Nozawa Onsen
Nozawa Onsen has an array of inns and restaurants that offer hot springs and local food. It is a historical resort with legends - some say it was found by Reverend Gyoki in the era of Emperor Shomu (724-748), others say it was found by a mountain priest in training.
Visiting the public bathhouses or open-air baths at this time is such a treat. You can really enjoy soaking in the hot springs. There are about a dozen bathhouses here, all maintained by local residents. ☺️
Fruitsland Shirone Grape Garden
In Niigata, Minami District is known as a fertile farming area, where the Shirone Grape Garden is located. Fruits in seasons are grown with the water from the nearby Shinano River, organic fertilizer and minimum agricultural chemical and made available on this tourist farm.
I was a bit tired after picking fruit, but the garden offers ice cream vouchers, so I got to enjoy some ice cream! 🍦
Keikyu Museum
Under the concept of “See, Touch and enjoy ‘the Real Things’,” the museum was opened in 2020, commemorating Keikyu Group’s 120-year anniversary.
The platform recreates how it looked back in the day, and you can really feel the atmosphere like a train could depart at any moment. Definitely worth experiencing! ☺️
Sanroku-gai (3・6Town)
Asahikawa's "Sanroku-gai (3・6Town) " is said to be the second largest in Hokkaido after Sapporo's Susukino. The name "Sanroku-gai" is said to derive from its location in the 3jodori 6-chrome (SAN-jo-Dori ROKU-chome) area in the center of Asahikawa City and its site at the foot of Mt. Taisetsuzan = Taisetsuzan no Sanroku (Pronunciation in Japanese).
You can enjoy fresh seafood here. Asahikawa is also known as the 'Northern Beach,' and there are several sake breweries where you can taste locally brewed sake. 🍷 Highly recommend this spot.
Shirotori Garden
This strolling Japanese garden surrounding a pond is created after the geography of Chubu Region. The grounds cover 3.7 hectares, the largest in the Tokai Region.
This is a great spot for a relaxing stroll. It's a strolling-style garden, and Shirotori Garden is the largest in the Chubu region! 👍
Ogura-Yama Nison-in Temple
Founded in the Jouwa period (834-848), the temple is also known as the SANTEIRYO (Emperors' Mausoleum）, which is said to contain a part of the bones of Emperor Saga, Emperor Tsuchimikado, Emperor Gosaga, and Emperor Kameyama, and as a temple associated with Honen Shonin.
The main gate is actually the approach to the temple, called Momiji Baba—it's a famous spot for viewing autumn leaves. In spring, the blue maples and cherry blossoms bloom together, creating a stunning scene. 🎊
Mirai Museum of Art
Minatomirai District has a school, Minatomirai Gakuen. On its campus, there is an art museum with glass art, which was mostly collected by the founder of the school, Teruhiko Tsurumi.
This is a fantastic exhibition with a wide variety of artworks, from paintings to films. The museum itself is really attractive too.
Omi Bridge
The Omi Bridge, spanning Lake Biwa, connects Marunouchi-cho in Otsu City and Shinhamacho in Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture. Opened in 1974, it was originally a toll road but became toll-free in 2013. Along with the Biwako Ohashi Bridge, which connects Otsu City and Moriyama City, Omi Bridge is one of two bridges over Lake Biwa.
The elegant curve of the bridge is just beautiful! Crossing it makes me happy, and the view from the lakeside is stunning too. Highly recommended!
Ameyoko Shopping Street
The Ameyoko Shopping Street, affectionately known as "Ameyoko," stretches approximately 500m between JR Ueno Station and JR Okachimachi Station, with around 400 shops lining the street. It features a variety of businesses, including food and confectionery, clothing, general goods, and jewelry stores.
Ameyoko has awesome food like tekka don, Meat Oyama, and takoyaki. Plus, there are super cheap drugstores and must-buy snacks at Futaki no Kashi & Shimura Store! 👍
Miho no Matsubara Culture & Creativity Center Miho Shirube
It is a facility that conveys the value and charm of Miho no Matsubara, which is registered as a constituent asset of Mt. Fuji World Cultural Heritage, and the importance of preserving Matsubara. Miho no Matsubara pine tree grove and the majestic view of Mt.Fuji are projected in a video theater, and the Miho no Matsubara Matsubara pine tree grove as a scenic spot, as well as the worship of Mt.Fuji, the legend of Hagoromo, which became the setting for Noh, a traditional Japanese performing art, Muromachi period drawings, and Edo period drawings. You can understand Miho no Matsubara through six themed exhibition rooms, such as the relationship with art represented by ukiyoe.
Miho no Matsubara is a place full of both cultural and natural value. There’s the ocean, a beautiful pine forest, and of course, Mt. Fuji. The legendary Hagoromo Pine, where the story of the celestial maiden is told, is here too!