Travel Tips

Tokamachi is a rural city in southern Niigata Prefecture dotted with gorges, canyons, and rice fields. Tokamachi and neighboring Tsunan town have emerged as centers of art and culture thanks to the long-running Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, which sets contemporary art among the picturesque natural setting. Although the event is only held once every three years, its popularity has created a welcoming tourism infrastructure so visitors can enjoy nature and culture year-round.
Embrace Tokamachi's vibrant contemporary art scene
Leandro Erlich’s “Palimpsest: Pond of Sky,” one of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field exhibits (Photo: Osamu Nakamura)
Many art lovers are drawn to Tokamachi and the surrounding areas to experience the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field, which includes the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale event held at the Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Art, KINARE. Inspired by the idea that “humans are part of nature,” the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field seeks to connect people to nature..

The Japanese cherry blossom, or sakura, has long been adored by people across the globe. It is regarded as a symbol of renewal, vitality, and beauty. During the spring season of each year, thousands travel to Japan to view the wondrous spectacle of these white or pink flowers blooming en masse.

Update (April 1, 2022): Forecast for 2022 Cherry Blossom Season.

Cherry blossom in Japan
Japanese families also eagerly await this time. Many attend cherry blossom festivals or simply enjoy hanami, the tradition of viewing and enjoying the beauty of the cherry blossom. Many people indulge in picnics beneath the blooming cherry trees.

A Japanese hanami is an experience of a lifetime, especially if you must travel from afar!

If you are planning a trip to see Japan’s famous cherry blossoms in 2022, there are two things to consider – where and when to visit. There are many prime locations with a variety of features – some have the oldest trees, others the most trees, and some are close to histor..

Buy now and save! Many ski resorts in Japan great discounted rates on lift passes when bought in advance. We've selected some of the best deals on lift tickets for popular ski resorts around Japan. The types of passes offered and prices vary by the resort and time of year. So to get the best deals on ski passes, be sure to book your lift tickets in advance.
(*Tickets are issued by our partner, Surf & Snow. If Japanese is displayed after viewing a deal, tap the globe icon to switch the language to English.)
Hokkaido
Furano Ski Resort
Furano Ski Resort is one of Hokkaido's premier snow resorts. Thanks to the cold, dry winter air, this area sees exceptional powder that skiers and snowboarders can't seem to get enough of!
Furano Ski Resort
Nakagoryo, Furano-shi, Hokkaido, 076-8511
Furano
0167-22-1111NISEKO Mt. RESORT Grand HIRAFU
Niseko Mountain Resort Grand Hirafu is the largest ski resort in Niseko United. Thanks to the wide range of ski trails and slopes available, even i..

Situated in the Northern Alps in Nagano Prefecture, Hakuba Valley is an international mountain resort frequented by winter sports enthusiasts the world over. This famous region includes the legendary slopes of Hakuba, Otari, and Ōmachi, and is very easy to get to from Tokyo.
With ten ski areas available, there are courses that cater to everyone from beginners to experts, ensuring an enjoyable time for anyone and everyone! This time, we selected six of the top ski areas in Hakuba Valley to introduce.
Related: Hakuba Valley – A Complete Guide to the Northern Alps of Nagano
1. Jiigatake Snow Resort
Jiigatake Snow Resort
Jiigatake Snow Resort is suitable for beginners too. Most of the ski slopes have a gentle incline, and are especially wide, giving you a full view of the entire area. It’s recommended for families who would like to try out skiing for the first time too!
The upper portion of the slope has a course with medium slopes and trees, and amidst this peaceful landscape, you can ev..

There's a lot to love about Tohoku ski resorts when planning a Japan ski holiday! This highly accessible region, just north of Tokyo, is home to various winter resorts, making it one of the more attractive destinations for skiers and snowboarders.
Here we will introduce our top 15 recommended Tohoku ski resorts for foreign tourists! These include resorts with shuttle buses directly to the station, ones with nearby sightseeing attractions, and especially those with staff who can speak other languages.
Tohoku Ski Resorts: Great Skiing & Unique Topography!
Tohoku has many unique winter resorts, ranging from large ski resorts with plenty of hotels to smaller ones that use the topography of the mountains and valleys in their courses.
There are also many Tohoku ski resorts with longer seasons, and you can even find skiers in short-sleeves enjoying summer skiing in Tohoku as late as May!
Also, it is only at Tohoku ski resorts where you can see such high altitudes and the natural phenome..

