A Day Trip to Nasu with Hiromaru’s LIMOTAXI Service
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Not far from Tokyo, you can find the famous sightseeing spot Nasu, which is popular for the autumn leaves you’ll find there in November!!
If you are tired of the big cities like Tokyo and Osaka, how about giving yourself a different trip, like traveling to this part of Japan’s countryside, where you can enjoy healing hot springs and fresh air.
Autumn Leaves in Nasu
Recommended Day Trip Course in Nasu
PENNY LANE -> Nasu Ropeway -> Kita Onsen (Hot Spring) -> Sessho-seki (Killing Stone) -> Cheese Garden
LIMOTAXI of Hinomaru Limousine – Professional Taxi Company for Foreign Tourists
Hinomaru Limousine operates a taxi service, airport pick-up service, and sightseeing tour courses in Japan! It is one of the leading taxi companies in Japan, and it focuses on providing services to foreign visitors.
Although there are many different ways that you can get to your destination, sometimes you may want to have your own private moment with your friends or family while traveling. Today we will introduce you to one of these more comfortable and special ways of traveling – a "Taxi Tour" provided by Hinomaru Limousine.
This time we will travel in a Toyota Alphard, which is a full-size luxury MPV (minivan). This vehicle seats seven, and you can still find lots of space inside. Just sit back and relax in the car!
Moreover, you can just simply ask the LIMOTAXI to come and pick you up at the hotel you're staying at.
Bakery & Cafe in the Forest – PENNY LANE
A cafe in the woods where you can feel the surrounding nature while having a cup of coffee. In spring and summer, the outdoor terraces are popular among visitors. Even other Japanese cafe owners come here to visit.
Any Beatles fans here? You have to take a picture in front of PENNY LANE. You can find the Abbey Road of Nasu at the entrance of PENNY LANE. Take your own Beatles album cover here!
Whether you are a fan of Beatles or not…
Once you get inside the cafe, Beatles songs will reverberate in your eardrums. You'll also find many other Beatles decorations, photos and other collections inside the cafe. It is very interesting for everyone indeed!
They make more than 60 different kinds of bread every day, so you need to come here a few times to try them all! By the way, don't miss their bread bowl!
Enjoy your brunch in nature. You can hear the birds singing for you, too! How relaxing is that?
If you visit PENNY LANE, don't miss their most popular dishes, Cheese Gratin and Cheese Fondue! Just from looking at the pictures, you can imagine how good it is!
Bread Gratin: 1,200 yen plus tax
Cheese Fondue: 1,200 yen plus tax
PENNY LANE
Address: 656-2, Yumoto, Nasu-machi, Nasu-gun, Tochigi prefecture
Tel.: 0287-76-1960
Hours: 8:00 to 18:00 (Bakery & Cafe)
Hours: 8:00 to 21:00 (L.O 20:00) (Restaurant)
Homepage (Japanese): http://pennylane.company/
Nasu Ropeway
The cable car is spacious and the window are huge!! Feel free to look around during the cable ride. Enjoy the 360-degree view of Nasu Kogen (Nasu Highland)!
You can see the clouds alongside the red-colored leaves on the mountain. What beautiful scenery!
The Nasu ropeway can only actually take you to a spot near the top of the mountain, but not quite the peak. From the station to the summit, you still need to take a 40-50 minute walk! But please don't worry about the hike. While we were hiking up the mountain, we happened to be joined by a group of elementary school students, who walked together with us. We all made it up, no problem! If the children can do it, you can do it too!
Nasu Ropeway
Address: 215 Mt. Nasudake, Ooaza Yumoto, Nasu-machi, Nasu-gun, Tochigi Prefecture
Tel.: 0287-76-2449
Period in operation: 20 March to 30 November for 2016
Hours: 8:30-16:30
Winter: 09:00-16:06 (16-30 Nov 2016, Sat, Sun and Holiday 08:30-16:30)
Summer: 08:00-16:30 (Sat, Sun and Holiday from 07:30)
*In case of bad weather such as strong wind or lighting, the operation may stop.
Fares:
Round trip: 1,300 yen (Junior high school students and above), 650 yen (3 years old to elementary school students)
One way: 750 yen (Junior high school students and above), 380 yen (3 years old to elementary school students)
Homepage (Japanese): http://toya108.jp/nrw/
Kita Onsen (and the Killing Stone)
This famous traditional hot spring was found 160 years ago, and it is located in a remote part of the mountain.
Once you step into the building, the interior looks just like an old drama set. That's because this building was actually built in the Edo Period (it's not a movie set, it's the real thing!). After all these years, it is still being used!
Although the Japanese movie, Thermae Romae, was also shot in Kita Onsen. So it's an original building that turned briefly into a movie set!
