Travel Tips

Mt. Fuji Satoyama Vacation is a beautiful retreat site, luxurious camping facility and ecotourism hub centered around the Japanese concept of “wa” (harmony). It is exclusively available for guests of En-Ya Mt. Fuji Ecotours. Our ecotours and facility were conceived with the dream of creating and deepening connections with people and the surrounding nature under the watchful eye of Mt. Fuji: Japan’s number one icon and cultural heritage site.

After traveling all around the world working in community-based ecotourism development, founder Masanori Shintani returned to his home near Fujinomiya City in Shizuoka to create a sustainable and eco-friendly site on the foothills of Japan’s greatest mountain.

Our facility is carefully crafted and built around our upheld beliefs in sustainable tourism. We look forward to welcoming you to stay, enjoy our ecotours experience first-hand just how much we truly love and care about the beauty that Japan has to offer.

Stay

We limit our accommodatio..

On the last Sunday of each month, the port of Manazuru booms with life. Tucked amongst the fishing boats is a festive cluster of food trucks and nearly twenty tents featuring local organic produce, handmade tofu, baked goods, fresh and dried fish, two types of ramen, curry, artisanal coffee, and local crafts. A classic community affair, the Manazuru Naburaichi Farmers Market offers a little taste of everything this coastal town has to offer.

Started seven years ago by Takayuki Shibuyama, the market has become a community hub. When the programmer moved to Manazuru from Tokyo to establish a startup, he noticed there were few local shops to serve the population and many of those that were still open had owners ready to retire. Shibuyama shifted gears slightly and opened Manazuru Satoumi Base, an incubator for new businesses, in hopes of fostering a new generation of local merchants. When someone in the community suggested a farmers market, Shibuyama saw it as a natural extension of his w..

If you're a dog lover or are interested in riding a rail bike, then Odate City in Akita prefecture should be on your must-visit list. Noodle lovers, too, will likely warm to the city's charms – soba noodles are a major part of the food culture here.
Make your own soba noodles or tanpo at The Cheerful Mother shop
The Cheerful Mother
Drive approximately 10 kilometers south of Odate Station and you'll find Youkina Okaasan (Cheerful Mother), a shop that specializes in local produce and fruits. With prominent signage and an endearing logo, you can't miss it. The shop is divided into two sections: the product-selling area, and a smaller building that serves as a classroom for teaching visitors how to make soba noodles and tanpo (a kind of sausage-shaped rice snack). As you enter the main building, you'll notice a variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables. The bright colors of the different vegetables conjure a fresh, visually striking image.
Cheerful Mother prop..

Kyoto is known for its rows of iconic traditional wooden townhouses, called “Kyo-machiya,” weaving together the same scenery residents would have enjoyed hundreds of years ago. While many are unfortunately demolished, some are renovated into new businesses, imbuing them with fresh life.
One of these is Kyoto Machiya Fukune, a townhouse serving as private bookable accommodation, allowing visitors to experience the day-to-day life of locals.
We stayed at Kyoto Machiya Fukune to bring you a first-hand account of what a night in ancient Kyoto feels like!
What are Kyo-machiya?
The traditional streetscapes of Kyoto. PIXTA
Kyo-machiya are a type of traditional home found in Kyoto built before the 1950s. Having been largely spared from air raids during WWII, numerous historical buildings like these remain in Kyoto. Many kyo-machiya were intended to serve as both businesses and private homes and were designed to be densely packed.
Kyo-machiya are said to resemble an “eel’s bed,” with narrow ..

Renowned for its deep blue hue, Lake Mashu is one of Hokkaido’s finest natural sights! Known in the Ainu language as Kamuito, the ‘Lake of Gods’, this magnificent wonder is the perfect addition to any nature lover’s Hokkaido itinerary.
So what’s the secret behind Lake Mashu’s enchanting clear waters, and what can you actually do there? We’ll take you through the delights of Lake Mashu throughout the year, from the fresh greenery of summer to the depths of the intense white winters!
What Kind of Place is Lake Mashu?
Located in the Akan Mashu National Park in eastern Hokkaido, Lake Mashu is a 19.6 square kilometer volcanic caldera lake with a whopping 20-kilometer circumference.
As the lake and surroundings are a designated ‘Special Protection Area’ enclosed by sharp cliffs, it is impossible to actually go down into the lake. However, there are lookouts offering stunning panoramas sure to satisfy!
Why are Lake Mashu's waters so clear?
With rain as its primary source, the lake is fr..

