JAPANKURU Let’s share our Japanese Stories!

TOUR

DESTINATION
THINGS TO DO

ALL

ALL
Tokyo
Hokkaido
Tohoku
Kanto
Chubu
Kansai
Shikoku / chugoku
Kyushu
Okinawa

ALL

ALL
Food
Shopping
Accommodation
Culture
Entertainment
Tour

SEARCH

NA Road Trip from Tokyo to Nagano with Nissan Rent-a-Car: Sakura, Wasabi, and the...Nissan Rent-a-Car x JAPANKURU Nagano・Spring Tour When you imagine Japan in the spring, what images pop into your mind? Budding flowers? Cherry blossoms coming into bloom, and then raining petals down in light pink showers? This time, JAPANKURU hopped in a Nissan rent-a-car in Tokyo, and headed east towards Nagano. On the way we saw the blush of sakura cherry blossoms, the blue of the warming sky, the snowy white of Mt. Fuji's peak, and the green of the lakes and mountains along the road. Our trip was painted with all the colors of Japan's spring palette!,Since we were starting from Tokyo, this time JAPANKURU used the Nissan Rent-a-Car Tokyo Station Yaesuguchi Branch. It's just a 3 to 5 minute walk south of Tokyo Station's Yaesu Exit, making it an easy trip over. It's definitely a convenient location if you're dragging around luggage. Even if you're starting your road trip in another part of Japan, though, Nissan's website lists clear information about what services are offered at each Nissan Rent-a-Car branch. On the Tokyo Station Yaesuguchi Branch's page, you'll see that it has ETC card rental available. Tokyo Station Yaesuguchi Branch Address: 2-5-4 Yaesu, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Hours: 24/7 Phone: 03-3274-4501 Branch Info Online Reservations,◆ Before you start planning your trip, remember: in Japan, cars drive on the left side of the road. (Learn more about why!) If you're from a country that drives on the right side, it's not too hard to get used to the switch, but it's a good idea to keep it in mind before you get on the road. Once you're confident in your left-side-of-the-road driving skills and you've determined your itinerary, confirm the following information and have all your documents ready before going to rent your car! ◆ For reservations: □ Ready your passport. □ Obtain an international driver's license. (More details on international permits for Americans, and some information from Nissan.) □ Learn about what ETC (electronic toll collection) cards are for, and how to use them with Nissan Rent-a-Car. □ Check in at the rental counter, and confirm your vehicle rental! ◆ Renting a car on site: □ Find the perfect rental in their garage. □ Pay with cash or credit card.,On our way to Nagano Prefecture, we stopped in for a lap of the Fuji Shiba-sakura Festival in Yamanashi!,In addition to wandering the shiba-sakura grounds and enjoying gourmet sweets, there's plenty else to do at the festival. If you want to admire the flowers from a new perspective, take a hot air balloon ride and view them from the air! Or relax and soak your feet in a foot bath while you look on at the flowers. If you're used to Yoshina sakura, Japan's most common cherry blossom variety, these new sakura will be a treat! mo The Fuji Shiba-sakura Festival 2019 (Annual Event) Event Dates: April 13 ~ May 26 Address: 212 Motusu, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru Yamanashi Admission Fee: Adults 600 yen/Children 250 yen Official Website (en) Driving Info Parking: 2 lots available Fee: compact vehicles 500 yen/larger vehicles 2,000 yen/motorbikes 300 yen,Did we get lost and find ourselves in the Alps? Wait, no, this pastoral wonderland is still Yamanashi!,Seisenryo is a natural retreat and resort area in Yamanashi Prefecture with hotels, restaurants... and farms! The surrounding scenery certainly makes for a relaxing spot, with breathtaking mountains around the compound and a view of Mt. Fuji in the distance. Seisenryo was originally constructed as a Christian youth retreat center in 1938, but was rebuilt in 1957 with the current business model, open to the public. The retreat now specializes in delicious food made with fresh seasonal ingredients, many of which are purchased from the local farms. It's especially famous for the soft-serve ice cream made with milk from Jersey cows living in nearby ranches. Get a taste of this fresh and deliciously milky ice cream for 400 yen.,You can get the famous soft serve at the Seisenryo Jersey Hut. Within the hut is the Seisenryo Baker's Workshop, which sells freshly-baked bread, burgers, produce, and souvenirs. You