Meiso no Sato (Meditation Resort)
This mysterious village, known as ”the Village in the Sky,” sits at the top of Toga Village Uebatake. Huge Mandala and Buddha paintings created by a Nepalese monk such as a dynamic painting of a garden “Flower Mandala” at the center are hung in the Meditation Hall, a display room and an inn. Yoga and meditation events are held for visitors to refresh their bodies and souls.
You can try hand-made soba noodles and meditation in Toga Village!
Yasugibushi Performance Hall
Yasugibushi Performance Hall is a theater daily performing the Dojou-Sukui dance (dojo pond loach catching dance) which grew very popular from the Taisho Period to the beginning of Showa Period.
This is a great place to enjoy some of Japan's most iconic folk songs every day. You can listen to Yasugibushi live and also catch performances of the traditional coin drum and dances. Definitely worth checking out!
Akita City Folk Performing Arts Heritage Center / Former Kaneko Family Residence
Akita’s Kanto Festival is held in early August where many Kantos (bamboo branches with lanterns) are likened to lighted rice ears. This summer event in Akita is one of the three major festivals in the Tohoku Region. If you missed it, you can visit here and put your hands on the real Kanto.
This time I visited the Akita City Folk Performing Arts Heritage Center and the Former Kaneko Family Residence. I saw the Mist Hall showcasing Akita's traditional arts, and also explored the old merchant's house. They're right next to each other, so it's perfect for a short trip.
Marine World Uminonakamichi
Marine World Uminonakamichi, opened in 1989, is an aquarium that exhibits about 350 species and 30,000 organisms under the theme of "Kyushu's Sea”.
If you're traveling with kids, you have to visit Fukuoka! I highly recommend checking out Marine World Uminonakamichi by the sea~~
BOSS E・ZO FUKUOKA
“BOSS E・ZO FUKUOKA” opened in July 2020, next to PayPay Dome. From top to bottom, the building features a variety of diverse entertainments.
This is Japan's first building that combines amazing views, fun attractions, and the latest VR games. Super fun!
Reverberatory Furnace Ruin
A cluster of western-style factories, Shuseikan, was built to strengthen Japan’s military. Satsuma Domain’s lord, Shimazu Nariakira, began directing the project in 1851 and iron manufacturing, ship construction, textile, and glass making were run here.
The old Shuseikan Reverberatory Furnace Ruins were designed for smelting iron. It's definitely worth a visit.
National Crafts Museum
In October 2020, the Crafts Gallery of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, which had been located in Kitanomaru on the banks of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, relocated and opened in Kanazawa, the "City of Arts and Crafts".
This city has really flourished as Japan's center for traditional crafts.
Former Kagoshima Foreign Engineer's Residence（Ijinkan）
As part of “Shuseikan Business”, Shimazu Nariakira preached the importance of creating sails for Western ships to promote trading. When he suddenly passed away, his adopted child, Shimazu Tadayoshi created Japan’s first western style textile factory, the Kagoshima Spinning Mill in 1867.
The building is designed with Japanese dimensions but has a colonial-style balcony. It's a unique blend of Japanese and Western styles, making it a great example of Western influence on Japanese architecture.
Wajima Kobo Nagaya Workshop
This is a craftsman's row house where five workshops related to Wajima-Nuri lacquerware are gathered. Visitors can view Wajima-Nuri lacquerware in the gallery, observe how the lacquerware is made, and experience Wajima-Nuri painting techniques such as chinkin and maki-e to make their original chopsticks.
At Wajima Kobo Nagaya, you can tour the workshops, try making things yourself, and shop. It's a great place to experience the charm of lacquerware.
Fuchu City Tourism Information Center
This tourist information center is close to Okunitama-jinja Shrine. A staff member is always there who is knowledgeable about tourist sites in Fuchu City to answer questions. The service is only in Japanese but sightseeing maps in English are there. Stop by before you explore Fuchu.
There's a mini exhibition area introducing Fuchu's seasonal customs. It's pretty unique!