GALA Yuzawa Ski Resort is one of the best options available when you're looking to hit the slopes around Tokyo! In fact, GALA Yuzawa is famous for being Japan's only ski and snowboard resort with its own Shinkansen bullet train station. GALA Yuzawa is convenient even for day trips and weekend getaways, when you want to enjoy the powder and snow scenery.
Here we will also provide you with information about the JR TOKYO Wide PASS, which can be used for GALA Yuzawa and provides for special Shinkansen fares, making it convenient for sightseeing around Tokyo!
* GALA Yuzawa is implementing measures against Covid-19.
What Kind of Place is GALA Yuzawa Ski Resort?
Yuzawa-machi, Minami-Uonuma-gun, where GALA Yuzawa is located, is a heavy snowfall area, allowing for a comparatively longer season.
This area, where the mountains are covered in deep snow, is also famous for being the setting in the novel Snow Country written by Yasunari Kawabata, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literatur..

Travelers in Japan are spoiled for choice when it comes to mountains and volcanoes to visit. Over 70% of Japan is mountainous, with mountain ranges running through all the main islands.

Japan’s mountains offer a welcome break from the city and a chance to explore the countryside and enjoy the best views of Japan’s spectacular landscapes.

This guide to the top 10 mountains in Japan will help you decide which to visit during your stay.

Mount Fuji, the highest mount in Japan

Mount Fuji is Japan’s highest mountain, at 3,776.24 meters. One of the 3 sacred mountains in Japan, it has extra special significance.

Mount Fuji is located in Yamanashi and Shizuoka ken prefectures of central Honshu. It’s a little over 100 km west of Tokyo city center, making it ideal to visit on a day trip from the capital.

The mountain is known for its almost perfectly symmetrical shape and snowy peak. This iconic view is itself a reason to visit Mount Fuji during your trip to Japan.

The mountain is official..

Hakodate is on the southern tip of the Japanese island of Hokkaido. It is the third-largest city in the Hokkaido region.

The city is easily accessible from Tokyo and offers plenty to see and do. From a popular food market to stunning mountain views, there are many reasons to visit Hakodate.

This guide to Hakodate explains how to get there, what to do, and the best attractions nearby.

How to Get to Hakodate by Train
You can reach Hakodate easily by train using your Japan Rail Pass.

From Sapporo—The Super Hokuto Limited Express train connects Hakodate to Sapporo station in around 3.5 hours.



From Tokyo—The Hokkaido Shinkansen route connects Honshu to Hokkaido. The bullet train departs Tokyo station (Tohoku Shinkansen) and arrives at Shin-Hakodate Hokuto station. The journey takes around 4 hours. There is a 20-minute shuttle train service, the Hakodate Liner, between Shin-Hakodate Hokuto station and Hakodate Station.

Hakodate can also be reached by plane. There are direct flights ..

Pep Fujas talks about ski company WNDR Alpine and the future of sustainable ski manufacturing.

Every year we get excited to see new products coming into the store. This year we have something special from the team at WNDR Alpine skis. These guys are driving innovation on and off the mountain by manufacturing the first truly sustainable ski.

WNDR Alpine was founded in 2018 by Matt Sterbenz who previously founded 4FRNT skis in 2002. He had the ambition of showcasing the technologies developed by parent company Checkerspot, a bio-manufacturing company engineering performance materials. They have been making noise in the industry and challenging the traditional manufacturing process in ski production ever since and the company is now the first industry B Corp certified ski manufacturer.

Shortly after founding WNDR Alpine, long time friend and legendary skier Pep Fujas came onboard. Initially testing the skis and fine-tuning the prototypes. Pep wanted a more hands-on role and is now V..

The Furano Cheese Factory is a spot you will definitely want to check out while sightseeing in Hokkaido. You can enjoy creating your own handmade Hokkaido Mascarpone cheese using local fresh milk and cream.
You are also free to take this cheese home with you. This facility is like a dairy themed amusement park. If you are a cheese lover, you can’t miss out on this!
Inside the Furano Cheese Factory
Enjoy the delicious cheese you make here at home by putting it on a baguette or adding it to a cuisine!
The Furano Cheese Factory is located in a quiet forest, about a 10 minute drive from the JR Furano station.
Inside the cheese park is where you will find tractors, objects, and more. The park is especially beautiful with the fresh green leaves of May and autumn leaves in October!
The main facility here is the Cheese Factory which manufactures and sells dairy products such as cheese, butter, and Furano milk (non-homo pasteurized milk) (180 ml, 124 yen).
There is also the “Handmade Experienc..