At Kita Onsen, you can experience an old-fashioned Japanese hot spring. Not only do they uphold the tradition of naked bathing, but men and women can share the hot spring together.
Kita Onsen
Address: 151 Yumoto, Nasu-machi, Nasu-gun, Tochigi Prefecture
Tel.: 81-0287-76-2008
Room Rates:
Showa Period Building, Ume (梅）：
9,700 yen for adults, 5,800 yen (7-12 years old), 4,800 yen (4-6 years old)
Meiji Period Building, Take （竹）：
8,700 yen for adults, 5,800 yen (7-12 years old), 4,800 yen (4-6 years old)
Edo Period Building,Matsu （松）：
7,700 yen for adults, 5,800 yen (7-12 years old), 4,800 yen (4-6 years old)
Hot Spring Only: 700 yen
Homepage: http://www.kitaonsen.com/mokujie.htm
Sessho-seki (Killing Stone)
Just from the name of this place, you can tell it is a very special place to visit. It's actually one of the must-visit sightseeing spots in Nasu.
It was said that the local village was haunted by the spirit of a nine-tailed fox, until a Buddhist priest came and performed certain spiritual rituals. He turned the spirit into the Killing Stone, as you see it now, and built 1000 Buddhist monk statues to bring back peace to the village.
(The legend goes that touching the stone will kill you, hence the name. So be careful, stay back!)
Sessho-seki (The Killing Stone)
Address: 182 Yumoto, Nasu-machi, Nasu, Tochigi
Tel.: 0287-72-6918
The Cheese Garden
Before we go back to Tokyo, of course we need to get some souvenirs for our family and friends. You may have seen this cheese cake shop in "Solamachi" under Tokyo Skytree before. This time we are going to take you to their shop in Nasu!
Cheese Garden
Address: 2888 Kokugi, Takahisa, Nasu-machi, Nasu-gun, Tochigi Prefecture
Hours: 09:00-18:00, (09:00-17:00 from 1 Dec 2016 to 28 Feb 2017)
Homepage (Japanese): http://cheesegarden.jp/
Best Selling Item No.1 – Cheese Cake
This cheesecake is made with raw cheese and baked at just the right temperature. That's why it's so rich in cheese flavor, with a delicately soft texture!
Price: 1,280 yen (tax included)
Best Selling Item No.2 – Cheese Cookies
These cheese cookies are made with almond flour and butter. They have a strong, sweet cheese flavor, and can be stored at room temperature. (Very convenient for souvenirs!)
Price: 3,950 yen (tax included) (36 pieces)
Best Selling Item No.3 – Cream cheese cake
This rare cheesecake is made with the finest local cream cheese. The combination of French strawberry jam and sweet cheese on a crispy cookie base gives you a new taste experience!
Price: 1,860 yen (tax included)
Travel comfortably around Japan with HINOMARU’s LIMOTAXI!
This 5-star service is not all that expensive, so next time you travel with your family, we highly recommend the LIMOTAXI service!
Reservations here!! https://www.tokyo-taxi.jp/english/reserve/
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Other taxi services provided by Hinomaru Limousine:
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Hokkaido (北海道) is the northernmost of the four main islands that make up Japan. The area is famous for Sapporo Beer, plus brewing and distilling in general, along with fantastic snow festivals and breathtaking national parks. Foodies should look for Hokkaido's famous potatoes, cantaloupe, dairy products, soup curry, and miso ramen!
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NIKI
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Niki, in south-west Hokkaido, is about 30 minutes from Otaru. The small town is rich with natural resources, fresh water, and clean air, making it a thriving center for fruit farms. Cherries, tomatoes, and grapes are all cultivated in the area, and thanks to a growing local wine industry, it's quickly becoming a food and wine hotspot. Together with the neighboring town of Yoichi, it's a noted area for wine tourism.
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Niseko is about two hours from New Chitose Airport, in the western part of Hokkaido. It's one of Japan's most noted winter resort areas, and a frequent destination for international visitors. That's all because of the super high-quality powder snow, which wins the hearts of beginners and experts alike, bringing them back for repeat visits. That's not all, though, it's also a great place to enjoy Hokkaido's culinary scene and some beautiful onsen (hot springs).
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Otaru is in western Hokkaido, about 30 minutes from Sapporo Station. The city thrived around its busy harbor in the 19th and 20th centuries thanks to active trade and fishing, and the buildings remaining from that period are still popular attractions, centered around Otaru Canal. With its history as a center of fishing, it's no surprise that the area's fresh sushi is a must-try. Otaru has over 100 sushi shops, quite a few of which are lined up on Sushiya Dori (Sushi Street).
