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One Day in Mitake: A Perfect Autumn Escape from Tokyo
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One Day in Mitake: A Perfect Autumn Escape from Tokyo

Autumn is a wonderful time to explore Japan, and Mitake is the perfect destination for a nature getaway from Tokyo, especially when the vibrant fall foliage transforms this countryside and mountain scenery. In this article, I’m excited to share the itinerary I followed to explore this stunning area, including hidden gems and personal tips for making the most of your time in Mitake.

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Kinchakuda Red Spider Lily Festival: the Perfect September Day Trip Near Tokyo
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Kinchakuda Red Spider Lily Festival: the Perfect September Day Trip Near Tokyo

In this article, I’d like to share with you another of my favorite flower festival near Tokyo: the Kinchakuda Red Spider Lily Festival. Every September, the Kinchakuda Manjushage Park, located in the serene countryside of Hidaka, Saitama Prefecture, is transformed into a scarlet sea of flowers, with the blooming of over 5 millions of red spider lilies. Read on if you’d like to know more about this fantastic event!

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Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri: A Guide to Japan's Most Adrenaline-Fueled Festival
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Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri: A Guide to Japan's Most Adrenaline-Fueled Festival

The Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri is a Japanese festival taking place every year in mid-September in the city of Kishiwada, in Osaka Prefecture. I was lucky enough to be in Osaka in 2023 during the weekend it took place. Read on if you'd like to find out more about this festival, get an insight from my experience, and discover my tips and some practical information if you're planning to attend this year!

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Discover Matsushima: Complete Travel Guide to Japan’s Scenic Bay
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Discover Matsushima: Complete Travel Guide to Japan’s Scenic Bay

Located in the Tohoku region, Matsushima is renowned for its stunning bay, dotted with over 260 small islands covered by pine trees. This scenic wonder is a must-visit destination in Miyagi Prefecture for nature lovers and travelers looking for a relaxing getaway. In this article, I’ll share my favorite spots in Matsushima, travel tips and recommendations for accommodation and restaurants.

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Hidden Gems of Miyagi Prefecture: What to See and Do
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Hidden Gems of Miyagi Prefecture: What to See and Do

I'd like to share with you 5 little-known places to visit on a trip to Japan's Miyagi prefecture, in the Tohoku region. Miyagi Prefecture is still relatively unknown to foreign travelers, but it is full of amazing places to visit. In this article, I'll focus on the off-the-beaten-track places that I particularly enjoyed when I visited Miyagi Prefecture and that I would recommend to travelers looking for things to do when spending a few days in this prefecture.

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Explore Sarushima: A Unique Day Trip Destination in Tokyo Bay
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Explore Sarushima: A Unique Day Trip Destination in Tokyo Bay

Located not far from the port of Yokosuka, in Kanagawa Prefecture, Sarushima is the only uninhabited island of Tokyo Bay. With its fort ruins, luxuriant forest, clear sea and barbecue and leisure facilities, it is great destination for a half-day or a full day trip from Tokyo. In this article, you can learn more about this hidden gem near Tokyo and get useful information to prepare for your own visit of Sarushima.

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Guide to Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri, One of Japan’s Biggest Summer Festivals
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Guide to Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri, One of Japan’s Biggest Summer Festivals

Gion Matsuri (ē„‡åœ’ē„­) is one of Japan's biggest summer festivals, taking place in Kyoto every year for a month from 1 July. I attended the main event of the Gion festival, the Yamaboko Junko, in 2022. It was a very memorable experience for me, that I’d like to share with you, along with a few tips on how to prepare for this great event.

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Discover Kamakura’s Hydrangeas: Perfect One-Day Itinerary
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Discover Kamakura’s Hydrangeas: Perfect One-Day Itinerary

Kamakura is a fantastic and popular excursion from Tokyo all year round, but particularly in June, when the rainy season transforms this ancient city into a hydrangea fairytale. In this article, you can read about the walking itinerary I followed on a day trip from Tokyo to admire the hydrangeas in Kamakura, but also to see many of the main sights of Kamakura while introducing some lesser-known spots that I particularly enjoyed.

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Kawazu Seven Falls: A Nature Lover's Hidden Gem on the Izu Peninsula
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Kawazu Seven Falls: A Nature Lover's Hidden Gem on the Izu Peninsula

After Ito, let me introduce you to Kawazu, another hidden gem on the Izu Peninsula, in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As a nature lover who spent a week discovering the hidden beauty of the Izu Peninsula, I was intrigued to see the Kawazu Seven Falls, located in the mountains above the coastal town of Kawazu. You can read about my experience in this article, as well as some recommendations if you are interested in visiting this wonderful natural site.

