JAPAN TRAVEL
Kita no Megumi Tabe Marche Food Festival
Asahikawa is situated in Hokkaido’s agricultural heartland, famous for its fresh produce, like asparagus, corn and lavender. Its harvest markets provide an unique opportunity to sample its homeland specialities and to chat with its suppliers.
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LONELY PLANET
 
With so much keeping travellers occupied in nearby Kyoto and Osaka, it’s not surprising Matsusaka is often overlooked. But while Japan’s star cities may dazzle visitors, this unassuming slice of Kansai quietly pleases those seeking a detour off the tourist trail.
Wander castle rui...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
 
 
Where avocado dreams come true
Do you love avocados? Not like, love? If you started salivating, you need to visit Madosh Cafe in Tokyo. Hidden between the windy backstreets of Shibuya and Harajuku stations, the cafe is a refreshing change to the bright lights and masses of people...

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THE JAPAN NEWS
 
Autumn is the best season for mushrooms, and maitake is an excellent choice for flavor and aroma. Chef Yumiko Izawa introduces three recipes that bring out the best in this autumnal treat.
Dried maitake miso soup
Roughly break a batch of maitake into stems and spread them out in ...

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THE JAPAN NEWS
 
SUWA, Nagano — If you drive along the Venus Line road from Suwa, Nagano Prefecture, you can find a mountain cottage with beautiful chocolate-colored exterior walls on your way to Lake Shirakaba.
Korobokkuru Hutte is located at 1,820 meters above sea level in an area called Kuruma...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Be a samurai at this Asakusa-based studio
Why not become a samurai on your next visit to Japan? A few blocks from Asakusa's Kaminarimon Gate, visitors can do just that at the truly exclusive Samurai Studio.
 
Open for a limited time, visitors can try from a range of full-spec authent...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Kyoto's sake-brewing district
During my two months in Kyoto, I stayed in the Fushimi District, which is very different from Downtown Kyoto in the Gion and Sanjo area, as well as around Kyoto Station. Fushimi is a lot more residential and suburban, so there are a few things I would li...

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LONELY PLANET
 
This is an excerpt from the food and drinks chapter of Lonely Planet's Tokyo guide.
The first thing most visitors in Tokyo are intent on eating is either sushi (す し or 寿司) or sashimi (刺身). Sushi is raw fish served with sweetened, vinegared rice, while sashimi is slices of ra...

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LONELY PLANET
 
Location: Otori shrines, Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan
Dates: Every 12 days in November
Level of participation: 2 – buy a rake for luck
Taking place on the Days of the Rooster (according to the Chinese zodiac), this event normally happens twice a year. In the occasional years when it occu...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Old Tiger Henro 6
Forest bathing, shinrin yoku in Japanese, refers to the restorative effects of relaxing in nature. I felt I was doing this, bathing in the forests, when I henro-ed at Kochi’s Temples 28, 29, 30, 31, and 32. They were all havens of natural and untouched surroundings....

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