11 Culture Saisho-in temple, Hirosaki Peter Sidell In Hirosaki in Japan's Aomori prefecture, Saisho-in is a temple with what is said to be Tohoku's most beautiful pagoda.
7 Activities Rafting in Minakami in February C. Rio Late February in Minakami usually has blue skies and crisp weather. It's the perfect time of year to grab your board or skis..
6 Culture Kusatsu Matsuri C. Rio On two occasions, I have had the pleasure of not only attending, but participating in one of the best matsuri (summer festivals)..
9 Activities Yubiso and its Year-round Beauty C. Rio For the past four years I have had the privilege of calling Yubiso home. This sleepy village on the edge of Minakami is the gateway..
9 Accommodation Sabae City Hotel Larry Knipfing Located near Nishisabae Station, and famous Nishiyama Park, Sabae City Hotel is a convenient place to stay in Sabae city. In fact,..
Activities Sasara, a Sake Bar in Utsunomiya Stacy Kurokawa Where else can you sample so many different kinds of local sake? Sasara offers a selection of about 120 different kinds of sak..
11 Culture Sabae's Funatsu Jinja Shrine Larry Knipfing Funatsu Jinja, a venerable shrine in Sabae, Fukui, is over 1500 years old. Like many shrines, it is located in the middle of a grove..
7 Activities Asahi San C. Rio Asahi-san is probably one of the most viewed mountains in Gunma prefecture, yet few people ever make it to its summit.