Category: Japan

Sapporo in winter is a vast expanse of white.
In the snowless year of 2020, it snowed heavily when I arrived~
Here is my one-day itinerary during the 2020 Sapporo Snow Festival.
Perfect for those visiting Sapporo during the Snow Festival. If not during the festival,
you can replace the Snow Festival itinerary with Tanukikoji, Nijo Market, Curb Market, Hokkaido University, Nakajima Park, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Mount Moiwa…

Japan has a well-developed transportation system, with many public and private railways providing services. Originally, each railway company operated its own trains only on its own tracks. However, it was not economically efficient for each train to only operate within a small range. Therefore, cooperation between railway companies was established. The so-called through operation means that Company A’s train can run on Company B’s tracks, and Company B’s train can also run on Company A’s tracks. These railways are both competitors and collaborators. The purpose of cooperation is to reduce the number of transfers for passengers and improve passenger efficiency.

The winter scenery in Hokkaido is a vast expanse of white snow and frozen landscapes.
While many views can become monotonous over time, the Chitose and Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival adds a refreshing change to the scenery
This time, I stayed at Lake Shikotsu Onsen, which is very close to the venue, just a 5-minute walk away.

During the autumn season in Tokyo, Japan, besides enjoying the maple leaves, visitors can also capture the beauty of the golden ginkgo trees. The best time to see the ginkgo trees at the University of Tokyo is from mid-November to early December. The university has two campuses, Hongo and Yayoi, both of which have stunning ginkgo trees. To reach the University of Tokyo, one can take the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line to “Todaimae Station” or the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line or Toei Oedo Line to “Hongo-sanchome Station” and walk for about 5 minutes. The article provides a detailed map of the ginkgo tree locations on both campuses and highlights some of the best spots for photography.

The Shinhotaka Ropeway is a popular tourist attraction in Gifu, Japan. It is known for its double-decker cable car that takes visitors to an observation deck at an altitude of over 2,000 meters, offering a 360-degree view of the Northern Alps. The ropeway is divided into two sections, with the second section being the only double-decker cable car in Japan. It is recommended to visit the ropeway from Takayama and to plan for additional time to explore nearby hot springs. The operating hours and ticket prices vary depending on the season. Despite weather conditions affecting the ropeway’s operation, the experience of witnessing the snow-covered landscape is highly recommended. Overall, the Shinhotaka Ropeway is a must-visit attraction in the Hokuriku region of Japan.

Tokyo Disney has unveiled new merchandise, launching a variety of “Winter Limited Edition Accessories”. The lineup includes a Mickey Christmas tree popcorn bucket, Minnie & ShellieMay dolls, Duffy scarves, and LinaBell fox character ornaments, among others. Each item is incredibly adorable, exuding a sense of comfort and healing. It’s so tempting to collect them all at once!

The article discusses the popularity of Hida Takayama, a city in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, as a tourist destination due to its proximity to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Shirakawa-go. The article suggests that Hida Takayama is a recommended stopover for travelers visiting the Hokuriku region and highlights the main attractions in the city, including the Miyagawa Morning Market, Kokubunji Temple, Takayama Jinya, and the historic streets of Kamisannomachi. The article also provides information on transportation options to reach Hida Takayama from Nagoya and Komatsu airports. Overall, the article emphasizes that Hida Takayama is a compact city that can be explored on foot in a day, making it a convenient base for further exploration of the Hokuriku region.

The Kobe Motomachi Tokyu REI Hotel (formerly known as Tokyu Bizfort Hotel) is located next to Kobe’s Nankinmachi. Although it may not be as convenient as Sannomiya Station in terms of transportation, there are plenty of shopping streets nearby to explore. You can even stroll all the way to Sannomiya along these streets. So, if you’re someone who enjoys shopping, this location is quite ideal.

Jifubuki (ground blizzard), refers to the snowflakes being blown up from the ground. As Aomori belongs to a heavy snowfall area, there is snow everywhere in winter. In some places, due to the open space and strong winds, the snow can be blown up from the ground by the wind… Originally, this deliberately arranged experiential itinerary was meant to let us tourists from tropical countries experience what it’s like to have ground-blown snow. Unfortunately, luck was not on our side, as the weather was too good on the day of the experience, with no wind, so there was no ground-blown snow… XD

The feeling of soaking in hot springs with Aomori apples is so luxurious…. Every day, the apples are changed so that guests can immerse themselves in apple-infused baths and enjoy the aroma of apples while soaking. This is the signature of Minamida Onsen Hotel Apple Land.