can spend some time outside the shop on their 300 square meter (3230 sq ft) wooden deck, and savor the burgers and ice cream while you gaze at the mountain view. Seisenryo Address: 3545 Takanecho Kiyosato, Hokuto, Yamanashi Jersey Hut Hours: 9:00 ~ 17:00 Seisenryo Official Website / Jersey Hut Official Website Driving Info Parking: 200 spots available Fee: free!,The Yatsugatake Area The mountains that stretch between Nagano and Yamanashi Prefectures are called the Yatsugatake range. It's a popular area among mountain climbers in Japan, but this time we just admired their beauty from afar.,According to legend, these are the first sakura cherry blossoms in the world.,After seeing the moss phlox shiba-sakura of Yamanashi, we hope you've gotten a taste for less orthodox sakura viewing. This time, we're taking you to Takato Castle Site Park to enjoy night time sakura viewing. This park is said to be one of the top three cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan each spring, and it holds an annual Takato Sakura Festival. Luckily, you can enter the park and enjoy the beautiful sakura during daylight hours, and also after sunset! A night visit gives you the perfect opportunity to see the beautifully lit blossoms reflected in the water under the bridge, a big contrast in comparison to the bright sun that shines onto the grounds during the day. Of course, if you end up at the Takato Castle Site Park during the winter, you won't be disappointed then, either. Snow blankets the park's maple trees and Japanese-style buildings, giving everything lots of winter charm. Takato Castle Site Park Address: Higashi Takato, Takatomachi, Ina, Nagano Hours: 8:00 ~ 21:00 Admission Fee: Sakura Viewing Period - Adults 500 yen/Children 200 yen (Free entrance at other times of year.) Official Website / Takato Sakura Festival Website Driving Info Parking: available Fee: compact vehicles 700 yen ,We wended our way through the roads once traversed by feudal lords of Japan, traveling between Tokyo and Kyoto.,During Japan's Edo Period, the "Five Routes" were the main arteries of the country. These five paths connected the capital, Edo (or modern-day Tokyo), to the rest of the country. These roads functioned not only as gateways for travelers, but also as the lifeblood of Japan's economy, with merchants taking advantage of the established routes. One of these routes was the Nakasendo (中山道 - literally central mountain route), which was commonly traveled by those going between the Tokyo area and Kyoto, Japan's ancient capital. Sometimes called the "Samurai Street", the ancient warriors supposedly walked the 550 km (340 mile) way in two weeks. Of course, since this was no quick trip, many towns sprouted up along the Five Routes as rest stops for travelers, usually called "stations" in English, or "shukuba" (宿場) in Japanese. There are 69 stations along the Nakasendo Route, and one of the largest and most successful of these station towns was Naraijuku in Nagano. (The "juku" in Naraijuku (奈良井宿) and the "shuku" in "shukuba" (宿場) are actually the same Japanese word, meaning a place to stay! Just hearing the name can tell you about the town's origins.),With so many visitors arriving since the Edo Era, the town has sometimes been called "Narai of 1,000 buildings" (Narai senken, or 奈良井千軒), and some of those old Edo buildings are still around! Naraijuku still bustles with same rest station spirit, and there are many hotels, restaurants, and small shops around town. If you really love the look of old Japanese buildings, with beautiful wood facades and carefully tiled roofs, this chunk of the Nakasendo path will make your heart sing. We decided to stay in the Naraijuku guest house Ikariya Machida, which took us back in time with rooms that smelled pleasantly of the wooden floors, and with home-made traditional Japanese cuisine prepared by the facility's owner. After a night there, we could imagine how a similar stay might have erased the fatigue of Edo travelers, leaving them refreshed and ready for the rest of their trip along the Nakasendo. Ikariya Machida Inn (いかりや町田民宿) Address: 573-1 Narai, Shiojiri, Nagano Official Website,As a rest stop, aside from traditional Japanese inns, of course Naraijuku has a (very) old-fashioned coffee shop! I mean, can you imagine going on a two-week trip without stopping even once for coffee? Matsuyasabo still keeps travelers going today, and it's the only coffee we drank