The Fuji Five Lake (Fujigoko) region lies at the northern base of Mount Fuji about 1000 meters above sea level around the five lakes Kawaguchiko, Saiko, Yamanakako, Shojiko and Motosuko. These five lakes were formed by previous eruptions of Mount Fuji. This area is known for its outdoor activities, hotContinue Reading
Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan, standing 3776 meters. With its nearly perfectly shaped volcano, Mount Fuji has been worshipped as a sacred mountain and one of the most famous landmarks in the country. It is Japan’s most iconic and instantly recognisable natural feature, frequently depicted in artContinue Reading
Shirakawago and the neighbouring Gokayama are small, traditional villages located in Ōno District, Gifu Prefecture, showcasing a building style known as gasshō-zukuri. These traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses first emerged during the Edo period for farmers, village headmen, merchants and low-level samurai. Gassho-zukuri means “hands pressed together in prayer”, as the farmhouses’Continue Reading
With a population of over three million, Yokohama is the second-largest city in Japan. This capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo. Yokohama developed rapidly as Japan’s prominent port city following the end of Japan’s relative isolation in the mid-19th century and is today oneContinue Reading
Nagoya is a major urban centre between Tokyo and Kyoto and a gateway for accessing Kanazawa, Takayama and other destinations in the Hokuriku region. It is the birthplace of Japan’s greatest samurai warriors including Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu—the three most famous samurai in Japanese history. Group AttractionsContinue Reading
Nagasaki City is the largest city within the Nagasaki prefecture. Since the opening of its port in 1570, it has prospered as a window for trade with the West and with China. Its proximity to mainland Asia made it the only place open for trade during Japan’s long period ofContinue Reading
Dazaifu is a city located in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, part of the greater Fukuoka metropolitan area. The city was founded in 1982 and has been important historically for more than a thousand years. It was the administrative capital of Fukuoka and was pivotal for Japan’s diplomatic relations and organizing theContinue Reading
Kitakyushu is the northernmost city of Kyushu and has been an important hub for both land and marine traffic since olden times. The city developed as it was a crossroad for transportation due to its proximity to the Korean Peninsula and China. Various industries have thrived in Kitakyushu for manyContinue Reading
Fukuoka is Japan’s fifth-largest city and is nestled on the northern coast of Kyushu. The city is loosely divided into two halves, Hakata and Tenjin, with the island of Nakasu in the middle. Formerly these areas used to be two separate cities: the merchant town of Hakata to the eastContinue Reading
The capital city of Shizuoka Prefecture, Shizuoka’s main sites are within easy walking or cycling distance. Its city centre is located around Shizuoka Station, while Shimizu and its port make up a secondary centre. Like the prefecture, the city is known for its tea leaves and scenic views of MountContinue Reading