Kobe Harborland umie
Kobe Harborland is a popular seaside tourist spot that represents Kobe. Located within this site is a large scale commercial complex “Kobe Harborland umie”.
Adults can easily spend the whole day here shopping, while for kids, it's a total paradise. Plus, you can ride the nearby Ferris wheel as a family and get a stunning view of Kobe Port and the city.
Himeji Castle
This castle is a World Heritage Site and a Japanese castle masterpiece. The main keep, built by Ikeda Terumasa in the early Edo period, has a five-story exterior, one basement level, and six stories above ground on the inside, making it the largest Edo period castle tower still standing.
Himeji Castle has so many gates and stone walls. The scenery changes depending on where you look from, so it's beautiful and impressive from every angle.
Jagarico
This popular potato snack has a crispy texture.The stick-shaped snack is packaged in a cup, making it easy to carry around.They come in salad, cheese, buttered potato, and tarako butter flavors. Their most popular flavor, salad, includes carrot and parsley.Limited-time and special regional flavors are also available.
A must-buy snack, so tasty!
Kirinomori (Misty Forest)
Close to Kochi Expressway’s Shingu Interchange, this multi complex shares the various appeals of Shikoku’s famous tea producer, Shingu Area.
This is a great rest stop where you can enjoy food, coffee, hot springs, and entertainment. It's a hidden paradise surrounded by clear streams, fresh air, and greenery—perfect for relaxing and escaping the city!
Sato san’s Rest
This guesthouse is run by a couple who were former backpackers and is popular for its homely and warm services. Situated in the nostalgic downtown arcade street "Joyful Minowa Shopping Street", one of its charms is that you can experience the good old atmosphere of Japan. Strolling through the shopping street and eating downtown food such as yakitori, tempura, and Japanese sweets is also fun.
This is a small family-run guesthouse, and the dorms are upstairs. There's a little kitchen with a traditional Japanese dining table. Lots of travelers from different countries stay here. The owners are super friendly and always happy to help. If you need anything, just ask—they can even help you plan your trip.
A-FACTORY
A-FACTORY is a good place to stop by at the end of your trip in Aomori Prefecture. It is a spot where you can find a wide variety of foodstuffs, sundries, traditional crafts, and gourmet foods produced in Aomori.
The exterior of A-Factory really stands out, and the harbor bridge behind the building is a local landmark. You can see it as soon as you walk out of JR Aomori Station, so it's super convenient to get to!
TOKYO GIFT PALETTE
The "Tokyo Gift Palette" is located just outside the "Yaesu North Exit ticket gate" of Tokyo Station. This area, which occupies a corner of "First Avenue Tokyo Station", features a total of 39 brands, including exclusive Japanese and Western confectioneries as ideal as gifts for loved ones and souvenirs of Tokyo, limited edition sweets available only here, special bento boxes and side dishes, and cafes where you can spend time in comfort. Of these, 24 are new brands, new business categories, or brands that are opening at Tokyo Station for the first time, attracting much attention.
They sell all the most popular Japanese and Western sweets from Tokyo here. It's the perfect place to stock up on gifts and local treats!
Saku Ski Garden PARADA
Saku Ski Garden PARADA is unique in Japan for its direct access from the Joshinetsu Expressway Saku Plateau Smart IC and Saku Plateau PA 2nd parking lot via a huge escalator. This ski resort is the only one in Japan where you can enter directly from a highway.
You can't beat the convenience of this ski resort! It's also a great place for beginners to learn how to ski.
Jigokudani Monkey Park
Located along the Yokoyugawa River flowing from the Shiga Highlands and sitting at an elevation of 850 meters, Jigokudani Monkey Park exists in a harsh environment where one-third of the year is blanketed in snow. With its rugged cliffs and steam rising from hot springs everywhere, it's no wonder the place is called Jigokudani, or "Hell's Valley."
Getting here isn't the easiest, but it's totally worth it to see the monkeys soaking in the hot springs. It's the only place in the world where you can see monkeys do this—pretty cool!
Zuihoden
Sendai Domain’s lord, Date Masamune’s mausoleum. According to the will of Date Masamune who passed away in 1636, the 2nd lord, Tadamune built it in the following year. Around Zuihoden, there are information halls and mausoleums such as Kansenden for Date Tadamune and Zennoden for Date Tsunamune. The whole area is Kyogamine Date Clan Tomb, designated as Sendai City’s Historic Site.
When you visit Zuihoden, the building decorations are impressive, but the maple trees also really stand out. Be sure to take lots of photos!