on our road trip! The coffee shop is in an old two-story house built towards the end of the Edo Period. The first floor is a little more modern, and is set up as a western-style cafe, but the second floor has a Japanese-style room with tatami flooring, so you can plop down and enjoy your coffee or tea. Matsuyasabo Coffee Shop Address: 583 Narai, Shiojiri, Nagano Hours: 9:00 ~ 17:00 Official Website,Naraijuku Address: Narai, Shiojiri, Nagano Official Website Driving Info Parking: available around the area. Fee: both free and paid, see the official website for details.,Did you know that most of the wasabi eaten outside of Japan... isn't really wasabi? Your local sushi joint might do a reasonable job approximating the sinus-clearing flavor, but this farm has the real thing, and a lot of it!,Daio Wasabi Farm was established in 1917, giving it a history of more than 100 years. Covering an area of 15 hectares (more than 1.5 million square ft), it's the largest wasabi farm in Japan. Wasabi is rare outside of Japan because it's notoriously difficult to grow, but Daio Wasabi Farm clearly has the process down pat! The farm is a wasabi wonderland, and lovers of the green stuff will rejoice in the 150 metric tons harvested annually. Aside from being a functional farm, Daio Wasabi Farm also provides wasabi snacks of all kinds, and of course wasabi souvenirs. Have you ever imagined wasabi as anything other than a tool for adding a little kick to your sushi? The on-site restaurant will open your mind and your sinuses to the many ways it can be eaten and thoroughly enjoyed. If you're a fan of famous director Akira Kurosawa, don't miss this chance to visit the setting for the final segment of his 1990 film Dreams. ,Daio Wasabi Farm Address: 3640, Hotaka, Azumino, Nagano Hours: 9:00 ~ 17:20 (Mar ~ Oct)/9:00 ~ 16:30 (Nov ~ Feb) Admission: Free! Official Website Driving Info Parking: 350 spots available Fee: free!,After our trip to the Daio Wasabi Farm, we took our Nissan Rent-a-Car into the Hakuba area of Nagano. Hakuba is known as a ski resort area, but even in the spring and summer the mountains are beautifully snow-capped.,This popular resort lake is one of the "Nishina Three Lakes".,Close to Hakuba, the surrounding mountains reflect on the lake water, making the glassy surface look like an impressionist painting. When the weather gets nice in the spring and summer, it's a popular destination for visitors who want to spend time camping, hiking, or hanging out in and around the water. Take a kayak out into the middle of the peaceful lake, and then just lay back and relax. Kizakiko Pow Wow Campsite & Outdoor Club Address: 19004-1 Taira, Omachi, Nagano Fee: See the website for prices. Official Website Driving Info Parking: available Fee: free! ,Is it truly a trip through Japan's countryside without a stop at a hot spring bath?,With Hakuba being a popular winter tourist destination, luxurious hot springs (or onsen in Japanese, 温泉) are a must! This one, called Obinata no Yu, flows right from a natural source, and includes an open-air bath surrounded by the mountainous scenery. It's beautiful year-round, but in winter the snow piles up outside while the hot water keeps you warm and cozy. We had to take a break here before hitting the road again! Obinata no Yu Address: 9346-1 Hokujo, Hakuba-mura, Kitaazumi, Nagano Fee: Adults 600 yen/Children 300 yen (Bring toiletries and towels, or rent them for an extra fee.) Hours: 9:00 ~ 18:00 (summer)/19:00 ~ 17:00 (winter) Website Driving Info Parking: 20 spots available Fee: free!,While in Hakuba, we stayed in an apartment-style hotel right up against one of the many mountains.,Hakuba doesn't offer quite the same "step outside and you're there" convenience as a big city, so it's a great place to choose a hotel with apartment-style suites. We chose to visit Mountain Side Hakuba, a fresh new hotel that finished construction in just January 2017. Each of the suites comes with a complete living room and kitchen, along with bedrooms and baths. We got to take a trip to the supermarket together, cook up dinner, and have ourselves a dinner party. Why not give it a try with your friends and family next time you're in Hakuba?,Mountain Side Hakuba Address: 4313-1 Hokujo Hakuba, Kita Azumi-gun, Nagano Official Website/Reservation Page Driving Info Parking: available Fee: free!,Thanks to NHK historical drama Sanada Maru, the city of Ueda was brought back to the time of