Beauty & Spa Naruko Gorge Andrew Checkley This small town and popular onsen resort bustles with seasonal tourists chasing the changing Autumn leaves.
Culture The History of Hirosaki Castle Andrew Checkley As a castle town, Hirosaki was built around this defensive structure and status symbol - today a tower sat in an extensive compound..
Culture Hirosaki: Sakura Season Andrew Checkley Tall somei-yoshino trees form tunnels of pink flowers above your head and fill the moats at your feet with petals, while breezes..
Beauty & Spa Scenic Kawaguchiko Andrew Checkley Of the five lakes cooling Mt. Fuji’s toes, Kawaguchiko is the most popular and most developed.
8 Culture Shiroishi Festival Reenactment Andrew Checkley Samurai battle to-and-fro across the grounds, traditional Kyudo archers fill the air, arquebuse volleys deafen audiences and ninjas..
Culture Shiroishi Oni Kajuro Festival Andrew Checkley The small but perfectly built Shiroishi Castle makes for a pleasant trip all year round, though it comes to life as at no other..
Culture History of Hiraizumi Andrew Checkley This quiet corner of Iwate was once the cultural and commercial heart of nearly a third of Japan.
Area Hirosaki A castle town turned small city, Hirosaki is bigger than the rural towns most frequent in outer Aomori, but smaller than the regional capital. You’ll have to go a fair way off the beaten track..