The Obihiro area is located about 150km east of Sapporo, Hokkaido's largest city. Alongside Obihiro's thriving agriculture, livestock, forestry, and fishing industries, the area serves as a core region for Hokkaido's food and ingredients.
But in addition to all that, it is surrounded by mountains like Mt. Tokachi, and is known for its fun activities that make the most of the abundant nature.
Here are​​ ten things to do in​​ the Obihiro area, among its vast and refreshing landscapes.
1. Ban'ei kyōsō: Watch as giant horses draw an impressive 1-tonne sleigh
The event is held mostly on weekends and public holidays (Photo: Yoshida Masakazu)
Located about 7 minutes from the south exit of JR Obihiro Station, Ban'ei Tokachi holds the only Ban'ei kyōsō (Ban'ei horse racing) in the world.
Ban'ei Racing is a race in which giant horses draw about a ton of sleigh to the finish line. It's said that during the era of the Hokkaido Development Commission,..

Excited to experience a different side of Japan? Head from Tokyo to Niigata, Japan's gorgeous region filled with everything from sake breweries to breathtaking scenery!
It takes about two hours to get from Tokyo Station to Niigata via the JR Joetsu Shinkansen. Niigata City has prospered as one of Japan's leading port cities since the Edo Period, and you can enjoy many activities here, such as historical walks and delicious gourmet meals.
It is a great spot to use as a tourist base, as there are plenty of hotels in the city, and it is surrounded by attractions such as Sado Island and Yahiko Shrine.
Getting from Tokyo to Niigata via the Joetsu Shinkansen
The JR Joetsu Shinkansen “Toki” Line is the easiest way of getting from Tokyo Station to Niigata Station. There are one or two trains per hour.
Depending on the time of day you board, the total ride time can take from around 1 hour 35 minutes to 2 hours 25 minutes. It costs 10,570 yen (for a regular seat in the regular car).
..

Ginza is a glitzy neighborhood in Tokyo where cutting-edge trends and Japanese tradition coexist. From well-established boutiques to fancy department stores, world-class brand shops, and flagship stores for fast fashion brands from Japan and beyond, it’s an area that is consistently popular among tourists from all over the world.
In the Ginza Station area, at the heart of Ginza, there are several new and old landmarks. Access to these places varies depending on exactly where you are going. Here, we have carefully selected sightseeing spots that are popular with tourists, so be sure to refer to them when you go out.
main image: Lifestyle Travel Photo / Shutterstock.com
What is the Ginza Station area like?
Ginza, at the center of Tokyo's 23 'wards,' is known as a sophisticated place to stroll and peruse high-end brand shops and famous restaurants.
Ginza was not the original name of the area; instead, there was a location named Ginza Yakusho (a government office) that was r..

Kurashiki is a city in southern Okayama Prefecture, only a 20-minute local train ride from the Okayama shinkansen station. Kurashiki played an important role in the economy of the eastern Chugoku region of Japan in the Edo period (1603-1867) because of its location midway between Hiroshima and Osaka.

Kurashiki doesn’t present itself as the best of Okayama. Instead, consider it one of the jewels in the crown of Okayama’s many attractions. In particular, the historical quarter, Kurashiki Bikan Chiku, has preserved the old merchant houses and warehouses. But, unfortunately, it’s a destination not on many tourists’ radars. Especially if you’re a lover of Japanese culture and tradition, visiting Kurashiki is like visiting a theme park recreating Edo Japan.

Although there are lots to see and do, these are my picks for five fun and inspiring things to do in Kurashiki.

The Edo experience
Photo: iStock/ Sanga ParkTake a trip through time.
After leaving JR Kurashiki station, you embark on a l..

Hiyashi chuka is my go-to dish as soon as it’s warm enough to stop wearing long sleeves. The cool noodles and the refreshing tang of the vinegar really hit the spot on a hot summer night, and it helps that there’s not a lot of cooking to do, so I’m not sweating buckets by the time I sit down to eat.

Hiyashi chuka is a customizable cold noodle dish using the same egg noodles often used in ramen, called “chuka men” (Chinese noodles). Although there are tons of variations (and you’re welcome to try your own), for this Japanese Recipe Adventure, we’ll take a look at the style you’ll most commonly find in Japan. But it will be much better because you’ll have made it yourself!

Ingredients
Photo: Cassandra LordPractically a noodle salad.
This recipe makes two bowls of hiyashi chuka.

For the noodles and toppings:

2 portions of chuka men (or any other egg noodle)
1 egg
Oil as needed
2 slices of ham
1 Japanese cucumber (or half an English cucumber)
Half a large tomato
Mustard and beni shoga ..