I recently returned from an unforgettable self-drive trip around Kyushu, Japan, and I’m still dreaming about it. Starting and ending in Fukuoka, my journey took me to the relaxing hot springs of Beppu, the proud castle city of Kumamoto, the soulful streets of Nagasaki, and the charming canals of Yanagawa. If you’re thinking about a …
continue reading »
Fushimi Inari Shrine (伏見稲荷大社) is an important Shinto shrine in Kyoto. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari, which stands at 233m and belongs to the shrine grounds. Fushimi Inari …
continue reading »
Uji (宇治) is a small city situated between Kyoto and Nara, two of Japan’s most famous historical and cultural centers. Its proximity to these two former capitals resulted in Uji’s early development as a cultural center in its own right. Byodoin Temple Uji is home to the UNESCO Heritage Site of Byodoin Temple, a striking example of Buddhist Pure …
continue reading »
Day 1: Flight to Naha, arrival at airport, collect rental car and drive to Yomitan Day 2: Explore Yomitan Zakimi castle ruins, Cape Zanpa lighthouse. Drive north to Ogimi longevity village, visit Cape Hedo (northernmost point of Okinawa) Day 3: Wanted to see the whales in Chatan but there was no boat going out due …
continue reading »
Shurijo Castle symbolizes the history and culture of Okinawa, and its history is that of the Ryukyu Kingdom itself. This distant province of Japan was closer in ties to Southeast Asia and Taiwan than to mainland China in the past. Shurijo Castle is situated on a small hill, surrounded by curving castle walls that protect …
continue reading »
Discover Osaka, Japan’s most dynamic food city, with these tasty morsels. Osaka (大阪, Ōsaka) is Japan’s second largest metropolitan area after Tokyo. It has been the economic powerhouse of the Kansai Region for many centuries. Osaka was formerly known as Naniwa. Before the Nara Period, when the capital used to be moved with the reign …
continue reading »
Tokyo is the world’s largest city, filled with high-rise buildings, neon lights, game arcades, gadget stores and random stuff. It is a thronging, pulsating and kaleidoscopic city that blends in the familiar elements of international urban living with a touch of Japanese ingenuity and design to create a unique world of its own. It is …
continue reading »
Abashiri is located at 44 degrees north latitude, and the shores of the Okhotsk sea are the southernmost point where the ocean freezes. In Abashiri, drift ice sightseeing ” icebreaking ship Aurora is a popular leisurely cruise that will take you out to sea to see the ice breaking activity. That was the main aim …
continue reading »
Update: The Hokkaido Earthquake of September 6, 2018 did not cause any damage in Hakodate, and all local hotels and tourist establishments are operating normally. Today was a great start to the day because it was snowing lightly as I left the house to walk to the subway station. I had planned a day trip to …
continue reading »
Hokkaido is situated in the northern part of Japan and is famous for its snowy landscapes, ski resorts, milk products, ice cream etc. In summer you can view the lavender fields, while in winter the whole area is covered in a thick layer of snow, like the icing on a cake. Visiting Hokkaido has always …
continue reading »
Otaru (小樽) is a small harbor city, about half an hour northwest of Sapporo by train. Its beautifully preserved canal area and interesting herring mansions make Otaru a pleasant day trip from Sapporo or a nice stop en route to or from Niseko or the Shakotan Peninsula. From the early days of Hokkaido’s colonization in the late 1800s, Otaru served as a major trade and …
continue reading »
The main reason that I decided to go to Tokyo during my recess week is because I managed to get a slot for the Tokyo marathon. It is one of the six marathons in the world (Berlin, London, Boston, New York and Chicago) under the World Marathon Majors. Being the only one that is in …
continue reading »
So I’ve visited 25 out of these 50 cities..I need to continue traveling more!!! With our ever-expanding bucket lists, it’s sometimes easy to lose sight of the essentials. Well, we’ve gone to the community of travelers at minube.net with a simple goal: find the greatest destinations on Earth. From the great ancient capitals to the …
continue reading »