Great place to stay, just a short walk from the scenic Otaru Canal and the lively shopping streets. The rooms are clean, modern and comfortable, with thoughtful amenities and cozy decor. One of the highlights is the public bath, perfect for relaxing after a day of exploring. The staff are friendly and helpful, making the stay even more pleasant. With a convenient location and peaceful atmosphere, it’s just great. Parking is available with a flat fee, there are other options for parking as well in surrounding area.

Nice hotel with good location closed to the canal and walking distance to Sakaimachi shopping street. There’s a paid parking ¥1500 per night at the hotel premises. The room was a little tight for 2 big luggage but we managed anyway. The hotel is clean and staff were friendly. The breakfast was good and full of variety.

Steategic location where is within walking distance. Nice facilities including public bath. Room comes with this beautiful barrel-like mini fridge that look so cool. Definitely will come here again when we visit Otaru in the future.

Tatami room. Quiet and spacious, though when you first enter the room there’s a sour-y smell, likely from the tatami. Overall a good two night stay for our Otaru trip.

Overall a great experience. Good location as well, however a few issues to note. 1. WiFi is intermittent, we came from a few other hotels, no issues, only this hotel. 4G signal not the best too. First time experiencing this in Japan. 2. Pillows are too soft, one pillow had beads below it. My hand went numb putting my hand below it (which I’m always used to when sleeping) 3. The onsen is a really small and tight space. It can get really crowded as well. Did not manage to use it since I am not used to being packed like sardines in a small pool of hot water. 4. TV had its menu purely in Japanese. Couldn’t use it at all. 5. Do note that parking is limited as well. Y1500 per day.

The hotel is close to the Otaru Canal and many souvenir shops. It’s a short walk to the JR station. We couldn’t book a twin room and had to get a king size bed instead. Although it was called a king size, the bed wasn’t very large, but it was still comfortable enough for two people. The public bath offers Sekkisei and DHC skincare products, and there is also a body composition scale available. The staff were polite and courteous.

Seriously, this 20-minute wait after a load is done is a nightmare for anyone trying to get their laundry done. It's like, the clothes are done, let me in! This waiting period is just a huge inconvenience. I really wish they'd change this policy so people can use the machines more efficiently. It's just not a practical system.

I've been here multiple times and it's always beautiful. You can walk, use the sightseeing boat, swanboats, paddle boats etc. They all cost between 1000-2000 yen per 30mins to 1 hour. Perfect place to rest with family or even alone. Though make sure to bring CASH!! All the restaurant use cash expect for 1 or 2 store. There's an ATM on the map nearby but closes at 12pm. Also all the shops closes by 1600 and 1700

Lake Shikotsu, a stop between 2 cities! Driving from Sapporo to Noboribetsu isn’t that long, about an hour and a half, or so I thought! (Read the bottom part) so we decided to make a stopover at Lake Shitose! About half way between Sapporo & Noboribetsu. What an amazing destination & a total favourite with both locals & tourists alike! They have this humongous Tourist Information Center, a whole bunch of very popular restaurants, and an activity Center, can rent canoes and all kind of other lake related stuff! My lady wanted to do the “Swan Ride” on the lake, but unfortunately closed as the water was a tad choppy! A lovely park for a nice stroll and of course a promenade, to wander along! Enjoyable for a 90 minute layover so to speak! Certainly worth it! too #googlemaps! Please make sure you update your navigation, the road to get out from there, was closed adding another 60 minute driving! Although the scenery was lovely but still! 😡 #sapporo #Japantravels #MarketAdventures #gourmettravels #selfdrivingholidays #hokkaido #noboribetsu #sapporo #lakeshikotsu

Lake Shikotsu is truly a natural wonder. Surrounded by lush greenery and rolling forested mountains, the scenery feels both peaceful and vibrant. The lake itself is remarkably clean, with crystal-clear water that shimmers beautifully under the sunlight. There’s a refreshing moisture in the air that makes every breath feel crisp and pure, almost like nature’s own air spa. What makes Lake Shikotsu so amazing is its serene beauty combined with its untouched atmosphere. The calm surface of the water reflects the surrounding green hills, creating postcard-like views in every direction. Whether walking along the lakeside, taking a boat out, or simply sitting by the shore, it’s easy to feel relaxed and recharged here. Overall, Lake Shikotsu is one of Hokkaido’s most beautiful natural spots—green, clean, and full of life. A perfect escape for anyone who loves pure nature and breathtaking landscapes.

Spectacular lake view surrounded by interesting volcanoes. I suggest coming in autumn when most of the leaves are yellow and red, which will enhance the experience. You can go stand up paddle boarding and pedal boating on the lakes. On a clear day, the reflections of the clouds and mountains in the water is incredible. When you take photos of the fish, the reflection makes it look like the fish are swimming in the clouds. Perfect for any occasion, this place is a must come.

Beautiful stunning view from the mountain and the lake is so clear when seeing with the sun. And sparkling in the same time. The wind is strong but it give you the romantic good vibe

I visited Lake Shikotsu and it was a very nice experience overall. The lake is known for its beautifully clear water and stunning scenic views, and it definitely lived up to its reputation in that regard. The natural surroundings are peaceful and make for a relaxing atmosphere — great for taking a walk or just enjoying the scenery. There are a few things to see and do around the lake area — you can explore the walking paths, visit the small shops and cafés nearby, or take a sightseeing boat ride on the lake. The views of the mountains reflecting on the water are truly beautiful, especially on a clear day. That said, the area itself is relatively small, so depending on what you’re looking for, it may be more of a short visit than a full-day activity. It’s great if you want to appreciate nature and take some nice photos, but there aren’t a huge number of attractions or activities beyond the lake itself. Overall, Lake Shikotsu is worth a visit if you’re in the area and want to enjoy some beautiful natural scenery. It’s a nice, calm place to take a break from the city and soak in the views.

Amazing place, visited during Autumn and the weather was great, people were nice. The view was breathtaking, the carpark have sufficient lots for self-drivers as well.

Every snowboarders dream. Just have to hope that you get lucky and it’s not too windy so you have access to the whole mountain. It’s a great place to experience the backcountry for the first time, with amazing powder conditions and easy access back to the resort. If you’re going down from gate 3 or 4, would consider checking out some videos on YouTube for the best lines down. Would recommend going early to the lifts though as it’s always a rush for a clean line.

I love the mountain but not the middle management who run the ski resort, most of employees are very nice and doing their best. I hope owners are going to make some changes to the management. Good to see the place spinning in the summer and some facelifts to the facilities. Although would be nice to make over the toilets too but I guess it's fine as it is, maybe next year lol

Amazing views, great facilities, friendly conditions. The soft, powdery snow is great for beginners, as the falls won't be as painful and dangerous, especially for snowboard rides, which are more prone to falling.. overall a great visit for myself and friends. Would be back if I'm ever in the area again.

Great ski, resort. We came here for the last week of the off-peak season. It snowed every night and clear skies for most of the week. The snow was soft and fluffy, comparable to Utah or Colorado. Staff, very much like the rest of Japan are all about extreme politeness. A lot of tourists; heck, so am I.

Beautiful ski resort with TONS of powder. My family and I have been going every Christmas for the past 15 years (except Covid years). It does get very busy during Christmas and chairlift queues can get very very long but the snow is so worth it.

If your priority is blending maximum slope time via the main gondola with an intimate, luxury setting and the absolute best view Mt. Yotei has to offer, the Roka Chalet is a non-negotiable choice. It's an investment in a seamless Niseko adventure.

This ski resort deserves the world wide fame it gets, snow is amazing, views are amazing and the terrain is amazing. It is on the expensive side compared to other Japanese resorts but it’s the most famous so they charge what they want. The little villages at the base are amazing but it’s way more expensive, food and drinks are double what you will pay in other places. First day we were stuck in just HIrafu as the wind had the top of the mountain in hold. Night riding was an incredible experience and it started snowing just as the sun went down. Second day was 5-10cm of fresh snow and the riding was incredible. Hiked to the summit pf the resort and ride fresh lines on the return. We can’t wait to come back to Niseko.

What an amazing resort! The Japow here is unbeatable—light, deep, and consistent. If you love tree skiing, this place is a dream. I was a skier-and all slopes were mine because people were mostly in the trees. The terrain is some of the best I’ve ever ridden, with uniquely designed trails that start from ridge lines and fan out across nearly 270 degrees. No matter which line you take, you end up back at the same lift. Stunning views, varied difficulty, and endless fun. Highly recommended! Important- right before sunset temperatures drop and white out is possible. We had a big one on day 2 on second mountain, we asked workers to bring like 30 of us using ski lifts in opposite direction, as we could see more than 10 meters ahead. Was nerve wrecking.

