All posts tagged "Around Japan"

  • Has Tokyo’s version of a white Christmas – or lack thereof – gotten you down? Well, there’s only one thing to do: Go up!

    Snugged within Tochigi Prefecture’s high mountains is Nikko (literally “sunlight”). Located a mere 135 kilometers north of our concrete jungle, the city is home to some unique landmarks, majestic wildlife, and magnificent sceneries. There’s never a dull...

    • Posted December 14, 2017
    • 0
  • Japan’s Sacred Spaces

    The art of Feng Shui aims to consciously create a level of natural balance in man-made environments. While it is originally a Chinese practice, the Japanese are clearly experts at creating settings with a sense of balance...

    • Posted November 26, 2017
    • 0
  • Japan’s Fish Therapy

    Sticking your feet in a pool of water and allowing them to be eaten by a shoal of fish sounds like a scene from some straight-to-DVD B-movie, but in our exhaustive search for soul-enhancing treatments, anything goes....

    • Posted November 1, 2017
    • 0
  • Burnout? Do what the Japanese do to heal the fatigue of body and mind.

    Being stressed over an extended period of time can leave one totally drained. If you are suffering from burnout and looking for respite away from the chaos of the city,  escape to a serene onsen resort in...

    • Posted October 26, 2017
    • 0
  • Swimming Pools in Tokyo for 500 yen or less

    If you’re put off by overpriced theme parks and hotel pool rates in Tokyo, here is a list of  swimming pools run by city wards that are well-kept, secure and above all, very affordable. Check the one...

    • Posted July 31, 2017
    • 0
  • Yokohama Sankeien Garden: Beauty, Tranquility, History

    Sankei-en is the legacy of Yokohama silk trader Tomitaro Hara, more widely known by his pseudonym, Sankei Hara. The expansive outer gardens, originally Hara’s private residence, were opened to the public in 1906, keeping true to Hara’s...

    • Posted May 28, 2017
    • 0
  • Go-kart companies asked by police to improve riders’ safety

    Out of twelve go-kart accidents reported in the city which Japan’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has been tracking since March, ten of them involved foreign tourists. Zooming away in a go-kart  has become a popular way of...

    • Posted May 22, 2017
    • 0
  • Our Family Routine: Exploring Japanese Architecture

    See the city at its best and enjoy a great day out with your family through a visit to these architectural marvels.

    • Posted May 21, 2017
    • 0
  • Green spaces massage the body and brain, says Japanese research

    Nature bathing is a national pastime for Japanese people. It is easy to understand why. The air outside the city just feel fresher and better. Another reason is they know something most of us don’t. The Japanese...

    • Posted May 21, 2017
    • 0
  • Japan’s next generation bicycle tires don’t need air

    When conventional tires’ pressure drop after about a certain distance travelled, it is normal for bikes to become sluggish and less responsive. The good news is with Bridgestone Cycle’s next generation ‘air-free’ nirinsha, (Japanese word for two-wheelers) ...

    • Posted May 16, 2017
    • 0
  • Japan’s new luxury train will leave travelers spellbound

    Beginning today, rich travelers who have money to burn will be able to experience true luxury while traveling around the country via the Train Suite Shiki-Shima , JR Higashi’s version of the Majaraja Express, except that, its...

    • Posted May 2, 2017
    • 0
  • Float Over to Huis Ten Bosch As You Sleep

    Over at Hollanda Mura or Huis Ten Bosch,  Japan’s Dutch Village and Theme Park in Nagasaki, a floating capsule that drifts along the surrounding scenic spots while you sleep, is the park’s newest attraction. The two-level floating...

    • Posted March 10, 2017
    • 0
  • A New Capsule Hotel Opens Next Month at Fuji-Q Highland

    Cabin & Lounge Highland Station Inn, located just a 1-minute walk from Fuji-Q Highlands, a theme park in Yamanashi prefecture, will be open for business from April 27 (Thu), 2017. The capsule-style private room slightly more spacious...

    • Posted March 9, 2017
    • 0
  • Tattoo-friendly Onsen resorts

    Going to an onsen is Japan’s favorite escape from the humdrum of busy Tokyo life. Get naked, rinse and relax in these atmospheric and therapeutic  onsen resorts.  Got a tattoo?  These places don’t mind. Shirakaba Resort Ikenohei...

    • Posted March 1, 2017
    • 0
  • Fun events at Huis Ten Bosch This Spring!

