Amakusa Kaisen Kura
Located at the northern tip of Shimoshima, the largest island in the Amakusa archipelago, this popular complex offers dolphin watching in some of Kumamoto’s clearest waters along with dining options that let you fully enjoy local seafood.
The attached restaurant focuses on fresh seafood, and you can tell right away the ingredients are really solid. Both the sashimi and the seafood rice bowls are generous and feel really well done.
Hakone Gindofu
In front of Hakone Tozan Railway’s Gora Station, there is an established tofu shop which provides tofu for breakfast for many hotels and inns in Hakone. On holidays, a waiting line forms at this local favorite store.
The texture of Gindofu is a lot like our douhua (tofu pudding). I tried it with the soy sauce recommended by the owner, and it was surprisingly delicious!
Hakone Venetian Glass Museum
The Hakone Venetian Glass Museum is located in the lush greenery of Hakone Sengokuhara. The compound consists of the Venetian Glass Museum, the Modern Glass Museum and the Glass Workshop. The garden overlooks Owakudani Valley. There is a lovely cafe/restaurant, and an interesting museum store.
This dreamy European-style estate has outdoor glass art blended with nature. Inside, there are lots of exquisite glass artworks for sale—they're really beautiful! When you get tired from walking around, you can relax at the restaurant, have a drink, and listen to violin music. It really makes you feel surrounded by art.
Pola Museum of Art
The Pola Museum of Art is located in the middle of a forest in Hakone and is filled with greenery and sunlight. The museum was opened in 2002 to exhibit the artworks collected over a period of about 40 years by the second generation of Pola's founding family, Tsuneshi Suzuki.
Inside the museum, you can enjoy a wide variety of art styles and types, including paintings, sculptures, and photography. Just make sure to give yourself enough time to explore, or you might miss out on fully appreciating each exhibition area. Also, the way the museum's architecture blends with nature is really something special and makes you want to linger.
Owakudani
After changing from the cable car to the ropeway at Hayamiyama Station on the main route of the Hakone tour, While enjoying an aerial walk for a while the scenery suddenly changes.
In the Owakudani area, you can try lots of foods cooked with geothermal heat, like black eggs (eggs boiled in the hot springs) and noodles made with geothermal steam. These dishes have a unique texture and flavor, making them a real highlight of the trip.
Hakone Sightseeing Cruise
A sightseeing ship that operates on Lake Ashinoko, a scenic spot in Hakone. The three ships, Royale II, Victory, and Queen Ashinoko, are characterized by their colorful and luxurious decorations. Each of them has a capacity of about 500 passengers and takes 25 to 35 minutes each way between Togendai Port, Hakone-machi Port, and Moto-Hakone Port. On a sunny day, the open deck is a great place to enjoy the scenery. Enjoy the pleasant breeze and the seasonal views of nature and mountains.
Such a fun boat ride! The views from the ship are absolutely stunning. Loved the feeling of sitting on this vintage pirate ship.
Kumoba Pond
Located in one of Japan's premier plateau resorts, Karuizawa, this serene pond has become a staple on the tourist route. Once the surrounding area was a villa region for foreigners, it earned the nickname "Swan Lake" because swans would come to visit in the winter.
Besides walking and cycling, visitors can also enjoy fishing, boating, and other leisure activities at Kumoba Pond. There are rest areas and cafes by the lakeside where you can relax, try some good food, and enjoy the lake view.
Shinano Railway's Karuizawa Station
The Karuizawa station building, demolished with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen in 1997, was revived in October 2017 as the Shinano Railway Karuizawa Station and the Old Station Building entrance. It utilizes the historically significant building that had been preserved as the Old Karuizawa Station Building Memorial Hall, maintaining the serene ambiance characteristic of Karuizawa.
The architecture of Karuizawa Station keeps the traditional Japanese wooden style, and the facilities inside are simple yet practical. The whole waiting area is really comfortable—I love the atmosphere here!
acure
This beverage brand can be found in the 9,000 some vending machines installed at station platforms and other locations in the JR East area. From natural water to tea, fruit juices, and even soups, all products are crafted with the finest Japan-made ingredients and boasts its high-quality.
I have to say, Japan's vending machines are awesome! In some places, if there weren't vending machines, it would actually be pretty tough to get a drink.
Ganso Miura Udon
Founded in 1981, the Ganso Miura Udon noodle restaurant is located in Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture, where you can enjoy Yoshida-Udon. Its hard and firm noodles characterize Yoshida-Udon, and it's selected as one of the 100 best local dishes in farming and fishing villages.
The chewy Yoshida udon noodles really weren't to my taste—they're too thick and hard for me. But I did enjoy the nice aroma of the noodles that lingers afterward.