Amazing slopes, with very interesting lines inside the trees. The mountain is not so hifhyand this means that spots are accessible. Almost 0 chances of avalanche and lots of power snow to enjoy. The snow is light, no matter how deep and fresh it is. The pistes are quite good for entry and intermediate level, but that is all. If the weather is clear you can have amazing view of lake Toya and mount Yotei. Also the staff is very friendly.

The piste are interesting and great RuPow if there's a dump. Lifts are slow, and the queue is not organised when crowded. As The daylight gets longer every day, and yet the opening time is always at 915am! ByPass signs are after the turn!!! Expensive lift tickets and yet there aren't many free resting/seating places. There's no facilities at the top of gondola. Limited food services hour, they remind you to finish up quickly, chase you out the moment the counter stops selling. Food is pricey and not very tasty. Public KotoBukiNoYu Onsen charge is pricey. The KWP season pass has very limited extra benefits.

Rusutsu has two main mountains. East and West connect via gondola (very pretty to take across the buildings, open land, and theme park). West mountain is smaller, but most runs connect into the one chair lift. East mountain almost has two sides. Take Mt Isola Gondola to see the views of Lake Toya, Mt Yotei, and the Pacific Ocean. There are a few cafeterias across the mountains. Some wait times in busy periods (no more than 15 minutes). There are plenty of options for all levels (even the intermediate runs are doable for a high level beginner). Several tree run options too (you don’t even need to go back country, they are alongside groomed runs).

Great resort with a variety of terrain and many gondolas and runs! Also a large park, which had huge jumps. Would recommend going to the West Mountain on powder days to avoid the crowds.

What a cool place to go snowboarding! Wishing for a powder day and didn’t get lucky this time. But you can 100% see the potential of this place and I cannot wait to come back! I also love rollercoasters so it would be amazing to come visit in the summer as well! Looking forward to it! The infrastructure of the ski field is unreal. For the day pass paid it was 100% worth it. The building could use some work… and the convenient someone could close at the same time of the skifield. That would be ideal. I’d prefer to buy a cool sticker at the end of my day not in the middle of my day. No lockers that are good enough like Cortina in Hakuba. Hopefully the renovated soon. But definitely my top ski fields to have visited this trip.

Spent 2 weeks riding in this resort. Although it’s not a big resort, it has some fun trails. In the resort itself on the weekends they offered activities. I took the Sado class and it was such a fun experience! It also has an onsen in the hotel. It’s a great way to relax after a long day of riding!

Hell Valley is a unique experience. A day trip from Sapporo, beautiful scenery and a visit to an active volcano area. Steam rises out of the cracks and holes. You can see the water boiling! I had limited time here but well worth the experience! There’s a lot more to do and see in this area and will return for more adventures! The smell of sulfur is strong in some areas but there was a nice breeze that kept it from being too intense. Parking was not an issue as I visited off peak time. Several lots are available though for a fee.

The volcanic landscape feels otherworldly — steam rising from the earth, sulfur smells in the air, and colorful rock formations everywhere. It’s a truly unique experience and easy to explore on foot. A must-visit spot in Hokkaido for nature and photography lovers!

This is a great opportunity to see volcano crater up close. The paths around the crater were very easy to walk on. Not only do you get to see the craters up close, the view was stunning with the autumn leaves in the background. The walk down to the natural foot bath was a bit more demanding. We saw many people struggling up the steep path afterwards. Just a tip that you can actually avoid that by just following the path out to the main road, which loops back to the start and is a much easier and more gentle walk up. While there wasn’t a proper pavement for pedestrians, the cars were considerate and we never felt unsafe walking on the road.

I visited Noboribetsu Jigokudani Valley for the first time at the beginning of winter around 5 p.m. There were still many travelers. The weather was very cold, and the strong smell of natural gas filled the air. The scenery was stunning — a true wonder of nature with steam rising from the ground. The sunset made the atmosphere even more magical. Parking costs 500 yen for a personal car. Toilets are available, but no Wi-Fi service here.

We visited Noboribetsu Hell Valley (Jigokudani) as part of an organized bus tour, and it was a great stop. Around 30–60 minutes is enough to walk the wooden paths, take photos, and enjoy the unique volcanic scenery. The view of the steaming rocks and colourful ground is truly impressive and gives a good sense of Hokkaido’s geothermal nature. As the name suggests, there’s a strong sulfur smell in the air, it’s natural and part of the experience, but some people might find it a bit intense. Visiting with a tour is very convenient since parking can be limited and the area fits well as a short stop between other sights. Definitely worth seeing once. It feels like standing on another planet or in one of the old Power Rangers Sets.

Jigoku Dani (Hell Valley) is the place to visit to get up close to an active volcano with sulphuric acid permeating the air. The area is an easy hike across the colourful autumn forest. Our family thoroughly enjoyed this one day visit to see an active volcano!

So surreal to see this in real life! We were very lucky to see this beautiful scenery in the peak of autumn, where all the trees are in the nice muted shades of red, orange and yellow! 🍁 super pretty! My friends who saw my pictures thought it was AI because of how surreal it looks 😂

The view is breathtaking, we able to see the lake and mountain view at once. To travel from City to The Lake and Usu spent about 2 hours so its recommend to visit this place earlier and check the cable car closing time.

Mt Usu was probably one of the highlights of our trip. It was a very cold day but we were lucky it was also sunny so the view was just stunning. This was our 2nd ropeway during our Hokkaido road trip and as compared to Daisetsuzan, Usuzan is way better. It was newer, faster and felt smaller so we weren’t so squeezed. The views at the top were just amazing anywhere you looked. We decided to go on the crater walk. It was pretty steep at parts but the paths themselves were easy to walk on. We did wish the signs were clearer - we weren’t sure if it was a loop or you had to go back. Turns out it was not a loop. After the strenuous climb back to the ropeway, we stopped at the Cafe to get a Perilla soft serve, which we enjoyed on sofa seats overlooking the stunning lake view.

We arrived about 3pm and we're able to buy tickets immediately. A short wait and we were inside the cable car. It was a short and smooth ride. From the station, turn left to go to the crater lookout. Quite a steep climb up with many steps. It was super windy and cold (3 November); about 7° but with the wind, it was likely 4°. Love the smoking craters clearly seen from the observation deck. Hubby walked about 20min to get to the scenic shot spot. It was a very hilly hike. The observation deck on the right side of the station was a short walk only. The view was of the town and Lake Toya. Very pretty too. We spent about an hour and enjoyed the view and took many pictures. I didn't know the station had long puffy (orange) jackets which visitors can borrow before exiting the station. Very practical and useful. If you haven't layered enough, do borrow the jackets.

Tickets are cheaper on klook but have to book a day in advance. We went 10+ on Sunday/Nov2 and had no wait. There is the terrance side and crater side. Both were beautiful. On the crater side, you do need to climb. It was cold with the wind but the view make up for it. Recommended!

A must do on a visit to Lake Toya with absolutely stunning views from the summit of Lake Toya and surrounds. In the warmer months there's a trail also that would be open closer to the crater and back towards town.

Breaking after a long sloppy walk of 30min up the slopes. But it was very worth the walk.. just tiring. Spent a good 40min enjoying the view and fighting for places to take photos.

Scenic ride! 🚡 Usuzan Ropeway offers breathtaking views of Lake Toya and the surrounding mountains. A relaxing way to experience Sobetsu Disttic naturally Lanscape 😊

A beautiful park with a huge lake and surroundings park with lush greenery during the summer. Some of the photo spots along the track have stunning views of the lake and the mountains in the background. There was a recommended track where you can cover all the bridges surrounding the lake in under 2 hours.

We went to the park on a rainy Saturday. When we reached there, there was still a light rain but there were still people visiting the park. The park had nice easy paths to walk on so despite the rain, we were still able to continue with our visit. All in all, a good place to stop on our way from Niseko to Hakodate.

Visited on 2Nov 2025. Beautiful autumn foliage. Did the long walking trail followed by cycling round the lake. The cycling was taxing for me, as the manual bike i rented was not quite powerful and midway the cycling path seems to merge into the road with cars speeding along. However, the scenery was stunning!

My family and I (as tourists from Singapore and Australia) visited this very beautiful national park in Hokkaido today. While this national park is famous for its lake and the islands therein, its bridges linking these islands and the view from here of the iconic Mount Komagatake, I personally found the national park to be a very good place to look at the many types of mushrooms, which can be found here - in short, this was another good reason to visit this national park if mushrooms are "your thing."

stayed in a lakeside hotel and took some pics at the 渡湖橋 before it rains, missed the best of red foliage but managed to see the snow capped peak . In november , even the toilets are closed! but there are far fewer cars and tourists

Maple leaves are so beautiful, it was snow in top of the mountain. I felt fresh air. Free admission!