warriors, and to the forefront of Japanese minds.,We already stopped in at Naraijuku, a historic remnant of the Edo Period's Five Routes, so we thought we'd take a look at what some of the other main roads of Japan's past were like. Slightly less enormous in its importance, but still widely traveled, was the Hokkoku Kaido highway running the width of Japan. While travelers utilizing the Nakasendo, and the other Five Routes, were strictly inspected, the Hokkoku Kaido road was available for much freer use. Because of this, the road was crowded with the average citizens of Edo Japan, relied upon by many for everyday uses. Of course, this was no short path, and towns popped up along the Hokkoku Kaido to provide travelers with rest and refreshment, just like the more major roads. One of these rest stations with bits of the old town remaining is Yanagimachi in Ueda City, where many of the old shops and inns are still functioning buildings. Walk down the street these days and you'll find shops selling traditional snacks, souvenirs, and restaurants filling the air with the savory and sweets smells of the Edo Era.,A site good for history buffs and sakura lovers!,Ten to fifteen minutes walk from Yanagimachi's historic street is the Ueda Castle Park. This castle was originally built by the area's Sanada clan, which is indeed the same Sanada as in the popular NHK drama made in the area. The castle and the Sanada clan managed the impressive feat of forcing Tokugawa's army to retreat, not just once, but twice keeping a much larger and more powerful military at bay. Nowadays, the remnants of that powerful keep are just barely hanging on, but the park is still a rejuvenating visit. On the grounds is the Sanada Shrine (真田神社), a popular destination for students praying they pass their exams. And during the spring, blooming cherry blossoms cascade down the banks of the moat and around the park.,If you want to learn more about local history, check here for events on the theme. Watch history come to life in these entertaining performances. Ueda Castle Park Address: 2 Ninomaru, Ueda, Nagano Fee: Adults 300 yen/High School Students 200 yen/Elementary School Students 100 yen Official Website Driving Info Parking: available at the Ueda Castle Station lot and Ueda Castle Hokkoku Tourism lot Fee: free for a limited period, details available here.,Thanks for coming along on our road trip to Nagano, everybody! These were our favorite stops on the way, but if you want to take a similar trip and you love packing days full to bursting with things to do, here are a couple more places you can check out.,Did you have fun joining us on the roads of Nagano this time around? If you like reading about road trips in Japan, this isn't our first time out! We've explored some of the breathtaking nature of Japan's Kyushu Island in the south. We ate cow tongue and met the friendly foxes of Japan's northern region, Tohoku. And we once went on three little trips around the country! Be sure to look out for more exciting articles every day at JAPANKURU! Or add us on Instagram and Facebook to share your pictures of Japan. 🗾#chubu#tour#mt. fuji 2019.06.1802
NPlaces in Japan that don't look like Japan!?5 unique places in Japan that make you feel like you're not in Japan! We will take you through a journey around the world within Japan. Where shall we start...?,In Miyazaki Prefecture, you can see seven moai statues built on the hill by the shore of Sunmesse Nichinan. How did they end up here? These seven Moais were built here as a commemoration of the Japanese people who helped the restoration of the original Moais in Easter Island. (Read this headline in the following link for details→ Sun Messe Nichinan),Amasingly enough, the Moais in Easter Island were restored by a group of Japanese people back in the '90s. Back then, a group of the local tribal chiefs allowed those Japanese people to recreate a copy of the Moai in Japan as a commemoration. So, these Moais here are pretty much an official copy of the ones in Easter Island. (Mind you, the rocks that these statues are made of are different to the original ones, because the rocks from Easter Islands are not allowed to be brought out.) * Sunmesse Nichinan (サンメッセ日南) - Address: 宮崎県日南市大字宮浦2650 Oaza Miyaura, Nichinanshi, Miyazaki - Closed: Every Wednesday - Admission Adults: 700 yen, Junior high school students 500 yen, Children above 4 years old 350 yen - Official Website (Japanese),A