The Tanabata Festival (the Star Festival) is celebrated on 7th July in Japan and other East Asian countries. The Star Festival is based on a Chinese legend on two stars, Vega and Altair. The two stars were in love but lived on different shores of the Milky Way. Their master, the heaven’s lord, allows them to meet just once… Read more →
Webmaster visited Lake Kawaguchi and Oshino-hakkai, and enjoyed the views of Mt. Fuji. Access: Tokyo (local train 0:14) Shinjuku (express train 1:00) Otsuki (local train 0:55) Kawaguchiko @ Webmaster went by train to Kawaguchiko Station, the entrance of today’s trip. Mt. Fuji already welcomed us. After removing the confinement caused by Covid-19, many tourists have returned. Bus service is convenient… Read more →
Webmaster visited the brewery pub/restaurant of craft beer brewery Gotenba Kogen Beer (GKB) in Shizuoka Prefecture. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 0:50) Mishima (courtesy bus 0:35) @ There are courtesy bus services from Mishima Station and Gotenba Station. Webmaster took it from Mishima. The view of Mt. Fuji welcomes us. In fact GKB is an amusement complex. There are not only… Read more →
Webmaster visited Noboribetsu Onsen hot spring resort in Hokkaido Prefecture last autumn. Access: Haneda AP, Tokyo (plane 1:30) Shin-chitose AP (local train 0:03) Minami-chitose (express train 0:41) Noboribetsu (bus 0:15) @ A statue of devil welcomes us at Noboribetsu Station. Webmaster took bus from the station to Noboribetsu hot spring resort. It was for about 15 minutes. … Read more →
Webmaster visited to a historical city Takaoka in Toyama Prefecture last November. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 2:15) Toyama (local train 0:18) Takaoka @ The most popular tourist attraction in the city is, probably, the national treasure Zuiryu-ji Temple. It is only a ten-minute walk from the south gate of Takaoka Station. Now we see Somon Gate which is the… Read more →
Webmaster visited some tourist spots in a historical town Hiraizumi a few months ago. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 2:05) Ichinoseki (local train 0:10) Hiraizumi @ The visit started from Hiraizumi Station. Hiraizumi is a small town and more or less flat terrain. Then, Webmaster rented a bicycle for a day trip in the town. At first,… Read more →
Webmaster visited a historical city Matsuyama in Ehime Prefecture. Access: “Itami AP, Osaka (plane 0:45) Matsuyama AP (bus 0:15) Matsuyama @ Shin-osaka (shinkansen 0:50) Okayama (express train 2:45) Matsuyama @ The tram running in the center of the city may be convenient for touristic activities, It costs 180 yen for a ride, and the service is frequent enough.… Read more →
Webmaster visited Kamikochi where one can enjoy pure nature and alpine view. Official website of Kamikochi https://www.kamikochi.org/ Access: Tokyo (local train 0:14) Shinjuku (express train 2:40) Matsumoto (local train 0:31) Shin-shimashima (bus 1:00) @ Kappa-bashi Bridge, which is only 6-minute walk from the bus terminal, and the view from the bridge. Kappa-bashi Bridge at the… Read more →
Webmaster visited Ryuko-ji Temple in which precincts there is a five-story pagoda. Access: Tokyo (local train 0:44) Fujisawa (local train 0:11) Enoshima (walk 0:03) @ This is Niomon Gate, the main entrance to the precincts. A pair of Nio guards the gate. Then, the next Sanmon Gate is on top of stairs. … Read more →
Webmaster visited Hakone-jinja Shrine. The shrine is located at the shore of Lake Ashinoko on Mt. Hakone. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 0:37) Odawara (bus 1:10) Moto-hakone (walk 0:15) @ Mt. Hakone is an active volcano with huge caldera, and Ashinoko is a caldera lake. This lake has a legend of the dragon with nine heads which had caused… Read more →