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Five Flower-Viewing Day Trips from Tokyo You’ll Love in Spring
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Five Flower-Viewing Day Trips from Tokyo You’ll Love in Spring

In this article, I want to share my top 5 flower-viewing day trips to do from Tokyo in spring. I am a big flower lover, and I am always enjoying sharing flower-related events, walks and day trips in Japan. I thought I’d share my top picks for flower-viewing spots, from February to May, that can all easily be enjoyed as day trips from central Tokyo.

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A Day Trip to Ashikaga Flower Park from Tokyo: Things to Do and How to Get There
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A Day Trip to Ashikaga Flower Park from Tokyo: Things to Do and How to Get There

Ashikaga Flower Park, located in Tochigi Prefecture, is an enchanting day trip from Tokyo that I recommend to flower lovers like me, especially in spring when you can admire the splendour of its breathtaking wisteria. If you are looking for a place to to surround yourself with colourful flowers for a day, then you should consider this destination.

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Day Trip Guide to Hitachi Seaside Park: 10 Suggestions for a Memorable Visit
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Day Trip Guide to Hitachi Seaside Park: 10 Suggestions for a Memorable Visit

Located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Hitachi Seaside Park is a large and breathtaking park known in Japan for its vibrant seasonal flowers. The park is particularly famous for its awe-inspiring field of nemophila in spring and its red kochias in autumn. In this article, I offer 10 suggestions based on my own experience that I hope can be useful and inspiring for people interested in visiting this astonishing park, whatever the season.

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Nemophila Paradise at Hitachi Seaside Park: A Must-See Spring Outing from Tokyo
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Nemophila Paradise at Hitachi Seaside Park: A Must-See Spring Outing from Tokyo

Hitachi Seaside Park, a large park located in Ibaraki Prefecture, is home to one of nature's most enchanting floral spectacles. In spring, you can walk through an ocean of blue flowers: a field of over 5 million nemophila. As a flower lover, I highly recommend this spellbinding seasonal event if you are in Japan during this time of the year.

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Discover Kanazawa: 2-Day Itinerary and Travel Tips
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Discover Kanazawa: 2-Day Itinerary and Travel Tips

Kanazawa is a beautiful, historic coastal city in Japan that’s packed with things to see and do! Known as ā€œlittle Kyotoā€ for its cultural and traditional charm, Kanazawa is home to one of Japan’s most beautiful gardens, well-preserved traditional geisha and samurai districts, a castle, a fascinating ninja temple, and more! In this article, I will be sharing with you the 2-day itinerary that I used to explore Kanazawa and some tips to make the best of your time in this fantastic city.

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Mitaki-dera, a Hidden Gem in Hiroshima for Temple Lovers
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Mitaki-dera, a Hidden Gem in Hiroshima for Temple Lovers

Having been to Hiroshima three times, I was keen to discover some lesser-known places around Hiroshima and decided to visit Mitaki-dera. Particularly beautiful in autumn and spring, this atmospheric temple nestling on the forested slopes of Mount Mitaki is an ideal nature getaway from Hiroshima. I spent a couple of hours exploring Mitaki-dera and was deeply touched by the serenity and beauty of this place.

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Gunkanjima, a Captivating Cruise to an Abandoned Island in Japan
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Gunkanjima, a Captivating Cruise to an Abandoned Island in Japan

Hashima, also known as Gunkanjima, is an abandoned island located around 18km from the port of Nagasaki, one of Kyushu's main cities. Interested in abandoned places and having always been fascinated in the ways nature reclaims its rights once humans have disappeared, I was very curious to visit Gunkanjima during my next stay to Nagasaki. I share my experience of this unusual and off-the-beaten-track attraction in this article.

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Nagasaki Guide: Top Things to Do and 3-Day Itinerary
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Nagasaki Guide: Top Things to Do and 3-Day Itinerary

Nestled on the western coast of Japan's Kyushu island, Nagasaki is a city steeped in history and culture, which is reflected in the various things to see and do. Every time I've been to Nagasaki, I've been amazed by the city's captivating mix of old and new and its vibrant, multicultural atmosphere. In this article, I would like to share with you 10 of my favourite things to do in Nagasaki, having travelled to this amazing city twice, and a suggested 3-day itinerary.

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Hi, I’m Sarah! I hope you enjoy reading my blog.