Monkeys and Ancient Cedar Trees on the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi Route:...
Takahara to Tsugizakura-oji
The Takahara to Tsugizakura-oji day is the first real taste of...
First Steps of the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi Route: Day 1
Of the many routes of the Kumano Kodo trail, the Nakahechi Route is by far the most popular. This path, dating back...
Renewal on Miyajima: Tokyo to Okinawa Day 8
The island of Miyajima, also known as Itsukushima, is a short trip away from Hiroshima. Throughout much of its history the island...
Hiking the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage
The Kii Mountains of Wakayama prefecture, blanketed in dense, silent forests, tell a spiritual tale. For many centuries, as the trees reached...
Hiroshima’s Many-Layered History: Tokyo to Okinawa Day 7
Amongst the different regional varieties of the savory pancake-like concoction known as okonomiyaki, connoisseurs frequently tout Hiroshima’s version as one of the...
Shimanami Kaido – Island Wave Sea Highway: Tokyo to Okinawa Day...
I’ve never been much of a bicycle rider, but the course along the Shimanami Kaido (Island Wave Sea Highway) makes me wish...
Overheating at Dogo Onsen: Tokyo to Okinawa Day 5
The celebrated novel Botchan by Natsume Soseki tells the story of a grumpy young man and his teaching experiences in the town...
Caves, Hot Springs, and Sunsets: Why You Need to Visit Enoshima...
Welcome to the final instalment of our Enoshima Island guide. Now that you’ve heard the legend and toured the shrines, it’s time...
Dizzying Heights at Takeda Castle: Tokyo to Okinawa Day 4
Often billed as The Machu Picchu of Japan, the ruins of Takeda Castle are perched precariously on the top of a mountain...
A Dragon, a Goddess, and a Shrine: Why You Need to...
Sun, sky, an epic romance between a goddess and a vicious five-headed dragon, Enoshima Island has it all. Home to ancient shrines,...