, and the Tenmon-kyo Bridge. Take a cruise along the canal, or relax with a beverage at the incredibly stylish Starbucks. At night, there are sometimes firework displays.
Fugan Canal Kansui Park
1 Minat..

If you’re just starting to learn how to cook and want to avoid gaining weight from convenience store food, buy a denshi renji (microwave) from a second-hand store. You might find that Japanese microwaves are more versatile than the ones back home. Once you understand the power of your finger on the start button, prepare to fulfill your destiny as the next Iron Chef.

Here’s a list of four easy and cheap Japanese comfort food eaten at least once by most people living in Japan. These are my special recipes, refined through trial and error. For a single person in a hurry, this could be just what the doctor ordered.

1. Dashimaki tamago (rolled omelet)
Photo: iStock/SangSanitA tasty, low-effort alternative to scrambled eggs.
These eggs are special because they contain umami or savoriness from the soup base. They are also sweetened to a child’s taste. Today you find them in almost every small child’s bento. Mothers usually use a skillful rolling technique that is probably beyond the foreign..

The Shirakami-Sanchi mountain range is a fabled UNESCO World Heritage Site straddling Japan's northern prefectures of Akita and Aomori. The untouched primitive beauty of nature here and the sheer scale of it all continues to mesmerize countless visitors to its lands, making it a prime destination for adventure tourism.
Here we'll provide a comprehensive guide that will help you make the most of a 2-day trip to Tohoku's Akita and Shirakami-Sanchi, including details on how to get there from Tokyo, what exciting foods to try out, and must-visit hotspots within the region.
More About Shirakami-Sanchi in the Tohoku Region
Tohoku refers to the northeastern tip of Japan's Honshu island, the Japanese archipelago's main and largest. Full of luxuriant nature that is beautiful all year round, the region is home to many hot spring areas, traditional festivals, and countryside cuisine, giving it a special allure that can't be found in modern cities. No wonder it came i..

Kayaba Coffee, situated in Yanaka, a popular tourist destination in downtown Tokyo, has been beloved by locals for over 100 years.
Despite closing its doors once, thanks to the voices of the locals, the shop reopened and came back to life stronger than ever. This coffee shop is popular with people of all kinds, with a unique charm that conveys both its modernness as well as its cozy, old-fashioned charm.
Introducing Kayaba Coffee, where you can experience the unique “kissaten culture” of Japan, and learn about its differences from region to region.
What is a kissaten and how does it relate to Japanese cafe culture?
Image source: PIXTA
The image of the “kissaten” (喫茶店) in Japan is similar to, but a little different than that of the “cafe.”
Nowadays, a “kissaten” refers to a place where you can drink coffee that usually has a traditional, retro vibe. A “cafe” is more of a chic, modern shop where you can enjoy coffee as well as the newest sweets.
However, the cafe actually has a much ..

Have you always wanted to visit sunflower fields in Japan? Well, now is your chance to see some of the best places in Japan's midwest and what each gorgeous field offers. Known as 'himawari' in Japanese, sunflowers bloom during the summer months of July and August. Visiting sunflower fields can be a great day trip from Osaka and other areas to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine.
With so much fun for all ages, Japan's sunflower fields offer visitors the chance to enjoy nature's beauty, snap some gorgeous photos, and even get a bite to eat, too! Join us as we travel around Japan's midwest to see the prettiest sunflower fields and give you all of the need-to-know details!
*Flower blooming periods may change depending upon the year.
*Event dates, times, and details may change depending on the circumstances. After checking the latest information on each location's official website, please follow recommended health & safety measures when visiting.
1. Nanko ..

The eclectic city of Naha is the capital of Okinawa and has no shortage of places to see and fun things to do in this island paradise.
Browse & Book hotels in Okinawa
1. Okuma Beach
Almost a kilometer long, Okuma Beach’s smooth white sand, sparkling waters, and colorful beach cottages are picture-perfect.
Popular due to its wide selection of marine sports and leisure activities, Okuma is guaranteed to help kick your vacation into high gear. And surrounded by pristine coral reefs with high visibility, it is also known as one of the world’s best windsurfing spots.
Okuma Beach
Kunigami Village, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa 905-1412, Japan
0980-41-22222. Emerald Beach
True to its name, Emerald Beach was selected as one of the 55 Best Beaches in Japan by the Environment Agency.
Every summer, it becomes a hot spot for various local festivals, parties, and fireworks. But at any time of year, visitors can enjoy swimming in its calm, pristine waters, relaxing in the shade, and watching the sunset over..

If you’re looking to work in Japan, check back here each week as we look through our database of top jobs in Japan posted to GaijinPot and showcase some of the most interesting ones.

You can apply directly to these companies by creating a profile on GaijinPot Jobs!

Business English TrainerCompany: Idea DevelopmentSalary: ¥4,000 / HourLocation: Tokyo, JapanEnglish: Native levelJapanese: FluentApplication: Must currently reside in JapanIdea Development is looking for Business English instructors to conduct business English classes in offices and deliver training programs for English, communication, meeting, negotiation, presentation, cross-culture and more.
You must be a native English speaker.
Share this Job Apply Here
Students Recruitment StaffCompany: Nihongo CenterSalary: ¥180,000 / Month + Achievement Salary (detailed below)Location: Kyoto, JapanEnglish: FluentJapanese: FluentApplication: Must currently reside in JapanThe Nihongo Center, a Japanese language school in Tokyo, is l..

Overview An iconic image of Japan is nihon teien, the Japanese garden. These tranquil spaces are attractive in all seasons, incorporating the undulations of the landscape, rocks, water features, and sometimes “borrowed landscapes”, vistas beyond the garden itself. Tokyo has splendid historical gardens in the Japanese idiom, of course. Not to be overlooked are some more next door in Chiba Prefecture which has a number of these places for contemplation, easily accessible from Narita Airport and central Tokyo.
Mihama-en In the prefectural capital, Chiba City, you'll find Mihama-en not far from the edge of Tokyo Bay. The name is derived from its location at the seaside and a reference in Heian-era literature. With architectural references to a Kyoto model, this garden is surrounded by the modern Makuhari New City with Makuhari Messe convention center and Aeon Mall Makuhari.
Makigahara Garden in Kashiwanoha Park On the Tsukuba Express Line which connects Akihabara to Tsukuba Science ..

Mamma Mia, Here We Go Again!
After a hiatus of almost three years, the cafes, bars, and restos are back on Kamakura’s beaches, the first time they have been erected on the site since the summer of 2019. Until the pandemic put a stop to it, aficionados thronged the Kamakura coast every summer to enjoy a fun day out eating, drinking, swimming, sunbathing, and enjoying a whole host of other beach and marine activities.
From July 1 to August 31, summertime in Kamakura draws holidaymakers to its famed beaches where a slew of eating and drinking places sprout up along the shore, offering all sorts of treats for the thirsty and the hungry. Even as early as the Edo Period (1603-1868), Kamakura has been a popular seaside resort destination for both locals and visitors coming from far and wide.
Kamakura’s Famed Beaches
Administered and maintained by the Kanagawa Prefectural Government, Kamakura's 8 km coastline encompasses five beaches: Zaimokuza and Yuigahama, a contiguous stretch of s..