A beautiful display of autumn foliage greeted us in late October. The scenery, it seems, would be picture perfect in all seasons as the backdrop colors change behind small islands and the poetic bridges which link them. Our boat tide beyond our hiking was also a wonderful experience.

Pretty neat experience. It is a great view from the top but I’m not sure I’d wait longer than a half hour to see it. The line was long when I arrived so I walked through the park first and thankfully the line had died down when I returned. It was nearly closing time so I got right in. Some good information at the top in English as well as Japanese. I’d say worth it overall if you’re in the area!

We visited Goryokaku Tower on Sunday morning. We reached around 8.40 so had a walk around the park area before heading over to the tower, which opens at 9. The park was huge but was well maintained and worth a walk around. You can visit the magistrate’s building for a fee and have your photos taken in traditional outfits just outside. There was a queue for the tickets by the time we got there at 9 but the queue moved quickly and soon we got into the lifts to take us to the observation deck. It gave a great view of the fort and the rest of Hakodate. There was also an explanation of the history of the fort, in Japanese, English and Mandarin, which was much appreciated for us non-Japanese speakers. We spent about 30 mins there before descending to have a melon soft serve at the ground floor cafe and to shop at their souvenir shop. The shop turned out to be quite a highlight for us. We found more items to buy there than at Kanemori warehouse; quality items at reasonable prices so do check it out. I think there were quite a few local visitors so perhaps that’s why the prices were reasonable.

Definitely worth a visit to see Goryokaku Fortress from above. There are special admission rates for children and students. The history is also explained in detail. There are restaurants and shops inside the tour. I would love to see the park in the Spring with the numerous cherry blossoms.

Great viewpoint of the star fort. We visited on our way to the airport and 1 hour was enough time for the observation deck but we ran out of time to explore the park proper. There is a convenient taxi rank outside the tower exit. I could not find a way to purchase tickets online via the official site. The queue to purchase was quite long. We visited at 9.10am on a weekday (10 minutes after opening) and there were large groups of schoolchildren and tour buses. The elevator going up is packed full like sardines but thankfully only about 1 minute long. It was quieter by 10.00am so would recommend arriving later if possible.

Goryokaku Tower – Hakodate, Hokkaido A great place to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Hakodate city. From the top, you can clearly see the star-shaped Goryokaku Fort and the surrounding cityscape. Well worth a visit for the panoramic view and a glimpse of Hokkaido’s unique history. 🌆⭐️

It was a cool experience. Going up the tower is only 1200 and you get a nice panorama of the whole city. The free well around the fort below were even better with the fall colored leaves. I would definitely check this place out of you have a couple hours to spare.

Goryōkaku Tower – The best panoramic view of Hakodate’s star-shaped fortress Goryōkaku Tower is an absolute must-visit when you’re in Hakodate. The tower gives you a stunning, full panoramic view of Goryōkaku Park, Japan’s famous star-shaped fort. Seeing the entire star outline from above is impressive and truly unique — especially on a clear day. The observation deck is bright, spacious, and well-organised, with plenty of information about Hakodate’s history, the Shinsengumi, and the construction of the fort. The glass windows give a 360-degree view of the city, mountains, and the coastline. The area around the tower is lovely for walking, especially during cherry blossom season or autumn. There are also cafés, shops, and places to rest, making it easy to enjoy the whole site at a relaxed pace. A great spot for photos, history lovers, and anyone wanting to appreciate Hakodate from above. Highly recommended for first-time visitors.

Hakodate eki mae trem station. So minimum protection from wind, rain and others. But it's still fine to wait for a couple minutes.👍👍

History and convenient

(Translated by Google) I used it for sightseeing. Conveniently located near JR Hakodate Station. It's good because you can use the transportation IC. (Original) 観光で利用しました。JR函館駅からも近く便利です。交通系ICが使えるので良いですね。

(Translated by Google) I bought a one-day ticket on my smartphone and boarded the train. It's a bit troublesome to operate. The driver gave us a lecture. (Original) スマートフォンで一日券を購入して乗車しました。操作がちょとめんどくさい。運転手さんにレクチャーしていただきました。

(Translated by Google) We used it many times during this trip. It was a great way for the kids to practice riding the train, and I think it left a strong impression on them. It's also convenient that you can use Suica. (Original) 今回の旅で何度も利用しました。子供達にとって乗り方の練習にもなったし、とても印象に残ったと思います。 Suica使えて便利ですね。

(Translated by Google) August 1, 2024 I tried holding up my JR Suica to get on the Hakodate streetcar, but I was disappointed that it wouldn't work and I got a minus 2. However, for a limited time only during the Hakodate Port Festival, the fare is 200 yen, which is an added bonus. (Original) 2024年8月1日 函館市電に乗ろうと、JRのSuicaかざしたが、使えずガッカリでマイナス2。 しかし、函館港祭りの期間限定で200円均一乗車料金になっててプラス１。

(Translated by Google) It's very convenient because you can use transportation IC cards that can be used nationwide! Transfers will be automatically calculated. (Original) 全国相互利用できる交通系ICカードが使えるのでとても便利！ 乗り継ぎも自動計算してくれる。

Mount Hakodate offers one of the most stunning views in Hokkaido. The sunset is absolutely breathtaking, and once night falls, the sparkling lights create a magical panorama that’s unforgettable. It’s a must-visit spot, especially for photographers and couples. However, be prepared for strong, chilly winds at the top even in warmer months. Also, it can get quite crowded during peak hours, so arriving early is a good idea if you want the best viewing spot. The frequency of ropeway will increase to every 5 mins during prime time so it’s still fast to get up to and down from top.

You purchase the ticket because you expect to see the beautiful view, maybe during the sunset, and have a good time... The truth is that the place is overcrowded, and many view points are blocked by construction site materials, or by paid services to have your picture taken with the best view. Things are not well organized and you basically pay a ticket for the sakes of paying a ticket to ride the ropeway 🤷🏻‍♀️ Super disapointing experience, honestly.

We went there before 4 pm and after 9 pm because we can drive our car top of the mountain with free. Only taxi and bus can be up there between 4-9pm. It was amazing. I was told this place is one of 3 best night view in Japan.

This is a must visit, if you are in Hakodate. Take the cable car up and you will be treated with a wonderful view. We timed our visit to see the sunset.

Mount Hakodate’s night view really deserves its reputation. I went up in the evening and the moment I stepped out and saw the city lights spreading out in a double-bay shape, it honestly took my breath away. The contrast between the bright city and the dark sea on both sides is something you don’t quite understand until you see it with your own eyes. It can get a bit windy and chilly at the top, but it’s absolutely worth it – just bring a jacket and take your time enjoying the view from different angles. I stayed up there for a while just watching the colours of the sky change and the city gradually light up. If you come to Hakodate, this is definitely one of those “must-do once in your life” spots.

We came here for the sunset view and the night city scape. There are 3 ways of getting to the summit (350m): ropeway- 3 min, car- 5-10 min (before 17:00) and walk - 45-60 min. We chose to walk up and ride the ropeway down. The trail was well marked and maintained. Many old and big trees pave the way. As we approach, we were treated with nice views of the bay. It took us about 50 min without any rest stop. We highly recommend this short hike, if you have the time.

Mt Hakodate ranks high with those at Nagasaki and Sapporo, or overseas like Victoria peak in HKG, there're regular announcements done for crowd management and I appreciate that, it was a cool 19C up there with a light breeze,

A must visit if you’re in Aomori. They showcase the history with film showings. You can also participate in playing the drums and other musical instruments when there’s a singer. The paper lanterns are stunning to look at. There’s a gift store selling food products and souvenirs.

The Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse is the definitive cultural hub for Aomori Prefecture. The stunning exterior architecture is a must-see, and inside, the museum offers a fascinating deep dive into Nebuta history and the intricate float construction process. The exhibition of authentic, full-sized floats is fabulous and truly stunning. For a phenomenal experience, be sure to check the schedule for their live performances! Attending a show offers the unique opportunity to join the dancers and play the festival instruments, making it a highly interactive and memorable visit.

Loved this place. It is only a few minutes from Aomori Station and it feels like Aomori’s culture hub. I came for the Nebuta Festival and stopped here to learn the story behind it. Inside the hall the floats glow like giant lanterns. Up close you can see the paper, paint, and wire details. There is a short film that explains the history and how the artists build each float. Sometimes there is a drum and haneto dance demo, so check the schedule at the entrance. I spent about an hour taking photos and reading the signs. Staff were kind. The English info is clear. I left inspired and even more excited for the festival. The Aomori Nebuta Matsuri is a famous summer festival held in early August every year. Enormous illuminated paper floats that depict legendary warriors and mythical scenes are paraded through the city at night. They move to the beat of taiko drums and flutes while thousands of haneto dancers jump and shout “Rassera.” On the final night there are fireworks and a waterfront celebration. WA RASSE displays award-winning floats from recent years and explains how they are made.

