Walking in a Winter Wonderland
This video, taken in the Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama showing the snow-caped mountains and thatched roofs, is enough to make anyone pack their bags and head to Gifu Prefecture.
Good Water Makes Great Ramen in Takayama
The high quality water in the gorgeous historical town of Takayama makes for some amazing ramen!
Top 10 Local Train Rides
Sit back, relax, and let us take you on a journey through the most scenic train rides Japan has to offer.
Two Big-Name Shrines for Hatsumode
You can't go wrong visiting your local shrine in the first three days of the New Year to pray for a healthy and prosperous year. But if you're going to go out, why not go big?
5 Stunning Walks in the Japanese Countryside
Japanese Countryside Tohoku Resorts
Locals share secret trails with incredible views of the Japanese countryside!
Quit Monkeying Around!
Watching these snow monkeys relaxing in the hot springs is enough to make anyone want to take a dip in an outdoor bath!
Living Heritage: Ise Grand Shrine
With more than 1,500 years of history, this complex of Shinto shrines nestled in the forests of Ise is a living piece of Japanese culture.
20 Meters of Snow in Toyama
Every spring, 30-ton snow cutters carve through some of the deepest snow accumulations in the world to create the Snow Wall, or 'Yuki-no-Otani.'
Two Can't-Miss Shrines in Shizuoka
Shizuoka Prefecture houses the oldest Toshogu shrine in Japan, where shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu was laid to rest before being moved to Nikko. The shrine still contains part of his spirit.
This Region's Sushi is So Good it Has a Museum
Shizuoka Prefecture is the source of roughly half the tuna in Japan, making it only natural that the region is home to great sushi—and even a sushi museum!
5 Gorgeous Reasons to Visit Takayama
Takayama is a picturesque mountain town that's beautiful to visit all year round!
Japan’s Top 20 Three-Star Michelin Spots
Japan is one of the best travel destinations on the planet. Here’s why.
6 Great Innovations from Japan's Countryside
From urban planning and fish farming to food recycling and the re-invigoration of traditional techniques, a number of great ideas have come out of Japan's smaller towns and cities.
Conservation of an Icon
Mount Fuji is recognized as both a World Heritage Site and a three-star Michelin spot. But how do you protect a natural site from the erosive forces of its own popularity?
The 6 Most Beautiful Villages in Japan
Japanese Countryside Tohoku Resorts
While travelers tend to be drawn to Japan's major cities, there's much to be savored in its quiet countryside, where a different, deeper kind of beauty awaits.
Gifu's Top 5 Autumn Color Spots
Gifu Prefecture is full of mountains, which means lots of trees—and especially beautiful Japanese maples!
Visit 3-Michelin-Starred Gokayama
Take the new Hokuriku Shinkansen to visit the splendidly preserved, Michelin three-starred Gokayama village in Toyama Prefecture. If you want to get away from it all and be surrounded by nature and heritage, Gokayama is for you.
My Solo Journey to Hida-Takayama
First I traveled from Nagoya Station to Takayama via JR Ltd. Express Hida (Wide View).
A Taste of Green Tourism in Traditional Japan
Despite their combined population of only 900, the villages of Shunran no Sato drew 11,000 visitors in 2014, attracted by the prospect of experiencing traditional Japanese life from locals only too happy to share.
