(Nov. 16, 2024) Shizuoka City is in Kanagawa Prefecture, which stretches over a vast area of 83.1 km from north to south, but only 20% of the city is urban, with the remaining 80% being mountainous and rich in nature. The natural part of Shizuoka deep in the mountains is nicknamed Oku-Shizuoka, or “Oku-Shizu“. “Oku-Shizu”… Continue reading (Japan) The Best Autumn View @ Okushizu
Category: Japan
(Japan) Discover Choshi in Chiba
(Oct. 12-13, 2024) Choshi city is at the easternmost point of Chiba, which is just next to highly-populated Tokyo and Kanagawa. Chiba is well-known for Narita Airport, Tokyo Disneyland and beautiful beaches, but since Choshi is at the furthest end of Chiba, I had never been to there. I found Byobugaura Bay and Former Kashima… Continue reading (Japan) Discover Choshi in Chiba
(Japan) Izu Islands – Kouzushima
(Sept. 21-23, 2024) This Sept. we had 2 Mondays off because of public holidays, so we decided to spend all the 3-day holidays going camping at the Izu Islands. Getting on the large passenger ship (Tokai Kisen) on Friday night, arriving on Saturday morning, camp for 2 days, return on Monday. It was perfect! Kouzushima… Continue reading (Japan) Izu Islands – Kouzushima
(Japan) Good Places to Visit & Camp at Izu
(June 15-16, 2024) We went for an mini trip camping and visiting some new places in Izu. Although I have already visited Izu so many times, we still managed to find surprise and great places that I would like to recommend. Atami Moon Terrace This is a great public park including white sand beach. Also,… Continue reading (Japan) Good Places to Visit & Camp at Izu
(Japan) Izu Islands – Niijima
(Sept. 14-16, 2024) There are total 9 Islands in Tokyo Prefecture. Most of them are just several hours away from Tokyo by large passenger ship (Tokai Kisen), or a few hours away from Tokyo by high-speed jet ferry. Then, you’ll come to totally different world, beautiful sea and nature all around. I am particularly fond… Continue reading (Japan) Izu Islands – Niijima
(Japan) Night visit to Ouchi-juku
Nov. 3, 2024 Ouchi-juku is a traditional Japanese town since Edo period. It is near the national highway 121, about 100km from Nikko. It is a popular tourist spot because the street is full of Japanese old style houses with roof made of thick layers of straw. It is as if you have returned to… Continue reading (Japan) Night visit to Ouchi-juku
(Japan) Walk around Tsurugajo Palace and Aizu-Wakamatsu area
Nov. 3, 2023 Tsurugajo Castle is another popular place to visit in Fukushima Prefecture. Although this area has a history as old as the Sengoku Period (1467 – 1568) up to the end of the Edo Period (1868), the palace was reformed and not so old. Only the tall stone walls are ancient, and actually… Continue reading (Japan) Walk around Tsurugajo Palace and Aizu-Wakamatsu area
(Japan) Walk around Goshikinuma Pond
Nov. 3, 2023 Goshikinuma Pond means five colorerd ponds. It is located near the Jododaira area in Fukushima Prefecture. The whole area is full of nature and varieties of trees. At this time of the year, we could see Autumn leaves everywhere. Also, the local stores were selling many local products such as wild mushrooms… Continue reading (Japan) Walk around Goshikinuma Pond
(Japan) Hike around the crater of Mt. Azuma-Kofuji
Nov. 3, 2023 When people heard about Fukushima Prefecture, they often only think about the Great Earthquake, Tsunami and failure of Nuclear Power Plant in 2011. However, Fukushima consists of not only the coastline area, but also the mountainous area, which consists of volcanos, wetlands, peaks, ponds and hotsprings. This time we drove to Mt.… Continue reading (Japan) Hike around the crater of Mt. Azuma-Kofuji
(Japan) Gravel Cycling @Atsugi
Oct. 28, 2023 Atsugi is just a regular city in the Kanagawa Prefecture, but there is a big Sagami river running through it, also a city park called Sagamisansen Park there, so on a sunny weekend we decided to take our gravel bikes for a little off-road ride. We rode along the riverbank. Some part… Continue reading (Japan) Gravel Cycling @Atsugi