Aomori is worldwide known for its Nebuta festival happening in August. If you want to get a taste of it you have to visit this museum and learn more about it. The entrance is not expensive at all. Less than 5 dollars. The museum has 2 floors. On the first you will learn all about its origins and on the lower one is the nebuta hall, where you will see these incredible works of art. These fully-sized Nebuta have participated in the festivals. The museum also have a shop where you can find several kinds of souvenirs.

Beautiful museum, both inside and outside. The architecture is great, but the festival floats of the Nebuta are greater. They hold some incredibly beautiful and impressive pieces, a must in case you visit the city outside if the dates of the festival itself. The museum shop also offers a pretty wide range of souvenirs such as t-shirts, magnets, cards, and other trinkets.

A unique and interesting exhibition about the Nebuta Festival held in August in Aomori. A 10 minute movie, posters and several of the large colourful "floats" used in the parades are on display. A big souvenir and gift shop on the way out. Recommended.

Informative, friendly and a great place to come all seasons. Craft and celebration of the past. Learn and be amazed. Do check on live performance times. For us the 11.10, (13.10, 12.30, 14.00 & 15.30) performance on the stage just about to start. Yay!

End Oct 2025. Nice surroundings and near the start of Oirase river where u can see two rivers merging. The shop itself is small and limited seats for in-house snacks. I walked to the bridge where I can see two rivers merging. Free parking and spacious.

This location conveniently serves as both a Tourist Information Center and a fascinating small museum. The museum section is excellent for curious minds, particularly children, offering detailed illustrations on nature—from basic microscope use to in-depth visuals of plants and animals. It's a highly educational and practical stop for visitors.

The staff is really nice and helpful to provide travel information in English. The exhibition in the center is also interesting. There’s a coffee shop to take a break and toilet to use.

Stopped by this cafe/souvenir shop on our way to Lake Towada. Our family and friends loved the souvenirs and must try apple ice cream!

When I drive to Lake Towada, I always stop here! There is a gift shop, limited menu snack bar. Soft serve ice cream with chocolate glaze and covered in Matcha green tea! Awesome! Please stop in. A local artist, wooden bowls, cups, utensils! Naturally I buy! Lol

I always love vising the museum! There are a lot of fun activities such as moss ball and terrarium making classes, information about local wildlife and history of the gorge. There is also an A La Ringo store to stock up on yummy apple goodies and treats!

Came here to start my Oirase gorge walk. Dropped my luggage in the coin locker (it was empty). The cafe sells apple pies, which is just okay for me because it’s very tart and the crust is very thin. Toilets are clean and modern with bidet. Ample parking. Took the JR bus from Aomori to get here and then back to Towada city. There’s some apple souvenirs sold inside as well.

Date of enjoyment: 15/4/25 Came down here on a rainy Tuesday, there weren’t many tourist/visitors. The car park is free and massive, upon entry you will find a vast land that is reminiscent country setting in the western world. We went straight for the buggy and it was tough work. There were also museums for shelter from the rain and cold, we spent most of our time in the souvenir shop as there are diary products that is as good as Hokkaido, we tried theit butter cake and yes it is delicious. They also have a soft serve which is very strong diary flavour and trust me you don’t need any other toppings just straight up goodness. The viewing to the milking cows require a separate ticket and a walk outside of the park of which visitors will find that the scenery is not as magical in spring when spring blossom have yet to bloom. There’s also ramen and pizzas restaurant for a taste Koiwai Farm. Allow roughly 2hrs of time for a single visit.

Drove about an hour from Akita—not too far, but just enough to feel like a proper escape. Koiwai Farm lives up to its reputation as a peaceful, working dairy farm set in a stunning natural landscape. The highlight was wandering through the animal barns. We visited the cows (where the famous milk comes from), watched the sheep grazing, and even saw a few horses. It’s hands-on without being overcrowded, and the animals are clearly well cared for. A great experience, especially for families or anyone who enjoys a slower, rural pace. Of course, the real star is the Koiwai milk—fresh, creamy, and genuinely delicious. You can taste the quality the moment it hits your tongue. Worth the trip alone. We also tried the on-site pizza made with their own cheese, and it was outstanding: rich, melty, and perfectly baked. Paired with a rainy afternoon, the cozy place felt like a warm shelter with sweeping views of the misty fields outside. Service was friendly and efficient, and the whole place has a relaxed, authentic charm. No over-the-top tourist gimmicks—just good food, fresh air, and a real farm experience. Conclusion: Highly recommend. If you’re in Akita, getting back to Sendai and looking for a scenic, tasty, and low-key outing, Koiwai Farm is a gem.

It is a very enjoyable farm even though there were only 5 horses when we visited in April. It was a clear sunny day when we visited, the green pasture against the clear blue sky was incredible. All was worth while. It was tranquillizing to walk around the premise and enjoy the milk, yogurt, beef skewers, baked potatoes and soft cream. It probably will be more exciting in summer should there be more animals around.

A pleasant family activity, but pretty pricey. Everything inside the farm, except visiting the “other side”, where the cows are, is additional charge. We joined the 40-minute tractor tour “around the farm”, but it turned out to be a snail-slow forest tour, probably no longer than 2km, with a Japanese language only narrator. The food at the farm is okay, but pricey. The homemade milk products are tasty. We found the farm side more worthwhile and more charming.

A very chill place. The farm is very big divided into two sections, good for couples date and the best for family trip either way young kids. I like the archery, it’s pretty cool. Remember to traste both the milk and milk ice cream, very rich and delicious. Lucky to see some Sakura blossoming. 2025 Spring

Not worth the trip. No sheep or horse to see today. Most activities close for the day. All experience is addition cost and not included in the entrance’s fee. Entrance’s fee ¥800 but nothing much to see. You can’t bring back the milk and must consume in the park.Quite disappointing

Came late afternoon, did not visit the farm as several activities were not in operation. Went to the shop instead and enjoyed the dairy products. Yoghurt was superb.

A miniature, less crowded version of Kyoto when there there used to be significant trade between the two. The grounds are great to walk around - the big temple is free as are the shrines and the Noh stage (check schedule for performances). The golden hall and new museum require a ticket- well worth it!

Chūson-ji Temple, a registered World Heritage site, is truly a must-visit location for anyone traveling through Iwate Prefecture. The temple grounds boast a beautiful, greenery-filled atmosphere. I recommend parking in the upper lot (closest to the Golden Hall); this allows you to skip the long uphill walk and still fully enjoy the area. While the famous Golden Hall is beautiful, it was slightly less gorgeous than my high expectations. Nonetheless, the overall vibe is excellent and makes for a very worthwhile visit.

Nice preservation and restoration of the golden temple, which is housed inside and behind glasses. One can imagine its full of light and hope when it was first established. No photo inside the building and take the time to observe all the fine details.

Beautiful and historical place by Fujiwara family. It’s well-maintained. You can go around with a stroller from the parking lot, and enjoy the refreshing atmosphere with greenery. Konjikido is also excellent.

Beautiful autumn foliage, huge premise, steep slope up if your using the road, the other path beside is less steep. Tickets for the museum and temple are the same.

Beautiful nature walking to see the shrines. Calm and peaceful feeling. Walking up and round the area is free. Only go in to see the golden ji needs the ticket ¥1000 per person.

Beautiful location and the grounds are massive. The gold pavilion is a neat site to see (though photography is not allowed).

A nice reception and everything seemed nice to start with. After checking in and being pleasantly escorted throughout the accommodations, we got in the room and noticed it was dated and not very clean. You wear sandals they provide, but you would not want to walk on the carpets as they are very dirty. They have two private onsen pools that you can reserve, which appeared to be a nice option, so we signed up for a private room at 10 pm, then went to the dinner buffet. We were pleasantly greeted, and it looked nice. The table was set with crab legs and shark fin soup that was individually heated at the table by Sterno fuel. A nice touch. The overall rest of the buffet items were low quality and not very fresh, as we found the crab legs and shark fin soup to be as well. We also noticed how filthy the carpets were, with many stains and dirt from constant wear. Not many items for dessert, and again, lower quality. All the serving trays and utensils were noticeably finger marked with signs of never being washed out. Next was the private onsen room, when we got into the room it looked inviting, but then also notice how dirty and unkept everything it was. Upon entering the pool, we noticed dirt and hair floating on the water and along the sides of the pool. It was filthy in there. The breakfast buffet was very limited to traditional Japanese breakfast items, with no eggs or western items available. The items on the buffet were of low quality and again all the serving containers were so old looking with many finger marks on them. The views from the outdoor front balcony provided some nice views. But overall, the facilities look nice, especially in the front entry area, but the rest of the facilities were old, outdated, worn and poorly maintained. The workout area has not been cleaned for weeks, the karaoke room smelled terrible and was visually not clean. Our room lacked clean windows, or clean countertops. Great location, although it is difficult to drive to, could have provided a very nice stay, but the poor state of cleanliness and maintenance, and low quality food...we would never want to return.

