Sengan-en
Sengan-en is a Japanese garden made for the Shimadzu family estate by Mitsuhisa Shimadzu in 1658. The grounds boast a sprawling 50,000 square meters in total. The garden itself uses the “borrowed scenery” technique, incorporating Kagoshima’s coveted spots like the volcano Sakurajima and Kinko Bay as a natural backdrop.
This is the southernmost part of Kyushu, and you can see Sakurajima volcano from here.
Lake Biwa
Lake Biwa, which belongs to the first-grade Yodo River system and is located in the center of Shiga Prefecture, occupies an area of about 670 k㎡, or about one-sixth of the prefecture's land area, and is the largest lake in Japan in terms of both area and water storage capacity, with 27.5 billion tons of water pouring in through rivers from the surrounding mountains of Ibuki, Suzuka, and Hira, all of which are over 1,000 meters high.
The lake is really huge! There's a dedicated cycling path around it, so you can bike all the way around.
Wine Bar Hachijuro PARCO_ya Ueno Store
We handpick the wines we import, our selection having a focus on Spanish wines, but with over 60 varieties from all over the world, including a number of rare wines on the market. Being reasonably priced, you can enjoy a glass of wine starting from 490 yen.
The lunch steak set is reasonably priced, and the wine by the glass is a great deal.
Oshino Hakkai – The 8 Springs of Oshino
Oshino Hakkai is the collective name for Mt. Fuji’s 8 natural ponds, Deguchi-ike, Okama-ike, Sokonashi-ike, Choshi-ike, Waku-ike, Nigori-ike, Kagami-ike and Shobu-ike. Once a former lake, the area has dried up and formed the 8 spring-sourced ponds that remain today.
The peaceful countryside vibe and the locals' simplicity really stand out. The pickled veggies are delicious, and the tofu made with pure, clean water is a must-try. Plus, the view of Mt. Fuji in the distance makes this place fantastic.
Mother Farm
“Mother Farm” exists on over 250 hectares of vast land. Here you’ll find yourself welcomed by various animals, including sheep, alpacas, capybaras, and ostriches. Not only can you watch the animals, but you can even feed them, milk cows, ride horses, and more!
It was my first time seeing a sheepdog herding sheep—so much fun! The whole flock was rounded up into the pen in no time.