Tsurugi is a small district with a population of about 20,000, but it is a charming town with a long history and traditions.
Hamamatsu is famous for its Unagi (eel) dishes. Unagi no kabayaki is often described as "the king of Hamamatsu gourmet."
The area in and around the Hakkoda Mountain range is one of the coldest and snowiest regions in Japan.
The "Kandachime horses" are unique to Higashidori Village and are now protected as a Prefectural Natural Treasure of Aomori.
Honen-in is said to have originated from a humble thatched hut where Honen practiced nembutsu with his disciples.
With Shibamata Taishakuten Temple in the center, Shibamata has a couple of interesting spots, all of which are conveniently located within walking distance of each other.
Perhaps to most Japanese, Gujo Hachiman is popular for its traditional dancing. With its history of 400 years, the Gujo Odori Festival is held every summer in the town.
The vegetation in Japan was also beginning to change. Conifer forests, which had occupied most of the land, were, little by little, replaced by deciduous broad-leaf trees.
Today, people generally believe that first humans arrived and settled on the Japanese archipelago during the period roughly stretching from 38,000 BCE to 33,000 BCE.
This is a very symbolic place where you can appreciate two of Shizuoka Prefecture’s iconic images, Mount Fuji and green tea fields.
The water of this pond is actually spring water from Mount Fuji, which is constantly gushing out from among the rocks at the bottom of the pond.
This Shinto shrine is located at the southwestern foot of Mount Fuji, Japan's highest mountain. Since long ago, people have revered the shrine as ichinomiya.
This particular district centered around Sumpu Castle has been the political and administrative center of this region since the 14th century, well over 600 years.
Satoyama refers to a forest which people utilize for its lumber, mushrooms or wild plants. A 'countryside forest' might be the closest English counterpart.
If you walk from Tokawa Station to the south, descending a gentle slope, the quiet fishing town of Tokawa is before your eyes.
I visited Jingu Stadium in mid-May to see a game between Waseda and Rikkyo in the sixth week of the Tokyo Big6 University Baseball Spring Championship.
This pine grove stretches about 7 km (4.3 miles) along the Miho Peninsula and has over 30,000 pieces of Japanese black pine trees.
Toden Arakawa Line (Tokyo Sakura Tram) is known as the only remaining Toden line in Tokyo.
Shodenji's garden has fascinated many people, but the anecdote about David Bowie is particularly well known in Japan.
The highlight of Chiiwa-kyo is the 670m. Mt. Chiiwa, which has a lot of caves, large and small . . .
Studies suggest that the origin of Katsura Imperial Villa dates back to the early 17th century. It was when Prince Toshihito constructed the original main building.
Unfamiliar Japan Tours.com started in June 2016. It is an attempt to introduce Japan from an unconventional perspective.