Friendly staff, funky place, but very old and tired facility. The pillows are like rubber blocks. That said- inexpensive for the area.

The hotel requires you to take off your shoes inside and walk in awkward slippers. Why? Also, what is it with some Japanese hotels that play a constant music in the lobby? I come here to avoid noise an relax. The breakfast is OK. The lobby has a shop, reading area and a lounge area. 2 good massage chairs are for free usage. The good news is that the hotel is close to train station. The bad news is that reaching a hotel by foot is a challenge due to a steep road, especially if you have a heavy luggage. No laundry machines.

The rooms are definitely dated, mine also had a really strange smell that really didn't help, not sure if it came from humidity or the air conditioning unit. The location is fine, make sure to ask the hotel to arrange a taxi pickup for you from the nearby train station because accessing the hotel by foot is inconvenient to say the least. The baths are also fairly dated, the individual baths that can be booked are a nice touch. The included dinner and breakfast are decent, not that there would be anything to compare them to in the neighborhood because the hotel seems pretty isolated. Also note that there are lots of families with kids, if you're looking for a peaceful and quiet retreat, this might not be it.

Bali style resort. Very cozy. Close to E45. Buffet breakfast and dinner available. Outdoor public bath. Indoor private bath. Snacks and drinks are available on arrival. Very friendly place. Old property, Japanese style. Love it. I will come back again

A very pleasant midweek stay. The Breeze Bay is on a hillside overlooking Matsushima Bay and has good rooms and facilities and really great food. Will almost certainly use again next time we bring guests to the area.

Overall a good hotel for a short stay in Matsushima. The staff was welcoming and accomodating, and the breakfast is good. The public bath is clean and warm enough, the private baths are a tad too hot for my taste. There are free welcome drinks and free pudding and oden available in the lobby. Unfortunately, the other guests were not very considerate of others.

Excellent option to visit some tourist attraction here in Sendai, there is no charge to enter to see the Aoba castle, there is a souvenir shop and a store to buy food at the top, although as a recommendation if you are going to climb it walking be in a bit of condition or in case of elderly adults bring a wheelchair, the views of the city are incredible 🏙️ 🌃 🌆 ⚔️ 🏰 🇯🇵

I was unfortunately disappointed with my visit to Sendai Castle. Hardly any elements have been restored. Therefore, there is not much to discover. There are lots of parking lots on the mountain. The shrine is quite beautiful and the view over the city is also quite good. However, the long journey on the tourist bus is not necessarily worth it.

Ruins of the Aoba castle: now also available with VR tour to get an idea of what the castle used to look like. On the grounds, there are plenty of places to have a bite, or look at the scenery (you can see as far as the ocean!). It's quite easy to walk up to the Aoba Castle grounds. Starting from the Sendai museum, there are several signs indicating the different routes you can take. Each are around 1km long.

This place is huge with lots of spots (museums, gift shops, food stalls, temples, etc.) and it's free! The view of Sendai City from above and the Date Masamune statue are the main attractions of this place, imagining the sunset from up here must be very beautiful! You can get here via the Sendai loople for 260¥ one way, or you can walk from the Tohoku University Kawauchi campus for about 15-20 minutes.

We stopped at the Sendai Castle area. We took the city bus and we would suggest for you to pay the day's pass instead of paying one stop with th IC card. Spend the day and be ready to hop on and hop off at the interesting sights. We went on Monday and unfortunately many of the sights were closed. The other downside was there were lots of tourists and not enough busses. Otherwise an ideal transportation as there are many ups and downs and quite difficult to walk the distance.

The ruin itself was nothing spectacular. The view of Sendai was nice. It is worth to make a bus stop to have shot stop. But it is not worth to take a taxi to visit this site. It cost us 2000 Yen one way from city because the main entry was closed.

Provides a nice view of the city but on the castle site itself is nothing to see except two statues. The shrine next to it is only okay too. The statues are facing north, meaning taking a picture from the front is going to be against the sunlight, very unfortunate.

This has been one of my most favorite places to visit in Japan so far. It is an absolutely magical place! We went on a drizzly day, so the raindrops and mist added to the mysterious quality of the location. There were so many stairs to climb- but a lot of places to step to the side, take a break, and look at the surrounding beauty. Moss covered statues, beautiful temples, and little shops skirted the path up the mountain. The grounds were in pristine condition and so clean. The view from the top was amazing!! I was under the impression dogs are not normally permitted on temple grounds but we saw (and heard) many dogs during our visit. There are many areas outside of the temple grounds to purchase food and souvenirs. There are also some paid parking lots nearby.

For foliage /momiji reference, these pictures were taken on October 22nd. Great place to slowly enjoy, but too soon for color change. If this area was in Kyoto it would be so crowded with tourists because of its beauty, but it still gives a untouched kind of place vibe. 2 hours should be enough to take your time going up and appreciate yhe nature, statues and local architecture

You’ll find plenty of paid parking at the base of Risshaku-ji temple, and it’s only about 500 yen. The view from the top of the mountain is absolutely stunning! The photo I took was taken in early November, so you can already see some trees starting to turn red and yellow. There are quite a few stairs to climb to the top, so if you walk up without stopping, it should take around 20-30 minutes.

Risshaku-ji Temple (Yamadera) was honestly one of the most impressive places I visited on this trip. From the moment I started climbing the long stone steps, I already felt that it was going to be special. The path winds through the forest, past small shrines and statues, and you can hear the sound of the bell and the wind in the trees as you go up – it’s very peaceful and a little bit magical. I visited in autumn and the colours were incredible: bright yellow, orange, and red leaves covering the mountains on all sides. Every few minutes I had to stop just to turn around and look at the view again. By the time I reached the top, the panorama over the valley and villages below completely took my breath away. It looks like a picture from a postcard, but standing there in person feels even better. The climb is a bit tiring, but not too difficult, and there are many spots where you can rest and enjoy the scenery. In the end I felt that every step was worth it. I left Yamadera feeling calm, happy, and very satisfied that I made the effort to come. If you are anywhere near Yamagata, I really recommend visiting – you won’t be disappointed.

This a very famous temple with many tourists in the area. Nonetheless the many steps to the top are well worth the effort. The view is spectacular and the temple beautiful. But you will not be able to enjoy the temple alone as there are loads of tourists visiting. Still very worth the trip.

1000 stair steps to reach the top. Admission fee for an adult is 500 yen. We recommend going up earlier than 11 AM because of many tourists visiting this place later on. It is worth the view as well as to embrace the beauty of the little forrest around the trail up. At the top you can expect a shrine and a little shop with drinks if you feel exhausted. The people are friendly and forthcoming despite the masses of tourists.

Be prepared for the need to walk up and down lots of steps to reach the top. It's a 1015-steps climb. There were however different levels for a stoppage and short rest. The fall foliage was still amazing along this pilgrimage route.

We arrived Okama on May 2nd as goldenweek holiday in Japan! We can drive up to the top by paying a ticket (800 yen per 1 car) It’s colder than we think, and the Okama is still full of snow!

The caldera lake is much larger in real, and it really leaves an impression. The altitude of the carpark is 1771 metres, so the mountain air is still refreshingly cool in midsummer.

Took bus here from Yamagata. Took 2 hours on the bus. Not many buses come here. Popular tourist location. Good scenario. Volcano lake. Walk around. Shrine. Good views

Fantastic experience visiting Okama. Parked at the visitor center entrance, with a fee of Y550. Took us ~2 hours to hike up to the peak and to see the stunning views. Along the way to the peak, you would already see amazing views of the Gokishinuma (5 colored pond) that was caused by volcanic activities in the past. Definitely recommend to go!

Okama looks absolutely gorgeous in the early to mid April period, when the snow is partially covering the surrounding slopes, partly showing the brown earth below. Under a blue sky, this 残雪 (Zansetsu) scene offer in my opinion one of the best view of Okama. These are photos were taken at 13/4/2024 after a 45min hike from the Zao Jizo Sancho Station 蔵王ロープウェイ 地蔵山頂駅. Something to take note of: (1) the last descending cable car leave at 4:45pm at this time of the year, (2) The trails are mostly covered under loose melting snow, those trail without snow are very muddy. Although I did it with just a gaiter and not fully waterproof shoe, I would strongly suggest good waterproof shoe, gaiter, snowshoe or trekking pole. (3) You can find the gps route and more hiking info from Yamap. (4) These photos were shot at the viewpoint just to the east of Kumanodake 熊野岳 which I think offer better scenery at this time of year compared to the more southern viewpoints.

