Chiba's Secret: Unspoiled Beaches and Lush Forest Hills
Not far from Tokyo's Narita Airport, Chiba's east coast is a beautiful area of beaches, forests and unique accommodations.
Hike for Hope: A New Long Trail through a Former Disaster Zone
The Fukushima Coastal Trail highlights tragedy and hope following the 2011 triple disaster.
Hiking Tokyo’s Active Volcano: The “Sacred Fire” of Oshima Island
Mt. Mihara is an active volcano on a nearby island with a fascinating history, superb seafood, hot spring baths, and welcoming local people. It can be climbed on a day trip from central Tokyo, but you should at least plan on staying overnight.
Rainbows and Resilience: Hiking the Michinoku Coastal Trail
The 1000-kilometer trail that hugs Tohoku’s Pacific coastline offers hikers some incredible natural scenery and dramatic evidence of the disastrous tsunami of 2011. Andrew Lee hiked some portions of the trail and shares his experience.
Sustainable Tourism in the Ogasawara Islands: Dolphin Identification Program
The Ogasawara Islands, 1,000 km south of Tokyo, are only reachable by a 24-hour boat trip. A national park since 1972 and a UNESCO site since 2011, the islands have strict rules for tourists and residents to protect their unique ecosystems.
Five Amazing Natural Heritage Sites in Japan
Here are five of the most fascinating locations, all of which have been selected as World Natural Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
Japan’s Stunning Coastal Pilgrimage: The Kumano Kodo's Ohechi Trail
The Ohechi coastal route is an underexplored section of the network of pilgrimage trails that crisscross the Kii Peninsula. John Rucynski shares the highlights of the route after his three-day, two-night journey to the destination of Nachi Taisha shrine.
Idyllic Etajima: Inland Sea Getaway
This inland sea island flies under the radar of most travelers, making it the perfect place to escape.
