Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park, Nagano
Among wildlife photographers outside Japan, the two most sought-after wildlife subjects in Japan are the tancho red-crowned cranes (in Hokkaido) and the so-called “snow monkeys” in Nagano. Those of us…
Remote Rebun and Rishiri, Hokkaido
Way up near the northern tip of Hokkaido is a pair of small islands called Rebun and Rishiri. It’s one of the most remote places I’ve ever been to in…
Red Mt. Fuji, Shizuoka
Mt. Fuji is basically synonymous with Shizuoka Prefecture and vice versa, although it also belongs to Yamanashi Prefecture. Since the “front” side of Fuji is in Shizuoka (as seen from…
Shibukawa Ikaho Onsen’s Hawaii connection
Ikaho Onsen is a hot spring town about 2.5 hours by bus from Tokyo (Buster Shinjuku bus terminal in Shinjuku Station). It’s on the way to the famous Kusatsu Onsen…
Nyuto Onsen, Akita
Nyuto Onsen is a remote, hot spring enclave in the mountains along a river. There’s a variety of hot spring baths, both indoors and outdoors. Very rustic and charming in…
Tower of the Sun, Expo ’70 Commemorative Park, Suita, Osaka
Over half a century ago in 1970, Japan held the biggest and grandest world exposition the world had ever seen. It was Expo ’70 in Suita, Osaka from March to…
Shimanami Kaido Highway, Ehime
Ehime is in Shikoku facing the picturesque Seto Inland Sea. In 1999, a series of bridges and highways hopping over small islands across the Inland Sea connected Shikoku and Honshu.…
Touring Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa
Noto Peninsula (Noto Hanto) is a large, scenic peninsula jutting into the Sea of Japan like a dorsal fin. Lots of tourist sights, but the train line goes only halfway…
Mt. Sakurajima, Kagoshima
Japan being such a mountainous country, there are bound to be prefectures with a famous mountain as its main symbol. Mt. Fuji for Shizuoka, Mt. Aso for Kumamoto, and for…