I’ve skied at Zao several times, but this was my first summer visit. I have always wanted to hike and see Okama, and I would recommend this spot if you can. We drove up in a personal vehicle, but there are hiking trails and a chair lift a bit below the uppermost parking lot if you’re not driving. We also saw some cyclists biking up! There are many great hikes around, and of course, you can see the famous snow monsters without their snow!

It's a great place to visit. Emerald lake in volcano crater looks so magic.Amazing view from top of mountain. But Weather may be really unpredictable.So be aware about it and ready for any case. There are many ways to reach the place:by car, by free shuttle, by rope way or hiking. Parking place usually gets full very quickly,it's better to come before 10am. Hiking courses to the Okama crater are very good for any age and conditions. Never have try so enjoyable course.

Easy and pleasant walk! Came here with my parents and the trail was very manageable. The path around the pond takes about an hour at a relaxed pace, with beautiful views and fresh air. Great spot for families and older visitors.

Goshikinuma means “Five-Colored Marshes / Ponds.” It’s a group of lakes and ponds in the Urabandai / Mt. Bandai area, created after the eruption of Mt. Bandai in 1888

We wanted to go around these famous ponds, but it was raining and the ground was muddy. We only went to the one closest to the carpark, Yanaginuma Pond. It was still beautiful, but felt this was not fully experience here.

Incredible. Surpassed my expectations. The 4km walk was beautiful, with lots of maps and a clear path throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed my time here, and it was a great time to visit in autumn

Phenomenal colors in the fall - the turquoise, oranges and reds paint a pretty scenic picture!

Very nice place to do a short walk. Plenty of beautiful spots to take pictures. Nice to bring a bell with you for the bears

Wonderful experience in autumn even under bear sighting news. Really stunning views along the trek with all the different ponds, the colours of pond, sky , autumn foliage and nearby mountains. Definitely worth a 2nd visit to go slower and enjoy it more

I visited Tsuruga Castle early in the morning, and it was a wonderful experience. With the soft morning light shining from the front, the castle looked especially striking and made for beautiful photos without harsh shadows. The entire park area around the castle is very well maintained, with clean paths and lush greenery that make walking around pleasant and relaxing. There is a calm atmosphere at that time of day, allowing you to enjoy the scenery without crowds. It’s not only a historic landmark but also a peaceful place to start the day. Highly recommended for photography and a quiet stroll.

I heard this is the place that must be visited, so I did. The entrance fee is $520 including the entry to both the castle tower and the tea room. The view was great from the top floor of the castle. If you are a Japanese history buff, this should be interesting. There're well detailed documents about not only a tragedy about the youth squad who fought against the new Meiji government army but also the history of this area in general. They were quite educational. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't great when I visited it...

We visited Tsuruga Castle in Aizuwakamatsu and it was one of the highlights of our time in the Aizu region. Although the castle is a reconstruction of a 14th century fortress, it is very well done and gives a strong sense of the history and importance of the site. Tsuruga Castle played a key role in the Boshin War and was once known as “The Impregnable Castle” after withstanding a month-long siege, which makes walking through its grounds even more meaningful. The interior has been converted into a museum with exhibits on samurai culture, the Boshin War, and the local history of Aizu. The displays are well presented and give good context, even for visitors who may not be familiar with Japanese history. At the top of the castle keep, there is an observation deck with panoramic views over the city and surrounding hills. We even managed to spot our hotel, Onyado Toho, in the distance, which was a fun surprise. I also recommend buying a ticket that includes matcha at the historic tea house within the grounds. It is a peaceful way to enjoy the setting and take in the atmosphere. Overall, Tsuruga Castle is a must-visit for anyone interested in Japanese castles, history, or simply beautiful views.

It’s a rebuilt castle that only looks and feels like a castle from the outside. Inside it’s basically a museum that explains the history of the castle and of the region. Although the museum is very well done they could do much more in terms of having more English available on the walls. When we visited in the summer heat we did appreciate the air conditioning inside. If you’re looking for the authentic Japanese castle experience- this isn’t the one:

Most of the original castle no longer stands, but a lot of work has been done to restore it for visitors. The main keep is more of a museum about feudal life and the historical events around the Meiji Restoration. There is an outer tower that's part of the original castle and the ticket (Y520) also gives admission to the tea house/garden (you can pay extra to have tea and a snack there). The surrounding grounds are well maintained and it wasn't too crowded.

Wonderful morning out. We thoroughly enjoyed visiting the castle. If you’re into history I would highly recommend. Even if you’re not it is still beautiful to visit.

Tsurugajo Castle is beautiful and sits right in the middle of Aizuwakamatsu with a cute little park around it. We didn’t go inside as we’d heard the interior wasn’t as impressive as the outside. Compared to other castles like Osaka Castle, it’s a bit less striking, but still definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area.

Visiting Ouchi-juku on a weekday was wonderful because there were few tourists, allowing for a peaceful experience. The famous observation deck offers a stunning panoramic view of the entire village, with its iconic thatched roofs and surrounding scenery. I also enjoyed trying the local specialty, negi soba—soba noodles eaten using a green onion stalk instead of chopsticks—which was a unique and delicious cultural experience. Overall, it’s a charming historic village with beautiful views and tasty traditional food.

A pleasant way to spend an hour. It's one main street with tourist shops and soba restaurants. Theres some small shrines and a photo spot up some step old steps. Always crowded on the weekend with a lot of tour buses. Some local crafts and produce. It can be quite cold. No entrance fee but there is a parking fee of ¥500.

Ouchijuku is one of the most charming and atmospheric historical towns I have visited in Japan. The entire street is lined with beautifully preserved thatched-roof houses, and walking through it feels like stepping back into the Edo period. The town has been carefully maintained and still carries the quiet charm of an old post station from the 1600s. There are small eateries, souvenir shops, and local crafts along the main path, and the surrounding scenery adds to the sense of stepping into a living museum. It is a great place to explore slowly and enjoy the history, culture, and traditional architecture of the Aizu region. A very memorable stop that is worth the visit.

11/25/23🍂🌨️🛖 Ōuchi-juku is a must-visit if you’re interested in Japan’s old-town charm. The preserved thatched-roof houses and historic atmosphere make it feel like you’ve stepped into the Edo period. There are plenty of shops selling local goods, crafts, and souvenirs, as well as restaurants—especially famous for their handmade soba noodles. The area is well set up for visitors, with a parking lot nearby and easy walking access to all the main spots. A great place to explore, take photos, and enjoy a traditional Japanese experience!

Interesting traditional thatched houses. A more modest place compared to Shirakawa-go. Just a single street and one museum house - 250 Yen entry for adults.

¥500 parking fee. Nice village to spend an afternoon with lots of shopping opportunities. Scallion soba was popular local food.

Been here during winter and autumn. Both provide excellent views and experiences. Famous for the numerous traditional thatched buildings

Premium soft serve is truly a must-try! 100 yen to upgrade from original flavour. Saw horses, donkeys, sheep, goats and fishes today. Too cold for the cows to come out to roam in their pen, sad.. there was mini-golf section there too but the fishing-to-eat activity was more interesting 😁

A really nice experience to see a ranch, they have plenty of activities to spend the time with family and/or friends. Among those, feeding donkeys and horses, petting a rabbit, fishing, etc., They also have a small archery field where you can have the experience for only ¥700! Really worth trying! The dairy is excellent, and the ice cream is really delicious. You can also have lunch here! Pleasant place for a Saturday or Sunday

Dec 27, 2021 The farm is open to the public but most restaurants are closed and few animals can been seen from the outside. You can go there just to take some snow pics and buy souvenir. Their pudding is very famous and tasty. Recommended that you get one.

This place is a lot of fun. It’s free to enter and there’s lots to see and do. You do have to pay for each experience but if you wanted to, you could just walk around and not spend anything. Our toddler loved this place; he fished for trout, rode a horse and a donkey and ate some really great soft serve ice cream. Would definitely come back here!

Really good day out with plenty of activities to introduce your children to farm animals. Milk and ice-cream were great too!

Free visit with free parking .... Lot of diary product ... can’t stop having ... enjoy guys

Very peaceful and pacific farm where you can find a lot of animals if you come around this area and if you are looking for the place where you can get relaxed with the family this is the place highly recommendable to visit. Good destination for family excursion! And here they have a good produce of milk that you can buy in the souvenir shop.

A silky-smooth waterfall cascades down the rock surface. The viewpoint is easily accessible through the town and a short tunnel walk. Entrance fee is reasonable too.

Amazing place! Even though it was pouring it down it was still good. The path to the falls is a tunnel with atmospheric lights and sounds. The top section is access by an elevator but the very very top has a few stairs to climb (with no roof). Parking is 500 yen and the falls ticket is another 500. 15 minute walk from the car park to the falls.

The most beautiful waterfall I ever seen and very easy to reach! I could not imagine how Japanese government built the platform and elevator area and the path to go up there long time ago without ruin its natural landscape. I surely wanna visit other waterfalls after this. You should, too!

