Yuge Takahisa's page

Articles

• 12 Feb 2025

  

  Discover the Birthplace of the Ninja: A Special Experience in Iga

  Nestled in western Mie, Iga Ueno is the heart of the Iga region and the birthplace of many legendary ninjas, including the renowned Hattori Hanzo. Its unique geography—close to Kyoto and surrounded by mountains—made it an ideal stronghold for warriors skilled in reconnaissance, sabotage, and swift movement across rugged terrain. These warriors became known as ninjas. From the Muromachi period to the Edo period, ninjas operated behind the scenes, shaping history from the shadows. Even today, their skills and spirit are preserved in Iga. In addition to its rich ninja heritage, Iga is also a land of agriculture and livestock farming, blessed with fertile soil and pure water. Why not embark on a journey to Iga, where you can explore its natural beauty, history, warm hospitality, and traditional Japanese culture—while uncovering the true essence of the ninja?

• 23 Jul 2019

  

  One day trip to Shizuoka prefecture centering on Mishima!

  Only 90 minutes from Tokyo. In Shizuoka prefecture, there is a small river called Kakitagawa at the bottom of Mt. Fuji. It’s a short river only 1.2 km long total, but with its water so transparent, you can clearly see the bottom of the river.

• 3 Sep 2017

  

  Lake Biwa in Shiga ~Go on excursion of the lake district~

  For six months after October, “The culture of water” campaign will take place in Shiga, especially around lake Biwa. Before the campaign starts, I decided to visit the eastern and northern sides of lake Biwa. The themes of my excursions are “water and life”, “water and prayer”, and “water and food”. I walked around, talk to locals, and ate local cuisine to re-discover the charm of this beautiful area and “The culture of water”.

• 22 Feb 2017

  

  Bacchus’s Trip in Tohoku “Seeking the Alcohol You Can’t Drink Anywhere but Here”

  The trip to Tohoku’s gateway station, Sendai Station, takes about 90 minutes on the Shinkansen from Tokyo. If you walk a bit past Sendai’s main city area, you can find many delicious varieties of alcohol born from the rich nature of Tohoku. This time, I took a trip to both a distillery where you can sample whiskey for free and Miyagi Prefecture’s one and only winery.

• 25 Jun 2016

  

  Cycling along the Shimanto River in Kochi Prefecture!

  What comes to mind when you think of Kochi? Sakamoto Ryoma or katsuo (skipjack tuna), perhaps? Or maybe it’s their plentiful sinking bridges!