「Travel Smart, Explore More！」
Shiga Kogen is one of the largest ski resorts in Japan, and Yama-no-Eki (志賀高原 山の駅), located in the Hasuike area, serves as the heart of the entire resort. Whether you’re arriving from outside the region or traveling between ski areas while staying nearby, this is an essential transportation hub you’ll…
Deep in Wakayama Prefecture, surrounded by the borders of Nara and Mie, lies the small village of Kitayama. Its most iconic summer activity is the Kitayama River IKADA-KUDARI Log Rafting (北山川観光筏下り), a rare and thrilling experience where you ride a real log raft down a rushing river. The whole experience…
Whenever someone mentions Ishigaki Island, what instantly pops into my head is that crystal-clear, deep blue ocean, endless white beaches, and all those gorgeous photos of people enjoying the shallow waters freely. This time, I spent 4 days in Ishigaki with my travel buddy Rebecca, and we finally got to…
Tsubaki took a two-day, one-night hiking trip to Mount Yakedake, one of Japan’s 100 Famous Mountains located in Nagano. Since Mount Yakedake is right next to Kamikochi, we also included a Kamikochi one-day walking trip as part of this hiking adventure! In this post, I’ll be sharing my itinerary and…
Although I’ve lived in Japan for over 8 years and have climbed many mountains big and small, hiking Yakedake surprisingly became my second peak among Japan’s 100 Famous Mountains, right after Mt. Fuji. Taking advantage of the short window before Kamikochi’s winter closure in early November, I set out on…
When people think of Tanegashima, the first thing that often comes to mind is the Space Center and its high-tech tours. But if you add a Tanegashima SUP or kayak experience to your trip, the whole journey instantly levels up. Especially in Tanegashima’s lesser-known mangrove areas, not only are the…
Jomon Sugi Hiking is one of the most iconic symbols of Yakushima, and the trail leading to it is widely regarded as the ultimate classic among all Yakushima hikes. This route ranges from intermediate to advanced difficulty and takes about 8 to 12 hours round trip, depending on your physical…
