Culture Shingen-ko Festival in Kofu City 2026 Apr 3rd - Apr 5th Shingen-ko is the biggest samurai festival in Japan. The festival takes place in spring and the highlight is a procession through..
Activities Shosenkyo Ropeway Cathy Cawood Take Shosenkyo Ropeway to the summit of Mount Rakanji, also known as Yasaburodake, for panoramic views of Kofu basin, the Japanese..
Activities Autumn Colors at Shosenkyo Gorge Cathy Cawood Shosenkyo Gorge has magnificent scenery and is famous for autumn color. An easy trail runs along the river from the gorge entrance..
Activities Guide to Visiting Zoorasia Cathy Cawood Also known as Yokohama Dobutsuen, Zoorasia is 'walking safari' zoo with animals from all over the world. It's a great..
Activities Shizuoka's Green Tea Cathy Cawood Shizuoka Prefecture is a great place to visit tea farms and factories and learn more about green tea. 40 percent of Japan’s te..
Culture Gunma Power Spot Haruna Shrine Cathy Cawood Haruna Shrine dates back to 586 AD, and the oldest cedar here is thought to be 1200 years old. The shrine is considered a power..
Culture Hina Doll Festival in Enzan 2026 Feb 11th - Apr 18th Antique hina doll sets from the Meiji and Showa Eras, as well as special hanging hina decorations and beautifully made padded fabric..
17 Activities Plum Blossom Trail in Takao Cathy Cawood In early spring we enjoyed a hike along a well known plum blossom trail in Takao on the edge of Tokyo. We began at Takao Station..