major tourist destination in Tottori Prefecture is a gigantic coastal sand dune with a length of 16km west to east and 2 km north to south. Do a camel ride, paragliding, mountain biking, and other activities in the largest sand dune in Japan! Especially, since there is no obstacle in the wide desert, it's a great spot for those who are beginner gliders. * Tottori Sand Dune - Address: 2164-661Yuyama, Fukubecho, Tottorishi, Tottori - Official website,You don't get to experience the freedom of running and rolling down of a slope in a dessert often do you? Besides, it is beautiful enough to just admire the evening glow in the sea overlooking the sand dune.,The blue ocean is beautiful on its own. but with the bridge over it that continues forever long... It makes it even more spectacular. This is the Tsunoshima Ohashi Bridge in Yamaguchi Prefecture. This bridge was built in the year 2000, to connect the mainland part of Japan (Shimonoseki) and the Tsunoshima island. This bridge was voted to be the best bridge in Japan, according to the word of mouth on TripAdvisor Japan in 2015. ,Sure it would be best to drive a car along this bridge to see the scenery from the top as well. Another summer destination I would say... * Tsunoshima Bridge - Address: 〒759-5332 Tsunoshima, Toyokitacho Oaza, Shimonoseki-shi, Yamaguchi,So-called the oriental Hawaii, Okinawa! Fukugi-Namiki is known for its unique maze-like walkthrough. As in the picture, you can ride a buffalo carriage with the local guide, or take a walk, they even have rental bicycles if you want.,The place is also popular as a site for wedding photos. The glare through the jungles gives a nice mysterious lighting effect. * Fukugi-Namiki - Address: 389 Bize, Motopucho, Kunigami-Gun, Okinawa,Beautiful mountaineer area, known for its ski resorts and hiking courses. The 1998 winter Olympics in Japan was held here as well. * Hakuba, Nagano Address: Hakubamura, Kita-Azumigun, Nagano,The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine route that connects Nagano prefecture and Toyama prefecture.,Traveling through Japan, experiencing other countries.,Other articles that you might like - The Ultimate Tour of Tochigi Prefecture! 16 Must-See Places - The Must Go Destination in Chiba! Tokyo Aqualine and the Umihotaru - Head to Kamakura & Enoshima Island for a Fun Getaway from Tokyo - A Road Trip from Tokyo to Nagano with Nissan Rent-a-Car: Sakura, Wasabi, and the Nakasendo's Naraijuku Be sure to follow us on Facebook and/or Instagram for more articles like this and to keep up to date with your info about Japan.#chubu#tour#hakuba 2019.06.14
10
What’s ETC? A quick Guide on the ETC and the JEPWherever you go, there's a electronic tolling system when you ride on highways, motorways or expressways. In Japan we have expressways, and we use a system called ETC (Electronic Toll Collecting). We will briefly cover this tolling system used in Japan so you don’t get confused when you get here.,ETC can be used all around Japan Because ETC is a unified system covering all around Japan, there are no other services used and that keeps things a lot simple for us when travelling.,The JEP is a expressway pass that allows you to travel around Japan for a set price during 8 days or 14 days. Note that this pass doesn’t cover all the expressways in Japan. Please see the official PDF for applicable areas and roads. Take a look at this official page to know where you can get your JEP.,Planning to drive around? Make sure to take a look at these articles before you hit the road!#tokyo#tour#expressway 2019.06.11
20
First Step into the Tokyo 2020 Olympics / ParalympicsGet ready! There’s only 410 days left till the games! (That is, 410 days as of when we wrote this article on June 10th, 2019.) During the period of the Olympics, from July 24th to August 9th, there will 33 sports and 339 events featured. There are more than 12,000 people expected to participate, and the games will be mainly held in and around Tokyo, along with a few other cities. Summer 2020 will be Tokyo’s second go at hosting this world event, with the last time being the 1964 Olympics, 56 years ago. With all the ads and signs you see around Japan, you can see how the whole country is excited about it all! How to get your tickets: If you reside out of Japan, you will need to go to your country’s designated Authorised Ticket Reseller (ATR), as currently, tickets sold through the official website are only for