Category: Travel

The 2024 Shirakawa-go Light-Up information has been released! Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a popular destination in Japan’s Hokuriku region. Whether you’re planning a solo trip or a group tour, this spot remains a top attraction. The annual light-up event is a must-see spectacle that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime!

When visiting Hakodate, I usually choose to stay near Hakodate Station.
Previously, I have stayed at Super Hotel Hakodate, Hakodate LOISIR (now Four Points by Sheraton), and Hakodate La Vista.
For my stay in February 2019, I chose Route Inn Hakodate Ekimae (official website).
Route Inn is a nationwide chain of business hotels in Japan. It’s not a luxury brand but rather a more affordable option, slightly better than Toyoko Inn in my opinion…
(This is just my personal feeling)

Hieizan Enryaku-ji Temple is located between Kyoto and Shiga (Otsu). Therefore, to visit Enryaku-ji Temple, you can either go up the mountain from the Kyoto side or from the Otsu side. The tickets for the pilgrimage before going up the mountain are relatively expensive, but both sides have transportation options. The new version of the pilgrimage ticket is now divided into two versions, the Keihan Line and the Otsu Line, which are suitable for visitors going up the mountain from the Kyoto side and the Otsu side respectively.

When we visit various attractions in Hyogo Prefecture, we usually consider going to Kobe first, which is the Sannomiya area, and then from there, we can go to Arima Onsen, Himeji, Akashi, and other places. Therefore, the transportation from Osaka to Kobe is particularly important. However, for beginners who are traveling to the Kansai region for the first time, it is recommended to first understand the important transportation hub in Kobe, which is the Sannomiya and Motomachi areas. You can refer to the article on Kobe’s Sannomiya area, which will be easier to grasp!

Kansai Airport is Japan’s second-largest airport and the first to operate 24 hours a day.
Due to the increasing number of tourists visiting the Kansai region, Kansai Airport has become insufficient to meet the demand.

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine is a sanctuary of learning, culture, and art, and a popular attraction in Fukuoka prefecture.
Most people visit Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine as a day trip, and often choose Hakata as their starting point. There are three main ways to get to Dazaifu from Hakata.

Arima Onsen is located in the northern district of Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture. With its long history and abundant hot springs, it is one of Japan’s three famous hot springs and one of the three ancient hot springs. It is very suitable for general tourists to visit as a day trip from the Kansai region. However, staying overnight in Arima Onsen is also a good choice. This article will summarize the transportation routes from Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe to Arima Onsen. Please note that there are many routes available, so I will only list the routes that I personally recommend. I will not introduce routes that are obviously not suitable. Thank you for your understanding.

This article provides a guide for Taiwanese travelers planning a free and independent trip to Japan, focusing on popular cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagoya. It includes recommendations for city and location choices, suggested duration of the trip, preparation tips, and highlights of attractions in each city. The article also provides information on transportation options, accommodation choices, and estimated expenses for a five-day trip.

I visited Lake Shikotsuko over a decade ago, but it was already dark, so I didn’t see much.
This time, I made a point to stay overnight at Lake Shikotsuko, choosing the onsen Hotel, Lakeside Villa-Suimeikaku.
It was perfect for visiting the Shikotsuko Ice Festival at night.