Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan, is a popular winter destination for tourists thanks to its Snow Festival in February and many ski resorts. There are, however, lots of things to do in Hokkaido during the other seasons too. Hokkaido was home to the indigenous people of Japan – the Ainu as well, so it really does have a rich history and is well worth a visit.

Sapporo

Shiroi Koibito park (literally translated as “white lover park” in English), Hokkaido’s “Chocolate Factory”, is a must-visit for chocolate and sweet lovers, for families and those interested in the origin of chocolate and chocolate making. There is a beautiful park with a luxurious European style building at the heart of it. If you spend some time in the garden you can see beautiful flowers, a treehouse, seasonal decorations and small colorful play houses for children to enjoy. After entering the building, you can buy a ticket to go on a tour. You will be able to see the Auror

Continue to read

Are you a big fan of “Sailormoon”, the anime series? Was it how you became interested in Japan? Do you know the names of all the characters and enjoy long discussions with your friends about why your favourite is the best?

Then I have some great news for you! There is a “Sailormoon” novelty cafe in Tokyo currently being featured in an ever-changing themed venue. Located in the entertainment district of Kabukicho in Shinjuku, it is the third time a “Sailormoon” themed cafe has been hosted by this venue, due to its popularity. This time around it will be open until the 28^th of September.

When you enter the cafe, which is located right by the Godzilla cinema, you will see tables for two lined up in 3 rows. There are TV screens on the walls showing the series with music on in the background. You can also request a “Sailormoon” song that you’d most like to hear.

Continue to read

What is Robot restaurant?

The name of this restaurant might be misleading as it’s not quite a restaurant and it’s not entirely robot themed, although it does feature robots. There are several drinks you can choose from and a 1000 yen traditional Japanese bento (lunch box). However, a trip to Robot Restaurant is more about the unique entertainment, than about the food, as during your visit, you’ll see a performance including live music, dancers, a robot fight and more, all in a backdrop of colours and lights galore. A visit to Robot restaurant will surely be one of the highlights of your Tokyo experience.

Why to go there?

The performance is dynamic, crazy and rather spectacular. Even the waiting room (Rainbow Lounge) where everyone gathers before the show, has 12,000 bulbs on the walls and claims to “put even Las Vegas to shame”.

Continue to read

Nature: Mountains. Woods. Temples. Flowers. These words define the beautiful mountainous area west of Saitama prefecture – Chichibu.

Moss Pink Park

Chichibu is easy to get to from the Tokyo area, so recently it was promoted as a good “weekend getaway” for Japanese young professionals. Due to its proximity to the metropolitan area, it is becoming a very popular sightseeing spot during moss phlox (moss pink - “shibazakura”) blossom period (mid April - early May) as many people come here to enjoy the beautiful nature. Hitsujiyama park (literally “mountain of sheep”) is a place where you can see about 400,000 moss phloxes spread out in the area of approximately 17600 square meters.

Continue to read

Beppu is a city located in Oita prefecture on the island of Kyushu, known for its many unique hot springs. When you arrive at Beppu station, the statue of the “Shiny Uncle” welcomes you heartily. It is the statue of Kumahachi Aburaya, a Meiji Era entrepreneur famous for his contribution to the increase in tourism in Beppu and all over Japan. He is also known for his love of children. The concept of the “Eight Hells of Beppu”, which are eight hot springs in Beppu for viewing, rather than bathing, is attributed to him. He was greatly inspired by his trip to North America and implemented many new ideas upon his return to Japan. Why not visit Japan and get inspired too with a trip to Beppu?

Continue to read

Would you like to visit a place listed in the 2014 dream vacation wish-list by CNN? Do you want to see almost 150-year-old Wisteria, which has been described as “almost identical to Avatar’s spiritual Tree of Souls” ? If you enjoy feeling at one with nature, then Ashikaga Flower Park is definitely the place for you.

It is open year-round and depending on the season, there are 8 distinct flower seasons a year in the park.

1) To see Pheasant’s eye, Christmas rose and Winter Clematis blooming, the Spring season is recommended, which lasts from early January to late February

2) For Tulips, Crocus and Thunberg’s meadowsweet, come to the Spring Flower Festival from early March to mid-April

3) For Japanese Wisteria, Azalea and Peony, then visit during Wisteria Story season from mid April to mid May

4) Rainbow Garden season is for people, who enjoy Roses, Rhododendrons and Clematis. It is from mid May to early June

5) At Blue and

Continue to read

After the Halloween parties and celebrations are over, Tokyo and its surroundings start to brighten up for upcoming holiday season: Christmas and New Year. In the recent years, illuminations gained popularity and many people look forward to this time of year as they enjoy the holiday atmosphere created by the illuminations. Below, are some of the best illuminations in Tokyo that we think are definitely worth a visit:

Seibuen-yuenchi illuminations

Seibuen-yuenchi is an amusement park located in Saitama, accessed by Seibu-Yuenchi station or Yuenchi-nishi stations of Seibu line. It has varying attractions depending on the season; for instance, in the winter it changes into a winter wonderland.

We would recommend visiting this illumination to those who enjoy large-scale illuminations alongside music and other attractions. It is lots of fun to visit

Continue to read

Okinawa is often regarded as the “Japanese Hawaii”. It is a southern chain of Japanese islands and its tropical-subtropical climate makes it a great resort destination throughout most of the year (except for the rainy season (late April-early June) and typhoon season (July-August)). Okinawa also has its own culture and people welcome you as warmly as the weather. The word “Okinawa” itself means “the rope in the open sea” due to its long stretch of islands. Only 49 of the islands of Okinawa are inhabited and the remaining 111 are uninhabited.

Travelling in Okinawa

Transportation. This might be one of the challenges for those, who are planning to do backpacking in Okinawa. Unlike most parts of Japan, the transportation system in Okinawa is not very advanced, but it is quite costly. The majority of tourists commute using taxis, which can be found practically anywhere. But if you are a budget traveler you can use the car-rent serv