    Spring is just around the corner. If you’re planning a vacation escape to see the breathtaking tulip fields in Europe but don’t want to make the long trip, a “slice of Holland” does indeed exist in Japan,...

    • Posted February 15, 2017
    • 0
  • Rent a go-kart in Tokyo

    If riding a bike to tour the city isn’t thrilling enough, the city offers another fun option. Rent a go-kart. Go-karting is the coolest and most fun way to cruise around town for dads, moms and tweens....

    • Posted November 15, 2016
    • 0
  • Onsen for beginners

    A visit to an onsen is one unique experience that everyone should try while in Japan. If it is your very first visit, here are a few things to remember: Clothes are removed in a changing room...

    • Posted November 15, 2016
    • 0
  • Daytrippers – ’tis the season for Mikans!

    From early October until late November is the best time of the year to eat fresh mikans (or easy-peeling Japanese oranges) straight off the tree. Pack up on vitamin C in readiness for the coming chilly months....

    • Posted October 19, 2016
    • 0
  • Wild Magic Outdoor Park

    A huge urban outdoor park named Wild Magic in Toyosu station is now open to the public. The new self-contained camping site that opened in July 2016 sits on a 1.6 hectare space dedicated to pure outdoor...

    • Posted June 15, 2016
    • 0
  • How to make your first Disney trip more fun

    You may not have realized it, but you live in only one of four countries in the world that have a Disney Theme Park. We’re lucky – Japan actually has two Disney Theme Parks, and whether you’ve...

    • Posted April 11, 2016
    • 0
  • What happens when Japanese mom sends her 5-year old son Masaki and 2-year 10-month old Sayaka on their first errand alone?

    Some Japanese TV programs do well not only to entertain but also to educate viewers. Thanks to YouTubers who post these clips to inform foreigners what exactly goes on in Japan. One program called Hajimete no otsukai...

    • Posted March 4, 2016
    • 0
  • Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort

    by Sofie Scott We had often heard that doing a day trip skiing from Tokyo was possible. We were a little pessimistic as to exactly how reachable the resorts were from Tokyo, and how kiddy friendly they...

    • Posted February 8, 2016
    • 0
  • Skiing at Club Med Sahoro

    by Yvonne Everett My impression of Club Meds in general, was that they were for fast-paced singles. Not so in Hokkaido!  This is the family place to go for skiing. Club Med Sahoro is extremely child friendly....

    • Posted February 8, 2016
    • 0
  • Ski & Snowboard indoors at Snova Shin-Yokohama

    by Alec Masuda Unpack the snowboards! Yes, the winter ski season is at your doorstep. And for eager snowboarding fanatics, opportunities abound. Snova Shin-Yokohama is an indoor snowboarding facility offering riders a chance to expand on their...

    • Posted February 8, 2016
    • 0
  • Snow festivals all over Japan

             

    • Posted February 2, 2016
    • 0
  • The Tokyo Great Cycling Tour’s “amazing one-day” bike tour delivers a fun and memorable spin on city touring

    With a few years of Tokyo sightseeing under my belt, and perhaps, most importantly, with three energetic teenage sons, I was in the need for some new, active, and family-friendly adventures in Tokyo. As always, I first...

    • Posted October 7, 2015
    • 0
  • Humans take a back seat, robots take over at Hen Na Hotel

      At the entryway, hotel guests are greeted by a bowing robot and over at the reception desk are a Japanese-speaking female humanoid with lashes that blink and a savage-looking dinosaur that speaks Japanese and English. The...

    • Posted August 7, 2015
    • 0
  • A slice of Spain in Japan

    Dreaming of a European summer vacation? Did you know that you can have a mini version right here in Japan? The Shima Spain Village is a theme park reminiscent of a typical resort in Southern Spain. Located...

    • Posted July 10, 2015
    • 0
  • Cool Water Parks in Tokyo

    Get your swim wear and gears ready, round up the kids and celebrate the summer season with a huge SPLASH! Let the fun begin!   Seibu Yuenchi There are two separate swimming zones within the park: Pool...

    • Posted July 10, 2015
    • 0
  • GORA KADAN (Hakone)

    Gora Kadan Hakone is an exclusive retreat. Going for a summer retreat? Gora Kadan is a traditional four-star Japanese ryokan style of accommodation located in the center of Hakone National Park in close distance to the Hakone...

    • Posted June 8, 2015
    • 0