those who reside within Japan. Read their official page for further details.,Most of the Olympic/Paralympic opening ceremonies begin with fireworks. Usually these are pretty impressive displays, of course, but one Japanese company is attempting something never-seen-before in their contribution to the Japanese event. This brand new firework will imitate a shooting star for the opening ceremony! Just imagine! The scale of this ceremony is going to be extreme! Take a look at the company’s website for more on their project.,To take on the spirit of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Tokyo 2020’s vision is to “strive for your best!”, “accept one another!” and to “pass on a legacy for the future!”.,Odaiba is going to be the venue for the aquatics and triathlon events of the games. Right in the area there’s the Oedo Onsen, Aquacity Shopping Centre, and the Observation Deck at the Fuji TV office.,Odaiba is going to be the venue for the aquatic sports, like marathon swimming, and the triathlon. The venue can hold up to 10,000 people. Location: 1 Odaiba, Minatoku, Tokyo Access during the games: Yurikamome Line, Daiba Station (to Enter) Yurikamome Line, Odaiba-Kaihinkoen Station,The event held at this venue will be volleyball. The Shiokaze Park is one of the parks located within the Odaiba area. You can see the whole Tokyo Bay, including the beautiful Rainbow Bridge. Location: 1 Higashi Yashio, Shinagawaku, Tokyo Access during the games: Rinkai Line, Tokyo Teleport Station Yurikamome Line, Daiba Station,This venue hosts the three on three basketball games, and sport climbing. Location: 1- 1 Aomi, Kotoku, Tokyo Access during the games: Rinkai Line, Tokyo Teleport Station Yurikamome Line, Tokyo International Cruise Terminal Station Enoshima, where we’ve been recently and being writing articles about, will be the venue for sailing as well.,If we start talking about Ariake, not many people may recognize the name, but if you say Odaiba, surely a lot of you may know the area. The Yurikamome and the Rinkai Lines make access to this place from Shibuya and other famous destinations easier. During the Tokyo 2020 Games, a lot of the events will be held around this area. There’s also the Toyosu Market, famous for its early morning fresh fish sales, that recently moved closeby from the famous Tsukiji. From this hotel, you can even take a walk in the morning to the markets. It'll only take about 20 minutes, or around 15 minutes by train. So... why not? Daiwa Roynet Hotel Tokyo Ariake Address: 3-7-3 Ariake, Kotoku, Tokyo Access: Rinkai Line, Kokusai Tenjijo Station, or Yurikamome Line, Ariake Station Official Website (Japanese) Free wifi available. Check-In: 2pm (4am latest) Check-Out: 11am Toyosu Market Official Website,Whether you're carrying around all your luggage or not, this hotel is only located about a minute walk away from each of the nearby stations. How convenient is that? ,Check out our website for new articles everyday! @ JAPANKURU.COM, Facebook page and our Instagram account!#tokyo#tour#olympics 2019.06.10
30
The Must Go Destination in Chiba! Tokyo Aqualine and the UmihotaruDriving under water? Umihotaru is a parking/ service area that exists on the surface of the Tokyo bay. This tunnel underwater cost 1.44 Trillion JPY and took 30 years to construct, with 20 years of planning and 10 years to do the work, and opened on 18th of December, 1997. The pipeline consists of the bridge that’s 4.4km long and a tunnel built using the Shield Method for 9.5km long, and lies 60m below water surface. A facility that exists right above the center of the tunnel is called “Kaze no To” meaning “The Tower of the Wind” is there for the purpose of exhausting the air. In 2017 it was elected as one of the “10 of the world's greatest tunnels” by CNN,This pipeline connects Chiba and Tokyo’s capital area with a shorter travel distance. That’s 65min down to 20min getting from Haneda Airport to Kisarazu.,Umihotaru, designed to look like a big cruise ship is five stories high, with Level 1 - 3 being a car park. Level 4 being a shopping and sightseeing floor. Level 5 being a restaurant floor with a observatory deck. If the weather is good you will have a panoptic view overlooking at the Tokyo Bay and Mt Fuji.,Address: Umihotaru, Shimachisaki, Kisarazu, Chiba Open Hours: 24 hours Official Website,The view that you get from the Umihotaru is also another pleasant sight. You can see Mt. Fuji towards