Hiking Yamanobe-no-michi, the Oldest Recorded Road in Japan

Pond with cherry blossoms along the Yamanobe-no-michi trail

December 10, 2025

Hiking Yamanobe-no-michi, the Oldest Recorded Road in Japan

Yamanobe-no-michi is a quiet countryside trail that winds through rural Nara, past ancient shrines, farm villages, and forested hillsides.

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Mangetsu-ji Ukimido at Lake Biwa

September 22, 2025

This Way to Lake Biwa

Lake Biwa is the largest freshwater lake in Japan. Located entirely in Shiga Prefecture, it measures approximately 64 km (40 miles) from north to south.

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Dotonbori Canal at night

September 16, 2025

Exploring Namba

Namba's dizzying mix of neon-lit signs, shopping arcades, and mind-numbing selection of street food is what made me fall in love with Osaka in the first place.

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Exhibit at the Iga Ninja Museum

September 12, 2025

This Way to Iga Ueno

Iga Ueno is a city in Mie Prefecture famous for its ninja heritage. Together with Koka in Shiga Prefecture, it's recognized as the birthplace of ninja culture in Japan

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Inside the Koka Ninja House

September 10, 2025

Discover the Ninja Towns of Koka and Iga Ueno

If the cloak-and-dagger world of ninjas captivated you, then you'll probably want to visit the towns of Koka and Iga Ueno.

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Ama diver grilling seafood

June 26, 2025

This Way to Ise-Shima

Ise is best known for Ise Jingu, a shrine complex housing the most sacred Shinto shrines in Japan, while Toba is where you'll find Mikimoto Pearl Island.

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Kobe Port

June 15, 2025

This Way to Kobe

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Kobe? For the vast majority of tourists, it's Kobe Beef.

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View of the sandbar from Amanohashidate Viewland

June 5, 2025

This Way to Amanohashidate

The name Amanohashidate comes from a Shinto creation myth featuring the celestial deities Izanagi and Izanami.

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Hikone Castle

May 31, 2025

Assessing the JR West Kansai Area Pass

The JR West Kansai Area Pass is a rail pass that allows foreign tourists unlimited travel on JR trains and local JR buses in designated areas within the Kansai region.

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Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto

May 28, 2025

This Way to Kyoto

When many people think of Japan, two cities often come foremost to mind – Tokyo and Kyoto.

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Deer in Nara Park

May 21, 2025

This Way to Nara

"You don't need to stay the night in Nara. You can just visit on a day trip from Osaka or Kyoto."

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Viewing platform overlooking Ago Bay

May 14, 2025

Assessing the Kintetsu Rail Pass

The Kintetsu Rail Pass is a rail pass offering foreign tourists unlimited travel on trains (except limited express trains) by Kintetsu Railways.

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