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We all love dinosaurs, and dinosaur-mania is in overdrive again thanks to the release of Jurassic World Dominion (July 29, 2022, in Japan), the final chapter in the saga that began with Jurassic Park. At least until the next reboot.

But did you know Japan is also big on dino-DNA? There are even a couple named after Fukui Prefecture—fukuiraptor and fukuisaurus. So what better way to celebrate the next film than by having a Jurassic jaunt through the country?

Drop down on the floor and everybody do the dinosaur. These are the best places to see dinos in Japan.

1. Dino Adventure Nagoya (Nagoya)

For very young dinosaur fans, there are plenty of places to have some dinosaur adventures in Aichi. Near Oudaka station, there is a popular spot called Kyouryu Hiroba where children can see the twin Tyrannosauruses Dai-chan and Kou-chan. If you can handle moving closer, you’ll see that both welcome little ones as both dinosaurs have built-in slides in their tails.

Older kids will probably want..

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..

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,..

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..

There are countless local festivals (祭り, matsuri) in Japan each year. They are all spectacular, extravagant, and fun but also unique. Each celebration is based around an individual shrine which pays tribute to a different deity or a famous historical event.

The celebrations vary greatly as each has features based upon the specific shrine but hey also have many similarities. Almost all of them involve energetic processions where thousands of people dance, chant, and dress up in special clothes.

Fleets of huge, breathtaking, colorful floats (omikoshi) parade through town centers and locals put up decorations. Some of the festivals also feature some incredible fireworks displays.

Street food is not as typical in Japan as many other countries in Asia. However, during matsuri festivals, the streets are lined with food stalls (yatai) selling special types of seasonal snacks with vary from festival to festival.

Though most matsuri festivals are held over the summer months, they take place..

The Obon festival (お盆, also known as Bon festival) is an annual Japanese holiday which commemorates and remembers deceased ancestors. It is believed that their spirits return at this time to visit their relatives.

Chochin (paper) lanterns are hung to guide the spirits and Obon dances (bon odori) are performed. Families have reunions and visit the graves of their relatives and make food offerings at altars and temples.

It is observed from the 13th to the 15th day of the 7th month. However, according to the solar calendar the 7th month is July but according to the lunar calendar, the 7th month is August. Obon is therefore celebrated at different times in different regions depending on which calendar is observed.

The official dates are August 13-15 though it will be celebrated between July 13-15 in some places. The Obon week in mid-August is one of Japan’s three major holiday seasons making it one of the busiest times of the year for traveling. Many Japanese people will leave their cit..

Japan’s rainy season starts in early summer, between May and July, depending on the region. The period is called Tsuyu (also pronounced baiyu) which translates to “plum rain” as the season coincides with the ripening of Japan’s plums.

The wet weather is caused by cold winds from the north colliding wind warm southern winds which create several weeks of rain. The amount of rainfall varies dramatically from year to year. Some years are exceptionally wet whereas other years barely see any rain.

When is the rainy season in Japan?
In most japanese regions (including Tokyo), the rainy season runs from the beginning of June to mid July. However, both the north and south of Japan experience it differently. The other thing to bear in mind is that the further west you go, the higher the chance of rain.

Hokkaido and the Ogasawara islands barely experience any rain at all over these weeks. This doesn’t mean the weather there is perfect, there weather can be cold and cloudy during this period. I..

Noboribetsu, located in central Hokkaido, is one of Japan's leading hot spring resorts with the source of its springs found in Noboribetsu Jigokudani.
A promenade in Jigokudani (literally “Hell Valley”) makes it possible for tourists to walk safely through this mysterious volcanic area. Read on for our guide to the charms of Noboribetsu and some of the food and souvenirs you can buy there.
What is Noboribetsu Jigokudani?
Noboribetsu Jigokudani is a crater formed by the eruption of the Kuttara volcano. It has a diameter of about 450 meters, an area of about 11 hectares, and is dotted with numerous pools and fumaroles.
The volcanic activity has crated high-quality natural hot springs, with 10,000 tons of water a day flowing to inns and hotels in the Noboribetsu Onsen (hot spring) district.
The origin of the name “Jigokudani” (“Hell Valley”) comes from the impression given by the area's bubbling, boiling hot water that's said to look like “hell, where demons live.”
As a ..