Woah 😲 what a beautiful and popular attractions of Ibaraki prefecture. If you want to go inside there is an entrance fees i think ¥300 yen if I remembered you can reach the observatory through tunnel and there is a second observation upper level through elevator. About the parking you have to pay ¥500 yen.

Great sight seeing spot in Ibaraki. Not free but there is a viewpoint with an elevator and then a hiking trail back to the parking areas. One of the most beautiful waterfalls I have seen in Japan.

Nice place, it costs 500 yen for entry. There are a lot of hiking trails as well.

Three viewing platforms of your choice. Elevator available to reach the second. There were various parking lots. The closest was ¥500 per day.

We visited Nikkō Tōshō-gū as part of a day tour from Tokyo, which was perfect since it’s a bit far and we wanted to avoid the hassle of trains and buses. The tour also included other highlights like the lake and the waterfall, making it a full and easy day. The temple itself is truly impressive , the gold decorations are stunning, and the architecture is breathtaking. The surrounding gardens and grounds are massive and beautifully maintained, perfect for exploring and taking photos. Overall, a must-visit if you’re in Nikkō. Going with a tour made the day stress-free and allowed us to enjoy the temple without rushing.

Nikkō Tōshō-gū is definitely worth a visit if you’re spending time in Nikkō, especially if you’re interested in history and traditional Japanese craftsmanship. The shrine complex is well-maintained, and the buildings feature detailed woodwork and decorative elements that are interesting to see up close. The famous carvings, like the “Three Wise Monkeys,” are smaller than I expected but still nice to check out as part of the overall walk through the grounds. The atmosphere is generally calm, although it does get crowded during late mornings and early afternoons. The forest surroundings add a pleasant touch, and the shaded paths make the walk comfortable even on warmer days. There are several steps and some uneven areas, so wearing good shoes is helpful. The entrance fee for adults is ¥1,600, which feels a bit on the expensive side compared to many other shrines, but considering the amount of restoration and upkeep needed for a site of this age, it’s understandable. Expect to spend about one to two hours exploring at a relaxed pace. One thing to note is that some areas can feel a bit touristy, especially during peak season, but overall it’s still a nice cultural stop. If you go early in the morning, you’ll have a quieter experience and more time to look at the details without waiting behind groups. Overall, Nikkō Tōshō-gū is a solid cultural attraction with a good mix of history, nature, and craftsmanship. Not mind-blowing, but definitely a worthwhile stop in Nikkō.

Toshogu Shrine in Nikko is an incredibly calming and soothing place. The atmosphere feels peaceful from the moment you enter, and it’s easy to sit here for hours just relaxing and taking in the surroundings. The shrine grounds are quite large, giving you plenty of space to wander, explore, or simply enjoy the quiet beauty of the area. There is an entrance ticket, but once you step inside, you really feel the value of the visit. The detailed craftsmanship, historic charm, and serene environment make it a truly memorable experience. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a peaceful and meaningful spot to spend time.

Ornate, intricate temple complex. Order tickets at the train station in Nikko as lines are very long even in the off season. Temples are colorful and sizable! We spent about an hour and felt we had time to take it all in. Lot and lots of stairs to get to the upper mist temple area but plenty to see at the lower level.

This is a beautiful temple with many beautiful details and buildings. It has a rich history and is one of the most famous of its kind. However, it is terribly crowded and loud, and you have to stand in line to see most things - even mid November when we visited. Having lived in Japan we can only conclude that there are many just as beautiful temples and shrines that are far less crowded, for instance in northern Honshu or Kyushu. Still this is worth visiting.

A shrine that worships Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo shogunate, as a god. World Heritage Site that represents Japan. Worth visiting once. The carvings and dazzling gold leaf decorations on the Yomeimon Gate were captivating. The iconic sculptures of the "Three Wise Monkeys" represented the proverb "see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil" were located at the entrance area. The "Sleeping Cat" was the famous wooden carving by Hidari Jingoro that appears to be sleeping peacefully, located above the entrance to Ieyasu's tomb.

Beautiful in the autumn. The ticket situation was a joke though. Six ticket vending machines and only three working, and not many languages to choose from so some people had to spend minutes trying to work it out. Not what I expected. The inside is also under construction/refurbishing, so it’ll be several years before we can see it without scaffolding.

Very pretty but I have to say, I was a bit annoyed there was a fee to cross the actual bridge. I understand the need to maintain a historical site and maybe I am not understanding the cultural background of the bridge. However you have a normal bridge to cross next to it and it allows you a very nice view. Would still recommend.

The views are amazing both day and night. But i prefer during day time. Visited the bridge early on November so its the start of autumn season and the view is already breathtaking. Oh and I really like how accessible it is from the station. The public transportation is servin

We just want to see the bridge itself because it is one of the recommended places here in Nikko. If you want to cross the bridge, there's a fee. We weren't able to try it since we still need to go to Toshogu Shrine. Maybe we will try again next time!!

Beautiful red bridge with the stunning fall colours as the backdrop and running river foreground made it a popular tourist spot. Consider visiting it early in the morning or after 3.30pm. Less tourists and cleaner photo. Crossing the bridge did incur a cost.

PROS ➕ Great views CONS ➖ None Date visited: 05/05/2024 This bridge is located near the main entrance to Nikkō Tōshogū. Strangely enough, I only saw a couple of tourists actually visiting the bridge, while there were literally flocks of people walking up the street toward the Tōshogū temple complex. There was a small fee to enter; I kept the ticket as a souvenir, as it had some interesting pictures and prints. It was only a short walk from the ticket booth to the bridge. Standing on the bridge, I could see a wide view of the first steps leading to Tōshogū temple complex. The creek was visible on both sides, with high stone cliffs blocking part of the view. I love the sound of running water crashing into the rocks below and the rustling of leaves in the wind. The bridge itself was ancient but very well maintained. I could tell a lot of effort had been put into keeping the bridge not just functional but gleaming. All in all, I'm glad I was able to enjoy this moment during the busiest holiday of the year.

The vibe is nice and it’s not crowded. The weather’s cool, and there are food stalls and souvenir shops along the way. You can just walk around, enjoy the place, and grab snacks as you go.

I thought that the bridge was long but it was not. We paid a 300 yen fee to go to the bridge. the autumn colors are so pretty here 🥹🥰

A beautiful place! Easy to find, large carpark and was relatively cheap. I went to see the flower park but was happy to find out it has an amusement side, the array of food vendors,large gardens and various amusement rides made this a very pleasant experience. Food was reasonably priced, entry too! I would highly recommend for anyone to visit!

One huge park by the sea. I simply went to see the marvelous kochia hill, but it turned out the park has so much to offer. Absolutely great for families. Has lots of various activities, from a simple picnic, bike riding, and a mini theme park. Even just enjoying the beautiful vista is already joyful. It’s almost 2 hours from Tokyo Station by train and continued with a local bus from Katsuta Station (appr. 17 minutes). Plenty of food and beverages vendors inside, but be prepared for the lines during weekend/holidays.

Hitachi Seaside Park is famous for its blue nemophila that bloom between mid-April and May. And the red kochia trees after mid-October. It offers many attractions with entertainment. Such as golf putting, biking, and other things for everyone. This was our first experience in this beautiful part. We enjoyed the cute red trees that transformed into a red color. We liked the rides in the amusement park as well. However, it would be nice if all the information were given a little bit more clearly. For example, the Ferris wheel. We were in line at the Ferris wheel for about 10-15 minutes already until we saw someone cut the line. We realized that we were in the wrong line. Moreover, the information for the one-day pass option for unlimited amusement rides should be at the entrance. One complaint is that all the paper tickets you need are inconvenient to hold on to and use. We held six different tickets while visiting the park. Perhaps if they combine all the tickets into one, everyone will benefit from this in the future. A small reminder, this place is near the ocean. That means there are strong winds so I would suggest that you bring a warm jacket with you.

This is one of my favorite spots in Ibaraki. The park is spacious, containing an amusement park and plenty of activities for the family. The range of flowers was mesmerizing. For my first visit, I went to see the Nemophilia bloom. I was not disappointed. In fact, I was enthralled by the beauty. There are seasonal flowers here, so a season pass is highly recommended. I plan on returning soon to see the summer flowers. One thing to note is there is a tendency for long lines. If you visit during peak hours and days (such as a weekend), then don’t be alarmed by the line. Overall, this is a great place for the family to have a nature day. It’s also a great place for those who love flowers and amusement parks. I highly recommend! (All photos were taken by me on an iPhone 16 Pro).

Breathtaking flower paradise! Hitachi Seaside Park is absolutely stunning — a must-visit for nature and photography lovers. The seasonal flowers, especially the blue nemophila in spring and red kochia in autumn, create incredible views that look like a painting. The park is wide, clean, and beautifully maintained, perfect for walking, cycling, or just relaxing in nature. A peaceful and unforgettable day trip from Tokyo!