Yokohama, Kawasaki direction. You should be able to see the Tokyo Tower and the famous Sky Tree as well. You should be able to see the aeroplanes crossing in the sky as well. Plenty more photo location near by as well. Especially if you’re renting a car, Umihotal is one of the must go spots!,At the 4th level of Umihotaru is the shopping and sightseeing floor. You’ll find so many local produce here as well.,Hope you liked this article on the Aqualine and the Umihotaru. :) Chiba's Mount Nokogiri (鋸山): Stand on a Saw Tooth and Get a Look at Hell The Tateyama Fireworks Festival: A Must-See Event, Right over Tateyama Bay Hotel Nikko Narita: A Convenient Airport Hotel with a Luxury Feel#kanto#tour#aqua line 2019.06.06
51
The Eshima Ohashi Bridge: Behind The ScenesPreviously we’ve posted this article about the Eshima Ohashi Bridge.,There were a few comments on our post asking how the pictures were taken. Well, the answer is simple, but we thought we will put this together into an article just to make it easy for you.,There were a few comments on our post asking how the pictures were taken. Well, the answer is simple, but we thought we would pull it all together into an article just to make it easy for you.,First of all, the biggest spoiler, the bridge in-fact is not steep at all like any rollercoaster.,We had a shot from a different angle in the post, but this will show better on exactly how steep/or not this bridge is. This closer looks will also give you a better idea of what I’m talking about.,If you see this, you can tell how exactly far away we took the photo from.,Of course if you have a better camera that would be your option to go! But this works just as well as you can see in the photo. What we’ve done was take a photo with a 200mm lens and zoomed into the picture, then cropped it out. We will show you on this map.,This distance takes about 6~8 min by car and about an hour to walk. (Don’t forget you need to get back afterwards!) This is also why we recommend you rent a car before you make your way there. ,Would you be keen on trying it out for yourself? Things we needed for this photo shoot: Camera: Nicon D750 Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR a car and a snickers bar.#shikoku / chugoku#tour#eshima ohashi bridge 2019.06.06
20
Why are there so many cats in Enoshima?Do you love cats? I do! For those cat lovers out there, Enoshima is definitely the closest island to visit from Tokyo. Let us give you a brief overview of the island.,An island only a short distance away from the mainland of Japan, off the Shonan coast, in Kanagawa. An hour and a half to get to from Tokyo station by public transport. The island is only 0.41 km² wide and holds a population of 367 people.,The island is famous for its fishery of whitebait, and octopus and many other fish. (← scroll down in the link page to read about the delicious the “Shirasu-don” and “Tako-senbe” in this article.) The sunset by the beach is another scenery that you don’t want to miss if you’re there. But… Cats! The island is famous for the number of cats within.,The island is famous for the number of cats.,Why are there so many cats on the island? Well, we reckon that it’s due to the following 3 reasons. ,As we’ve mentioned earlier, the island is famous for its fishery, so there seems to be plenty of food for the cats to live on.,The island has 4 main Shinto shrines (the main one being Enoshima Shrine), with some consisting of a few smaller seperated shrines. Since Shinto, just like many other religions, considers the killing of a living being a sin, the cats don’t get exterminated.,The people on the island care enough for the cats that they not only don’t mind having cats around, but they all take care of them as a part of the community.,So, if you’re a cat lover like us, take some time to relax and sit down with a cat that you find on the island, and watch the sun go down together. We’ve been working on many articles on Enoshima and the surrounding area lately. If you're interested in learning more, find detailed information here: 1. Kamakura and the “Kamakura Kokomae Station” - Where the huge Buddha statue sits, and where the famous railway crossing from the anime/manga Slam Dunk can be found. 2. Island of Hydrangeas - Enoshima Island is also famous for its hydrangeas, and there are many locations nearby to see these lovely plants.#kanto#tour#enoshima 2019.06.06
81

12345...11

Most Read

Popular Shopping in Japan