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  Omura Park

  Posted in: Kyushu, Nagasaki

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  Spring is the most lively season in the rich natural world of Omura. Approximately 2,000 cherry trees burst into bloom in Omura Park, signaling the start of spring. The park is listed as one of Japan’s 100 Famous Cherry Blossom-viewing Sites. The trees are lit up during the Omura Flower Festival from March 25 to June 20 so visitors can enjoy the blossoms at night.

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  Sendai Tanabata Festival

  Posted in: Tohoku, Miyagi

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  Every year from August 6 to 8, the famous Sendai Tanabata Festival is held over three days in the city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Recognized as one of the three major festivals in the Tohoku region, the historical festival has been continued from the era of Masamune Date (1567-1636), the founder of the Sendai domain. A crowd of visitors from both around and outside of Japan fill the streets of Sendai during this period to enjoy the gorgeous Tanabata paper ornaments adorning the city.

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  Wakayama Ramen

  Posted in: Wakayama, Kansai

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  In Wakayama, ramen noodles have been endearingly referred to as chuka soba, or Chinese noodles. The pork broth soy sauce soup is categorized into two types: the lighter, soy sauce-based soup and the richer, pork broth-based soup. The noodles are soft, thin and straight. On the table are the staple side menus hayanare-zushi, or salted mackerel sushi, and boiled eggs, which customers tell how much they ate upon payment in the unique Wakayama Ramen style.

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  Kenrokuen Garden

  Posted in: Chubu, Ishikawa

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  Kenrokuen is one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan. It was built over a long period of time as a park for the successive feudal lords of the Kaga Domain. Located in the center of Kanazawa City, Kenrokuen is well-known to tourists from around the world and many of the prefecture’s residents as a garden where people can enjoy the beauty of the four seasons. In the evening, there is a light-up event held during certain times of the year where visitors can enjoy a kind of charm...

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  Lake Kussharo

  Posted in: Hokkaido, Eastern Hokkaido

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  Rain or shine, sun or clouds, Lake Kussharo in Akan National Park near the town of Kawayu-Onsen offers breathtaking views.

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  Hakone Yosegi Zaiku Woodcraft

  Posted in: Kanto, Kanagawa

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  Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture is one of the most well-known hot spring destinations in Japan. It is also known for the Hakone Yosegi Zaiku, a traditional woodworking craft that skillfully creates geometric patterns by gathering woods of various natural colors, said to have developed about 200 years ago in Hatajuku of Hakone. They are crafted in various sizes and patterns, such as coasters, small boxes, drawers and trays, and the puzzle box which is quite difficult to open is especially...

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  Yutoku Inari Shrine

  Posted in: Kyushu, Saga

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  The most popular tourist attraction in Kashima City, Saga, is Yutoku Inari Shrine, also known as a spiritual site. You can also enjoy the specialty sake in the Hizen Hamashuku area as well as healing your mind and body at Torii Gates in the Sea and Takezaki Hot Springs in Tara Town.

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  Akita Kanto Festival

  Posted in: Tohoku, Akita

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  A summer tradition to pray for a bountiful harvest, the Kanto Festival has been held since about 270 years ago and is one of the three major festivals in the Tohoku region. Performers called Sashite parade the streets while forcefully holding up Kanto poles, which are long bamboo poles with 46 hanging lanterns and weighing 50 kilograms altogether. Around 260 Kanto poles are held up by the Sashites by their palms, foreheads, shoulders and lower backs with amazing skills. The stunning festival...

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  Futami Okitama Shrine

  Posted in: Chubu, Mie

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  The Futami Okitama Shrine is located in the town of Futami in Ise City, Mie Prefecture. This is a famous shrine where women pray for a felicitous marriage, and where married couples pray for matrimonial happiness. The amulets and goshuin (shrine's seal stamped onto a notebook) are also popular. The custom from ancient times is to purify oneself at this Futami Okitama Shrine before going on to pray at the nearby Ise Grand Shrine.

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  Omi Beef

  Posted in: Shiga, Kansai

  1393 Views

  Now popular around the world, Japanese wagyu beef consists of over 200 brands, and Omi, Matsuzaka and Kobe are renowned as the top three wagyu brands. Omi beef is a Japanese Black cattle raised in the rich natural environment and waters of Shiga Prefecture. With a fine texture and sweet flavored fat, the tender meat is best enjoyed as sukiyaki or shabu-shabu hot pot dishes.

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  Eiheiji Hakujukan, an inn close to Zen

  Posted in: Chubu, Fukui

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  An inn close to Zen, Eiheiji Hakujukan falls somewhere in between a traditional Japanese inn and a shukubo temple lodging, offering convenient facilities and services while introducing you to the world of Zen with authentic Buddhist vegetarian cuisine and sitting meditation experience. The inn's Zen concierges, trained at the Soto Zen sect's head temple Daihonzan Eiheiji Temple, will assist your journey to the world of Zen both at the Zen monastery and within Hakujukan.

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  Noboribetsu Onsen

  Posted in: Hokkaido, Southern Hokkaido

  1393 Views

  This is the typical hot spring in southern Hokkaido. There are many attractions such as Jigokudani and the bear farm

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