I was unlucky to visit on a rainy day. I went during late April, so In any case, the baby blue eyes hadn't bloomed enough although I saw streaks of blue, not as dense I had seen in the pictures. Mid May would be a more ideal time to visit. however, the tulip section was dazzling and lit the place. Way too beautiful. You can get to this park by catching the Hitachi /Tokiwa Ltd express train from Tokyo to Katsuta which takes 90 mins and thereafter take the tour bus to Hitachi seaside park which is 6 km from Katsuta.

It's a beautiful park with seasonal flowers like the ones we visited now, called kochia (red bushes) and cosmos flowers. The view from the hill is simply stunning and the scenery magical. I wanted to visit this park for so long and at last I did 😁

Date of enjoyment: 10/4/25 Came here first thing they opened, there is a sizeable car parking and free, the entrance has toilets carved out of the mountain rock. There were already tour buses of people so this place does get popular. There’s food options and souvenir shops with crafts from local artists. The venue is all underground so prams are not suitable, it also gets cold so bring a jacket. The museum itself is impressive however there’s not much to do other getting your photos taken for a fee and reading the sign boards. Allow a max of 1.5hrs here to explore the museum.

This was my second time going to this museum. There is no reservation needed. But underground is kinda chill(around 10°c). So, make sure you bring an extra jacket with you even in summer. After the museum, there is also a big Kanon statue to visit.

It was an amazing experience. we enjoyed our trip inside the mountain. it was cold inside so make sure to bring a jacket. We took bus #1 from utsunomiya station bus terminal and arrived at the base of the parking lot. its a short walk up the main visitor centre/mountain entrance where we bought our tickets. Our whole visit inside took less than an hour. it was something unique and cool thats why we enjoyed it. highly recommended if you are staying in the area (utsunomiya).

It reminds me of the 1985 film Brazil by Terry Gilliam. Big sublime quarry. It can take all day to get there and back to Tokyo. I say go if you are near or quarry lovers. If you go, make sure to check the bus schedule because it is less frequent. Oh, eat Gyoza at Utsunomiya station. Any store is really good.

Incredible stone quarry now used for events and tourism. Worth a visit. Scale of quarrying is impressive particularly the chasms created and their high ceilings.

Great place, inside the museum it is always cold, so be prepared with some warm clothing if you are sensitive to cold. However the mine is very beautiful, a new experience

Entry Fee 800 yen. Beware inside are quite cold (15°C) and will have water droplet from the ceiling. Although this place is not my priority place to visit, after this tour, I changed my mind and definitely recommend it. Inside is unexpectedly huge, chilling. Sunlight pierced through the gap of the cave is very breathtaking. Also kudos to the lighting design inside, the layout and color illuminated the cave to bring out cavernous atmosphere.

If you are a beginner like me…It’s a good hike for Saturday..so that you may take some rest on Sunday before going back to office on Monday. I went on 05.01.2025. There was snow near top making some places slippery. Though it was not so crowded, a proper pathway is not available and we had to stand aside to make way for hikers coming down (especially on the last 200m to top to nyotai san) View from the observation deck between nyotai san and Nantai san is amazing. We had to Carry our water/ refreshments for the hike. However there are a few restaurants on the top but with no vegetarian options 🥹. On the way back we took the cable car as it was already late and the last bus to Tsukuba station (40-50 min bus ride away) was at 5pm.

Very fun and enjoyable. Very nice view and peaceful mountain. My son is only 7 years but climbed the mountain ⛰️

Great beginner hike! I went twice, once during summer and once in Autumn. I think people can really enjoy going here during the Autumn because the foliage leaves was really nice. We went for a sunrise hike last time and the view was awesome at the summit! For full post please check my blog at mariejournals

Fairly challenging trail with huge rocks and sometimes slippery, near the top is narrow and crowded. Overall a good hike near from Tokyo. View from the top is awesome. There is options for cable car and rope way as well.

A beautiful mountain an easy bus ride from Tsukuba Station. Dotted with cozy restaurants with views, a cable car, and ropeway, it's a lovely day trip. The cable car takes you to the saddle between the two peaks. Each of them are rocky to reach, but only a few meters above the saddle. A prime thing ti do in Ibaraki.

The ropeway will take you up to the summit with ease! There are several restaurants at the summit. It should be noted, however, that most of them only accept cash. We then walked down from the summit. It was exciting, with steep slopes and lots of huge rocks. This is a great place to enjoy nature.

Nice and beautiful. Good for hike. The path is clearly maintained in natural way. No concrete or any other artificial material. However, in rainy days, it's muddy and slippery at some places. Anyway nice experience to hike it. For those who unable to climb it other options available. Cable car is cheap and easy. It's 600 ¥ per adult. Ropeway is what available. There are shops around the base of mountain. And also few shops at the top. But, as expected, price is bit high. After reaching the top you can enjoy the panoramic view. That's marvelous. It will refresh you. If you can bring food and water the hiking will cost nothing. Wash room facilities available. So I recommend this place for your next trip. Congrats

Really good for children that there are slide and Lego. Inside Lego my son played around two hours

Great place for branded item shopping at affordable and discounted prices. Moreover, 5% more discount will be added if MitsubishiJisho’s credit card is used. Some shop offer additional 5% discount for installing mobile app of that brand. This mall has good restaurants, tea & coffee shops like Gong cha, Starbucks etc and has big parking lots as well.

An excellent place for branded item shopping at affordable prices. Drive from Tokyo is also very convenient relative to Gotemba premium outlet mall due to less traffic towards Sano. All these premium outlet malls are managed by MitsubishiJisho and if hold a MitsubishiJisho’s credit card then you can avail additional 5% off. Please make sure you have the premium outlet malls app installed on your mobile and you can find some additional discount offers on the app. This mall has got 6 big parking lots and hence you can easily get parking without much wait. Also this mall has got good food/restaurants choices … including Starbucks coffee etc.,

large take about 5 hours including lunch .alot of restrooms, nice eating places

Stopped by for a lunch break, and I liked the veg burger at one of the food courts!

3.5 stars They had many instagrammable photo areas and for some reason another photo theme was Winnie the Pooh and they had many areas set up for photos. As with all premium outlets in Japan it's nothing compared to prices of outlets in North America. It's a lot smaller than the outlet in Gotemba or Karuizawa... But it's much more accessible because it's not too big and it's far less crowded which makes it all more pleasant. I think outlet malls are a little bit cheaper this year maybe due to Corona and sluggish moving inventory. Most shops had additional 20 to 30% on top of the already reduced prices. On a hot summer day it's really not recommended because there's not much refuge from the humidity and heat. It's a very dog friendly place and many owners had brought their pets. The cosmetics shop was really crowded! Lots of discounted Clinique items. MAC eyeshadows that go for over 3000yen retail outside were selling for about 1000yen. A must stop for cosmetics-lovers.

Great price and value nothing more to say Just awesome and you can see mt fuji…

One of the three largest Buddha statues in the world. Very peaceful place. Entrance ¥800, stands a total of 120 metres (390 ft) tall, including the 10 m (33 ft) base and 10 m lotus platform.

Today I went out to the countryside, about an hour and a half from Tokyo, to see what used to be, up until 2008, the biggest statue in the world: the Great Buddha of Daibutsu! One of the sickest experiences I’ve had in Japan. Hardly any tourists, so everyone’s chill. A freaking massive chunk of rock, man. And the inside is just as trippy.

Huge Buddha statue (120 meters) in Ibaraki Prefecture. It was stunning, and I really loved it. You can go inside if you pay an extra 300 yen, which is really worth it. Keep in mind that on weekdays you may have to wait 2–3 hours for the bus to and from Ushiku Station.

Wonderful spot for a family day trip! The massive Daibutsu statue is amazing. The kids loved the monkey and magician shows, and the petting animal zoo was a big hit! Don't forget to try the delicious soft cream 🍦! Tickets are only sold at the entrance, but it's quick and easy. No need for advance tickets. Highly recommended for a fun family day out!

The Buddha itself is impressive from the outside. However, I wouldn't pay to go inside again - the interior felt underwhelming and had more of an "exit through the gift shop" atmosphere than something memorable.

I am obsessed with giant Buddha statues and this one did not disappoint. It is stunning from afar and even more stunning up close. Inside is beautiful too. There is a small souvenir shop while you're waiting for an elevator. It gets crazy busy on weekends, almost missed my flight because waiting for an elevator to go down took forever.

It's a great place for a travellers. The place is really nostalogic. I take a journey in the elevator. Wow i feel i am in a heaven. Lots of buddha statue are in the body of buddha. I pray here and wanna go agin there in my life.