日本NipponPlan

Blog

Travel notes for Japan
Guides5 min readHakone from Tokyo: onsen, ropeway and lakeA day or two in Hakone from Tokyo: the train, the ropeway, the lake and the onsen. Tips on tattoos, the volcano and the order of the day.Guides5 min readHimeji Castle: a day trip from Osaka or KyotoHow to spend a day at Himeji Castle from Osaka or Kyoto: the castle, the garden next door, the route and what to check first.Guides5 min readHiroshima from Fukuoka: Peace Park and MiyajimaA day from Fukuoka to Hiroshima: the Peace Memorial Park and museum, a ferry to Miyajima and the tide check for the floating torii.Seasons6 min readHokkaido in winter: snow, ski and coldHokkaido is snowy and cold from January to March. Learn how to plan snow days in Sapporo and Otaru, what to pack and what to check before you travel.Guides4 min readHonmachi and the Osaka history trailHonmachi is a calm business district beside Osaka Castle. Here is a half-day history walk past the castle moats, a city museum and a quiet garden.Guides5 min readIkebukuro as a base: shops, anime and trains northIkebukuro is a busy station hub with big stores and many train lines. Here is how to decide if it is a good base, and how to pick the right exit.Guides5 min readIkebukuro for fans: shops, cafes and fan cultureIkebukuro has anime store floors, a street of romance-story shops and character cafes. Here is how to plan a fan visit and shop with good manners.Seasons5 min readJuly heat and fireworks: a hot-season planJuly is hot and humid in most of Japan, with festivals and fireworks at night. Learn how to plan the heat, the evening events and the crowded trains.Seasons5 min readJune: the rainy season and hydrangea walksJune is the rainy season in most of Japan. Learn how to plan rainy days, where hydrangea blooms near Kamakura and how to keep the trip dry and enjoyable.Guides5 min readKamakura from Tokyo: temples, Great Buddha and coastA calm day trip from Tokyo to Kamakura: how to get there, which temples to pick, and what to check before you go.Guides5 min readKawaramachi and Pontocho: a shopping and evening walkA walk from the afternoon arcades to the Kamo riverbank and the lanes of Pontocho at dusk, with dinner, respect for the district and a plan for late nights.Guides5 min readKinkaku-ji and north-west Kyoto: the Golden Pavilion areaKinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, sits in a quiet north-west part of Kyoto. Here is how to plan a visit with other temples, and how to avoid the crowds.