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Sapporo, in the south-western part of Hokkaido, is the prefecture's political and economic capital. The local New Chitose Airport see arrivals from major cities like Tokyo and Osaka, alongside international flights. Every February, the Sapporo Snow Festival is held in Odori Park―one of the biggest events in Hokkaido. It's also a hotspot for great food, known as a culinary treasure chest, and Sapporo is a destination for ramen, grilled mutton, soup curry, and of course Hokkaido's beloved seafood.
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Consisting of six prefectures, the Tohoku Region (東北地方) is up in the northeastern part of Japan's main island. It's the source of plenty of the nation's agriculture (which means great food), and packed with beautiful scenery. Explore the region's stunning mountains, lakes, and hot springs!
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AKITA
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Akita Prefecture is on the Sea of Japan, in the northern reaches of Japan's northern Tohoku region. Akita has more officially registered important intangible culture assets than anywhere else in Japan, and to this day visitors can experience traditional culture throughout the prefecture, from the Oga Peninsula's Namahage (registered with UNESCO as a part of Japan's intangible cultural heritage), to the Tohoku top 3 Kanto Festival. Mysterious little spots like the Oyu Stone Circle Site and Ryu no Atama (Dragon's Head) are also worth a visit!
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Fukushima Prefecture sits at the southern tip of Japan's northern Tohoku region, and is divided into three parts with their own different charms: the Coastal Area (Hama-dori), the Central Area (Naka-dori), and the Aizu Area. There's Aizu-Wakamatsu with its Edo-era history and medieval castles, Oze National Park, Kitakata ramen, and Bandai Ski Resort (with its famous powder snow). Fukushima is a beautiful place to enjoy the vivid colors and sightseeing of Japan's beloved four seasons.
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Yamagata Prefecture is up against the Sea of Japan, in the southern part of the Tohoku region, and it's especially popular in winter, when travelers soak in the onsen (hot springs) and ski down snowy slopes. International skiiers are especially fond of Zao Onsen Ski Resort and Gassan Ski Resort, and in recent years visitors have been drawn to the area to see the mystical sight of local frost-covered trees. Some destinations are popular regardless of the season, like Risshakuji Temple, AKA Yamadera, Ginzan Onsen's nostalgic old-fashioned streets, and Zao's Okama Lake, all great for taking pictures. Yamagata is also the place to try Yonezawa beef, one of the top 3 varieties of wagyu beef.
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Japan's most densely populated area, the Kanto Region (関東地方) includes 7 prefectures: Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa, which means it also contains the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. In modern-day Japan, Kanto is the cultural, political, and economic heartland of the country, and each prefecture offers something a little different from its neighbors.
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Gunma Prefecture is easily accessible from Tokyo, and in addition to the area's popular natural attractions like Oze Marshland and Fukiware Falls, Gunma also has a number of popular hot springs (Kusatsu, Ikaho, Minakami, Shima)―it's even called an Onsen Kingdom. The prefecture is popular with history buffs and train lovers, thanks to spots like world heritage site Tomioka Silk Mill, the historic Megane-bashi Bridge, and the Watarase Keikoku Sightseeing Railway.
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Tochigi Prefecture's capital is Utsunomiya, known for famous gyoza, and just an hour from Tokyo. The prefecture is full of nature-related sightseeing opportunities year-round, from the blooming of spring flowers to color fall foliage. Tochigi also has plenty of extremely well-known sightseeing destinations, like World Heritage Site Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Lake Chuzenji, and Ashikaga Flower Park―famous for expansive wisteria trellises. In recent years the mountain resort town of Nasu has also become a popular excursion, thanks in part to the local imperial villa. Tochigi is a beautiful place to enjoy the world around you.
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TOKYO
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Tokyo (東京) is Japan's busy capital, and the most populous metropolitan area in the world. While the city as a whole is quite modern, crowded with skyscrapers and bustling crowds, Tokyo also holds onto its traditional side in places like the Imperial Palace and Asakusa neighborhood. It's one of the world's top cities when it comes to culture, the arts, fashion, games, high-tech industries, transportation, and more.
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CHUBU
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The Chubu Region (中部地方) is located right in the center of Japan's main island, and consists of 9 prefectures: Aichi, Fukui, Gifu, Ishikawa, Nagano, Niigata, Shizuoka, Toyama, and Yamanashi. It's primarily famous for its mountains, as the region contains both Mt. Fuji and the Japanese Alps. The ski resorts in Niigata and Nagano also draw visitors from around the world, making it a popular winter destination.
