Travel in Japan by travellers, tourists and expats. New Tourism, Culture, Lifestyle and Boutique Travel. Independent Guide to Travel in Japan. Tokyo and Beyond.
In 2017 we travelled from Honshu to the Sapporo Snow Festival by rail (JR Pass) crossing the Seikan Tunnel on our journey between Tokyo (Honshu) and Sapporo (Hokkaido). We then spent no more than 48 hours in total in Hokkaido, with less than 24 hours in Sapporo and the surrounding area. Yet I feel that we still …
We travelled to the Otaru Snow Light Festival (aka the “Otaru Snow Light Path Festival”) during a visit to Hokkaido, where it was somewhat of a side quest to the Sapporo Snow Festival, although we do bypass the main city to begin with, instead to stuff our bags into lockers at Sapporo Station. We then boarded …
The one experience not to be missed in Japan, for me, is the traditional ryokan experience, which is more than just your typical hotel stay, but a package of must-do cultural experiences, all wrapped into one. This normally includes a traditional hotel suite, with frills attached, the hot spring baths, complimentary kimono dress, and, more than not, …
We travelled from Honshu to Hokkaido by train during what we expected to be the busiest time of the year. We were travelling for the Sapporo Snow Festival, mid-way through the event, and would return again the same route just two days later. So we were literally there for less than a weekend. But we …
This visit to Hakodate Hokkaido followed a nine-hour JR train journey which started in Takayama on Japan’s Honshu island (11:00AM), and after stops at Toyama, and Omiya, we finally crossed the Seikan Tunnel, through the Tsugaru Strait, to reach the island of Hokkaido. Where the first stop is the port city of Hakodate where we …
It would always be a toin coss for me between Tokyo and Osaka, where to date I have been to each three or more times, and for us they will both make bases for travel in-and-around the central regions of Japan. Because Osaka is a great base for travel in the Kansai region and beyond, where …
We arrive to Osaka’s Kansai airport at night-time, when I find myself somewhat mesmerized by the city, as I follow lights of buildings and stairwells in search of a bulb out-of-place, or off colour. But everything is exact, as it should be, with matching tones and brightness, and everything lined rigid in perfect symmetry. There’s …
The last time I dressed in costume was when I cut holes in a bin bag and wore it with a mask. I was ten at the time, it was Halloween, and I was no doubt terrifying. But I otherwise have no desire, whatsoever, to ever dress up for any reason, ever. Yet somehow Fanfan convinced …
After touch down at Osaka’s Kansai International Airport, we connect direct by train to the JR Tennoji Station, to find ourselves on the doorstep of the renowned Abeno Harukas building of Osaka. With twelve days of travel and uncertainty ahead, we have decided to make the most of our first days here, with two nights …
Our first Japan Rail Travel would be best described as ‘extreme sightseeing’ where we travelled ridiculous distances, to photograph stuff, only to travel ridiculous distances back again. The first day was an early example where we travelled 1,200 km, to photograph sakura blossoms in the northern parts of Japan, only to return to Tokyo again …