Art & Culture

Set Your Artistic Spirit Free at teamLab Borderless

In the heart of Tokyo lies an interactive art installation and creative space that allows visitors to leave the city for a borderless landscape of light that evolves every day. (Photo: teamLab Exhibition view of MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM: teamLab Borderless, 2018, Odaiba, Tokyo © teamLab)

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Relaxing Stay

Find Your Perfect Tokyo Base with These Hotel Options

The best travel plans all center around finding appropriate accommodation. Whether you’re looking for a traditional experience or a more modern place to crash, Tokyo has no shortage of options for every lifestyle.

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History

Sawara: Chiba’s Charming River Town That Time Forgot

If you’re looking to escape the fast pace of the big cities, fewer places are better than the serene Sawara’s Historical District. Once an important trading town, this area of Chiba has kept its rustic charm while remaining a welcoming haven for weary visitors and those searching for power spots.

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History

Summon Your Inner Samurai on a Sakura City Walking Tour

Stroll like a samurai in the city of Sakura, home to well-preserved traditional homes, sword masters, and serene bamboo groves that look straight out of a Kurosawa film.

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Nature & Outdoor

Witness the Wondrous Striped Cliffs of Chiba’s Byobugaura

While it may be easier to call Byobugaura Cliffs the “Dover of the Orient,” no words could properly convey the serenity of this colorful jagged landscape lining the Chiba coastline.

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Art & Culture

Discovering Design at the Kadokawa Culture Museum

Inside of one imaginative Saitama building that resembles a scrambled castle lies a wonderful tribute to Japanese comics and young adult books. Come inside the Kadokawa Culture Museum, famed architect Kengo Kuma’s recent work that’s promoting the world of design inside and out.

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Nature & Outdoor

Rappelling & Riding Rapids in Minakami

Several exhilarating ways to reconnect with nature and shake off the months of sitting at home can be found at Minakami, one of Japan’s premiere spots for white water rafting and canyoning.

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Food & Drink

Picking the Perfect Fruits on a Gunma Farm

Gunma, home to some of the juiciest fruits and vibrant vegetables in Japan, is waiting for travelers to taste the bounty of the region. And we know just the spot to enjoy the seasonality of the prefecture directly from the source.

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Nature & Outdoor

Hit the Fabled Powder Slopes of Hakuba

As any snow junkie in Japan might tell you, few locales on earth can compare to the powder slopes of the Land of the Rising Sun. And the Happo-One resort is up there with the very best.

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Nature & Outdoor

Head to Hell’s Valley for Scenery and Monkeys

Although Jigokudani changes dramatically depending on the season, one of the most popular times to visit is winter, when there is a chance to see the monkeys that inhabit the valley soak in a hot spring to warm up!

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History

The Samurai Spirit Lives on in Fukushima’s Samurai School

Samurai culture still thrives in Aizuwakamatsu, a castle town in central Fukushima. And one distinguished school is vying to keep traditions alive by introducing the authentic culture of the ancient warriors to the entire world.

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Art & Culture

Learn Kendo at Fukushima’s Tsuruga-jo Castle

Kick it old school in Aizuwakamatsu as you learn the basics of Japanese swordplay in one of Japan’s most revered samurai cities, right in the heart of Fukushima.

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Food & Drink

Unlock the Secrets of Kitakata Ramen

Kitakata, considered one of Japan’s “big 3 ramen cities,” wants to bring ramen lovers closer to their beloved broth with a comprehensive Ramen Chef Experience run by local masters looking to share their passion with the world. If you’ve ever wanted to make your own authentic Japanese ramen, there’s nowhere better than Kitakata!

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Art & Culture

Spot Art in its Natural Habitat in Niigata

A perfect blend of art, culture, and nature only two hours from Tokyo, exploring Niigata’s rich tapestry of outdoor exhibitions makes the ultimate itinerary for the adventurous art lover.

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History

Mining for History on Sado Island

Located off the coast of Niigata Prefecture in the Sea of Japan, the remote island of Sado holds a unique place in Japanese history. Learn about how this former gold mine was a shining part of the Japanese economy.

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Nature & Outdoor

A Skier’s Paradise Next Door to Kanto

From the slopes of Echigo-Yuzawa to the backwoods of Myoko, Niigata is home to dozens of ski resorts scattered throughout the prefecture. To enjoy one of the country’s coolest snowy getaways, hop on a bullet train from Tokyo (which can take 70 minutes or more) to find a winter wonderland!

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Relaxing Stay

Onsen Culture Deep in the Japanese Alps

Completely encompassed by the breathtaking Japanese Alps, the Echigo Yuzawa region showcases Japan’s onsen culture at its finest. We’ve got the scoop to get you out the door and into the soothing hot springs of Niigata.

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History

Experience the Classical Beauty & Culture of Kairakuen Garden & Kodokan Mito Han School

You’re invited to escape the crowds of the major cities and journey to Ibaraki Prefecture, where you can take a carefree walk of one of Japan’s most famous gardens, before learning about the culture and etiquette of Japan.

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History

Getting Wrapped Up in Gunma’s World Heritage Site, Tomioka Silk Mill

Japan’s first silk model factory is now a place where visitors can come learn about the history and development of the nation’s raw silk industry less than two hours from Tokyo. (Photo provided by Gunma Prefecture.)

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Relaxing Stay

Take in the Cool Summer Breeze at Kiyosato Terrace

As the 1,100-meter-long Panorama Lift allows visitors to escape the summer heat of nearby Tokyo, Sun Meadows Kiyosato proves to be a popular spot for visitors to soak up the mountain sun while comfortably cooling off.

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Nature & Outdoor

Scenic Cycling on the Tsukuba-Kasumigaura Ring Ring Road

Get some fresh air and a fresh new perspective with a cycling tour through the natural wonder of Ibaraki. From the stunning and shimmering Lake Kasumigaura to the majesty of Mount Tsukuba, there’s simply no shortage of sights along the Ring Ring Road.

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Nature & Outdoor

Spotting the Seasonal Colors of Ashikaga Flower Park

With a full range of colors on display, Ashikaga Flower Park is stunning no matter the time of year. Marvel at the orange tulips, blue hydrangeas and the purple wisterias of one of Tochigi Prefecture’s best-kept secrets.

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Nature & Outdoor

Wildlife Lovers Migrate to Nasu Animal Kingdom

Go wild at Nasu Animal Kingdom, the perfect place to make new animal friends while learning more about the rare and wonderful creatures that call this area of Tochigi home.

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