Food The Best Soba in Togakushi Robert Grey It has been said that Togakushi is the birthplace of soba. So why not go with the best of them all: the centuries-old, family-run..
Nightlife The Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival 2026 Jan 13th - Jan 15th The Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival, an outrageous combination of flames, kindling and tons of sake is held every year on January 15th..
Beauty & Spa A Hot Spring Bath at 700 Meters Robert Grey At an altitude of 700 meters, you won't find many hot spring baths in Japan so far above sea level, and few will offer the breathtaking..
Activities A Tomb with a View Robert Grey Those interested in Japanese culture and history may be familiar with kofun, the ancient burial mounds found all over the country...
Activities Creating Soba in Iiyama Robert Grey Combine a soba-making experience with the comfort and hospitality of an overnight stay at a family-run Japanese hot spring inn
Culture Iiyama's Ajisai-dera Robert Grey One of the great things about getting out of Japanese cities is that you will ultimately find some wonderful and little known gems..
Culture A Hokusai on the Ceiling Robert Grey Ganshoin Temple, located in northern Nagano's town of Obuse, contains one of the best kept local secrets around -- a large..
