THE JAPAN NEWS
 
In 1988, the Hokutosei sleeper express was the first train to use the Seikan tunnel to link Ueno Station in Tokyo to Sapporo, over a journey of 1,200 kilometers. It gained popularity through such charms as luxury sleeping cars and a dining car where travelers could enjoy French-s...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Traditional Japanese pottery in small-town Japan
On a cool Monday in early December, I made my way to Imbe in Okayama Prefecture. The small town, a 35-minute ride from Okayama Station, is home to Bizen-yaki (Bizen pottery), one of the six traditional kilns of Japan.
My first stop was...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
An exquisitely beautiful temple, garden and museum
About twenty minutes east of central Kyoto on the subway, Daigo-ji doesn't get as many visitors as the more storied sights in the centre, but for my money, it's as interesting and beautiful as anywhere else in the city. It's worth de...

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LONELY PLANET
 
For most people, Hokkaidō is synonymous with snow and skiing, but Japan’s northernmost island is also a top destination in the warmer months: it’s a place to stretch your legs on epic hikes, train your eyes on distant horizons, indulge in world-class seafood, or just escape from t...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Seven kinds of Japanese traditional performing arts
Japanese culture is full of interesting forms of art that are unique in the world and have ancient roots, but which are difficult to discover and understand for foreign tourists. If you are planning a trip to Kyoto I suggest a visit...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Escape to Utsukushi Mori
Utsukushi Mori translates into “beautiful forest” in English. There are many such parks around Japan with the same name having wide open spaces, campsites and bungalows. I’ve seen other “beautiful forests” but the one in Osafune sets itself apart by the quali...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Beautiful in all seasons for all time
The name Matsushima conjures ancient images – clusters of rugged, pine-clad islets in a snowy winter mist or framed in a glittering bay and magnificent summer sunset.
Though the islands are legendary here, venerated as one of the Three Views of J...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Traditional cormorant fishing by fire torches
Uji is nestled in the beautiful forested hills just 15 kilometers south of Kyoto. Situated on the shores of the Uji River, the riverbank walk is lined with cherry blossoms in springtime, and its hills glow with a blaze of red foliage in f...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Japan's second oldest aquarium
Besides being closed a few years during and immediately after WWII, Marinepia Matsushima Aquarium opened its doors in 1927. Located along picturesque Matsushima Bay, this second oldest aquarium in Japan is a local legend and has seen thousands of visito...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Exploring one of the best hiking spots in Miyagi
Nestled away along the coast of the Matsushima Bay sits a small set of peninsulas. Even though it is between Shiogama and Matsushima, it is technically owned by the city of Rifu. One of these peninsulas has a rather narrow pathway. It’...

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