Explore Japan through local eyes. Discover hidden places, authentic food, cultural insights, practical travel tips, and experiences beyond the typical tourist routes.
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The Perfect 5-Day Tokyo Itinerary
The Perfect 5-Day Tokyo Itinerary: Five days is enough time to experience Tokyo’s major districts at a comfortable pace, mixing iconic sightseeing with some of the city’s more unique, modern experiences. This itinerary groups each day around a cluster of nearby neighborhoods to minimize backtracking, with some flexible options built in for day five. Itinerary…
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Japan’s Business Hotel Chains Compared
Toyoko Inn vs. APA Hotel vs. Dormy Inn: Japan’s Business Hotel Chains Compared: Japan’s business hotel chains offer some of the best value accommodation in the country, compact, efficient, and reliably clean, but each of the three major names, Toyoko Inn, APA Hotel, and Dormy Inn, has a genuinely different personality. This guide breaks down…
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The Perfect 3-Day Kyoto Itinerary
The Perfect 3-Day Kyoto Itinerary: Three days is enough time to see Kyoto’s most iconic sights without feeling rushed at every stop, provided you group your days by area rather than crisscrossing the city. This itinerary organizes your visit around eastern, western, and central Kyoto, with a flexible option for day three depending on your…
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Mysterious Blue Spring
Beautiful Scenery in Japan In this blog, I’ll be sharing some of the beautiful landscapes and scenic places in Japan that I have personally photographed over the years. This photograph was taken at Maruike-sama (Maruike Shrine) in Yamagata Prefecture. A Mysterious Blue Spring Maruike-sama is a small spring-fed pond, measuring about 20 meters (65 feet)…
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Tarumizu Ruins:Mountain Spirituality
Beautiful Scenery in Japan In this blog, I’ll be sharing some of the beautiful places and landscapes across Japan that I have personally photographed. Today, I’d like to introduce Tarumi Ruins in Yamagata Prefecture, a mysterious and little-known spot hidden deep in the mountains near the famous Yamadera temple. A Hidden Side of Yamadera Yamadera…
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Nothing lasts forever
諸行無常（しょぎょうむじょう, shogyō mujō） is a Japanese Buddhist expression that means “all things are impermanent.” It expresses the idea that everything in the world is constantly changing and that nothing remains the same forever. This includes nature, human life, relationships, emotions, and material possessions. Beautiful Japanese Scenery In this blog, I will gradually introduce beautiful landscape…
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A Glimpse into 300-Year-Old Lava
Beautiful Scenery in Japan In this blog, I will gradually introduce some of the beautiful scenery of Japan that I have photographed myself over the years. This is a photograph of the Yakehashiri Lava Flow in Iwate Prefecture, which is designated as a Special Natural Monument of Japan. The lava here was formed when Mount…
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Losing Track of Time in the Beauty of Hydrangeas
Beautiful Scenery in Japan In this blog, I will gradually introduce some of the beautiful scenery of Japan that I have photographed myself over the years. This is a photograph of hydrangeas I took at the Michinoku Hydrangea Garden in Iwate Prefecture. The Michinoku Hydrangea Garden is a place where you can enjoy hydrangeas native…
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Japan’s One-of-a-Kind Fox Village
Beautiful Scenery in Japan In this blog, I will gradually introduce some of the beautiful scenery of Japan that I have photographed myself over the years. This is a photograph I took at Zao Fox Village in Miyagi Prefecture. Of course, it is not something you would normally experience in everyday life to see so…
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900 Years of History and the Beauty of Nature
Beautiful Scenery in Japan In this blog, I will gradually introduce some of the beautiful scenery of Japan that I have photographed myself over the years. This is a photograph of the autumn leaves at Chūson-ji Temple in Iwate Prefecture. Chūson-ji Temple, along with Byōdō-in’s Phoenix Hall in Kyoto, is considered a representative example of…
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Finding Peace in a Beautiful Gorge
Beautiful Scenery in Japan In this blog, I will gradually introduce some of the beautiful scenery of Japan that I have photographed myself over the years. This is a photograph of Oirase Gorge in Aomori Prefecture. Oirase Gorge stretches for approximately 14 kilometers and is a peaceful and refreshing place where you can enjoy the…
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A Mystical Sea of Clouds
Beautiful Scenery in Japan In this blog, I will gradually introduce some of the beautiful scenery of Japan that I have photographed myself over the years. This is a photograph of a sea of clouds illuminated by the morning sun, as seen from the top of a mountain. To see this sea of clouds, I…
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