JAPAN TRAVEL
Supporting the locals and experiencing a new way of life
Hirosaki is one of Aomori's rural gems and considered a top Tohoku destination. While the spring sees flocks of visitors descend on Hirosaki Castle to capture the mesmerising cherry blossom views along the castle moat, by the s...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Unique collaborations for three days only
Venue: Kenkyugakuen Eki-mae Park When: Oct 7th - Oct 9th 2017,  10:00am - 7:00pm
Tsukuba is something of a 'ramen battleground' outside Tokyo, with the city dominating the rankings for Ibaraki prefecture, with many of their most famous shops ...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
One of Nagano's top attractions
Zenkoji Temple in Nagano prefecture is considered one of Japan's most popular temples and the largest after Nara's Todai-ji. It is surrounded by a bustling religious district and is reached by following the lively Nakamise-dori avenue that is lined wit...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Enjoy shopping at this bright suburban mall
In the western suburbs of Tokyo, Ebina is home to not one but two shopping malls. In the beginning there was Vinawalk, a cheery, colourful outdoor shopping centre, complete with a cute train for the kids, two cinemas and its own pagoda; the...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
A chance to win a trip for two by casting your vote
The Undiscovered Japan project is a government-backed initiative that is trying to lure tourists away from the well-trodden path of the Golden Route and instead introduce them to other regions of Japan. With the steadily increasing ...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Italian-inspired ramen in Shinjuku
Setting itself apart from the ramen crowd, 'Taiyou no Tomato men' (太陽のトマト麺) serves up visually distinct bowls of tomato-based ramen at its many locations around Japan – as many as 21 stores, since launching in Kinshicho back in 2006.
The sign...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Visit the mountain high above the clouds
I get a glimpse of Mount Fuji in the bright sunshine, rising above the other mountains, with its distinct concentric form and snowy top. It is awe-inspiring. I get off the bus with the crowds, but only a few of us head to the viewpoint to see ...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Yabusame archery and Togyosai procession
Venue: Nikko Toshogu Shrine When: Oct 16th - Oct 17th 2017,  10:00am - 5:00pm
A grand festival is held at Nikko Toshogu Shrine twice a year, and in October, includes the Shinto ritual offering of “Yabusame”, firing arrows at targets from atop ...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Be embraced by nature in a field of Lavender
“Hokkaido is a vast land of great natural splendour. Its beauty is so awe-inspiring that it evokes forgotten feelings in Japanese. Emotions bring out our drive to live. The whole body of the Atama Daibutsu can’t be seen from outside. Snow ...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Where the ocean and mountains come together
If you cannot decide on whether to take a day trip to the mountains or the ocean, then here is an easy solution: See both! Two hours south of Tokyo via the Takaido Line is the beautiful city of Numazu. Until Miwa recommended I visit this pl...

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