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Nagano Prefecture's popularity starts with a wealth of historic treasures, like Matsumoto Castle, Zenkoji Temple, and Togakushi Shrine, but the highlight might just be the prefecture's natural vistas surrounded by the "Japanese Alps." Nagano's fruit is famous, and there are plenty of places to pick it fresh, and the area is full of hot springs, including Jigokudani Monkey Park―where monkeys take baths as well! Thanks to the construction of the Hokuriku shinkansen line, Nagano is easily reachable from the Tokyo area, adding it to plenty of travel itineraries. And after the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, ski resorts like Hakuba and Shiga Kogen are known around the world.
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NAGOYA
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Aichi Prefecture sits in the center of the Japanese islands, and its capital city, Nagoya, is a center of politics, commerce, and culture. While Aichi is home to major industry, and is even the birthplace of Toyota cars, it's proximity to the sea and the mountains means it's also a place with beautiful natural scenery, like Saku Island, Koijigahama Beach, Mt. Horaiji. Often used a stage for major battles in Japanese history, Sengoku era commanders like Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu left their own footprints on Aichi, and historic buildings like Nagoya Castle, Inuyama Castle, and those in Meiji Mura are still around to tell the tale.
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NIIGATA
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Niigata is a prefecture on Japan's main island of Honshu, situated right on the coast of the Sea of Japan, and abundant with the gifts of nature. It's known for popular ski resorts such as Echigo-Yuzawa, Japanese national parks, and natural hot spring baths, plus local products like fresh seafood, rice, and sake. Visitors often spend time in the prefectural capital, Niigata City, or venture across the water to Sado Island.
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SHIZUOKA
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Shizuoka Prefecture is sandwiched between eastern and western Japan, giving the prefecture easy access to both Tokyo and Osaka. Not only is it known for beautiful natural attractions, with everything from Mount Fuji to Suruga Bay, Lake Hamanako, and Sumata Pass―Shizuoka's Izu Peninsula is known as a go-to spot for hot springs lovers, with famous onsen like Atami, Ito, Shimoda, Shuzenji, and Dogashima. Shizuoka attracts all kinds of travelers thanks to historic connections with the Tokugawa clan, the Oigawa Railway, fresh eel cuisine, Hamamatsu gyoza, and famously high-quality green tea.
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KANSAI
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Kansai (関西) is a region that includes Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, and Shiga Prefectures. Kansai contained Japan's ancient capital for hundreds of years, and it's making a comeback as one of the most popular parts of Japan. Kyoto's temples and shrines, Osaka Castle, and the deer of Nara are all considered must-sees. Plus, the people of Kansai are especially friendly, making it a fun place to hang out.
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KYOTO
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Kyoto flourished as the capital of Japan between the years 794 and 1100, becoming a center for poilitics and culture, and to this day it's a great place for close encounters with Japanese history. The cobbled streets of Gion, the atmospheric road to Kiyomizudera Temple, Kinkakuji's golden walls and countless historic attractions, even Arashiyama's Togetsukyo Bridge―Kyoto is a place of many attractions. With new charms to experience throughout the seasons, travelers can't stop themselves from returning again and again.
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NARA
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Nara Prefecture's important history reaches back to 710, a time now called the Nara era, when it was once capital of Japan. Called "Heijo-kyo" during its time as a capital, it's said that nara was once the end of the silk road, leading it to flourish as a uniquely international region and produce important cultural properties of all kinds. To make the most of each season, travelers head to Nara Park, where the Nara deer who wander freely, or climb Mount Yoshino, a famous cherry blossom spot.
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OSAKA
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Osaka is known for friendly (and funny) people, but its history is nothing to laugh at, playing a major part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 16th century unification of Japan. Thanks to long years of economic activity, it's one of Japan's biggest cities, and Osaka's popular food culture earned it the nickname "The Kitchen of the Nation." To this day Osaka is the model of western Japan, and alongside historic structures like Osaka Castle, it also has major shopping malls like Umeda's Grand Front Osaka and Tennoji's Abeno Harukas. Osaka is a place to eat, eat, eat, with local specialties like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushi-katsu, and for extra fun, it's home to Universal Studios Japan.
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CHUGOKU
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The Chugoku Region (中国地方) consists of five prefectures: Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi. In Chugoku you’ll find the sand dunes of Tottori, and Hiroshima’s atomic bomb site, plus centers of ancient history like Grand Shrine of Izumo.
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HIROSHIMA
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Hiroshima Prefecture has everything, from world heritage sites to beautiful nature and delicious local cuisine, and it's either an hour and a half from Tokyo by plane, or four hours by train. Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island and the Atomic Bomb Dome, two Hiroshima UNESCO sites, are famous around the world, but in Japan it's also famous for food. Seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, especially oysters, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, and Setouchi lemons are all popular, and the natural scenery alone is worth seeing.
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SHIKOKU
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On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).
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KAGAWA
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Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.
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KYUSHU
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Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!
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FUKUOKA
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Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.
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KAGOSHIMA
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Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.
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OKINAWA
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The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.
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