Appearing out of the fog was scenery that seemed to be a reproduction of Hasegawa Tohaku’s screen paintings I stepped into a thicket of trees that had been standing for about 50 years In this grove are cedars from which all but the canopy has been removed; they stood perfectly straight Yoshino’s afforestation method is called “dense planting” In this tightly packed forest drifts the mist that follows the rain creating a truly divine scenery that reveals a balance between nature and human activity The town of Yoshino is famed for its high quality Yoshino cedar and cypress The trees grow slowly because they are planted so densely that very little sunlight reaches each one Their growth rings are narrow because of this slow development and the grain is both fine and homogeneous it takes a long time before they can be shipped to customers but the people of Yoshino have always grown Yoshino cedar and cypress this way Seventy percent of Japan’s land is covered in forest When we hear the term “man-made” or “artificial” we think of something in conflict with nature but man’s activity has not been inherently incompatible with nature Both the man-made and the natural are part of “life activity” I felt that perfect equilibrium in Yoshino’s forests To the extent that the steep mountain roads surrounding the forests are maintained so that people can safely walk on them Yoshino may well become famed as a hiking destination Stacks of lumber adorn the sawmills dotted about town Logs are expertly milled into lumber and left to dry for a time Both cedar and cypress have the faintest grain and are distinct for their red tint they are processed more precisely and shipped as materials for architecture and furniture The ends trimmed away in the production of rectangular lumber are used as material for disposable chopsticks; every last bit of this raw material the architect Go Hasegawa and the town of Yoshino to build the Yoshino Cedar House has two bedrooms on the second floor and a dining/living room on the first the house was dismantled and reconstructed here which offers a superb overnight experience has drawn many people from far away and has become a valuable focal point for the people of Yoshino Access 624 Iigai Yoshino-Cho, Yoshino-Gun, Nara Google Map www.yoshinocedarhouse.com  Created by Japan House Tokyo Secretariat’s Creative Adviser Teikūhikō is a combination of beautiful videos articles and photographs introducing spots that Hara has specially selected “What do you think of this kind of Japan?” Movie / Photograph / Text: Kenya HaraMusic: Heimahttps://tei-ku.com View All Articles Back To Top We use cookies to optimize site functionality and give you the best possible experience By clicking 'Accept All Cookies' you agree to the storing of cookies on your device we will only use those cookies necessary for the performance of the website We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorised as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyse how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyse the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customised advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyse the effectiveness of the ad campaigns We’ll certainly never forget sparking up a conversation who shared with us his unusual life story and the huge impact the Kobe earthquake in 1995 had on it has a unique calling card: it is covered with cherry trees When cherry blossom season arrives each spring mostly Japanese but also quite a few foreigners to revel in the unearthly beauty of the scene The mountain slope is divided into four areas each offering a unique vantage point on this spectacle because their varying elevations typically cause the trees to bloom a few days apart: Shimo Sembon for the lowest one Naka Senbon for the middle section of trees Kami Sembon for the highest part of the slope and Oku Sembon for the inner trees at the summit It takes just under one and a half hours to reach the base of the mountain from Osaka by train Some lucky travelers may even climb aboard the Blue Symphony limited express train from Osaka but including a lounge car where pastries and other snacks are served Whatever means you use to get to Mount Yoshino chaotic and urban for the first few kilometres more varied when the first signs of vegetation appear through and beyond the huge windows with reliefs of varying heights in the background like a forerunner of the spectacle that awaits you Named as part of a World Heritage Site by UNESCO entitled ‘Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range’ Yoshino is also an important religious destination celebrated not only for its outsize dimensions Legend has it that it was Hideyoshi Toyotomi one of the leading figures in Japanese history who commissioned this gold-leaf decoration to resonate with the beauty of the cherry blossoms The temple was established in the 8th century by En no Gyoja an ascetic and mystic known as the founder of the Shugendo sect literally ‘the path of training and testing’ accompanied by a set of practices observed by the famous Japanese mountain hermits known as the Yamabushi rather than a religion in the fullest sense of the word Whereas Mount Koya embodies the spirit of Shingon Buddhism and even more ancient mountain mystic cults stunning for its grand scale and the solemnity it conveys the priests begin the morning service known as tsutome But already our train awaits to take us to the final destination on our journey Immersing in Japanese Cuisine Across the Seasons with Mirukashi Salon Traditional tattoos were strong signifiers; murderers had head tattoos The series 'Hysteric Ten' by photographer Sawatari Hajime revisits one of the most sulphurous relationships in Japanese art Nagisa Oshima made Sada Abe the heroine of his film defying the codes of 'pinku eiga' that make men the focus of attention This rice soup seasoned with miso is served by a monk to Ashitaka one of the heroes in Hayao Miyazaki's film we interviewed its founder and chief representative Spots Shizunai Eclipse Hotel in Shin-hidaka Town, Hokkaido, has been the focus of much attention for its "Umamusume Discount" program The hotel's "Famous Horse Concept Rooms," in which guests can stay in a renovated suite with a display of championship memorabilia and premium goods and a new "That Idol Horse" concept room will be launched this May The name of the plan is "Tracks of Melody Lane - My beloved little idol The horse weighs in the low 300kg (!) and is very small but is active in heavyweight races and other events The room rate is 28,000 yen per room per night including breakfast you will also receive original goods as a present when you check in This "Famous Horse Concept Room" series has been held in the past under the theme of famous horses such as Mesho Samson Please visit Shizunai Eclipse Hotel's website to register Please enjoy the "best breakfast in Hokkaido" at the Shizunai Eclipse Hotel's specialty along with the delicacies of Hidaka's sea and mountains [7 minutes walk from Sapporo Station] Enjoy hot springs A comfortable stay at the 605-room "Sapporo Hotel by Granbell" [Updated for 2025] A complete guide to accessing Daiwa House Premist Dome (Sapporo Dome) and nearby hotels "So cute it's unfair" - Feel the healing power of a sleeping miniature horse [Information on the early opening on April 25th] Sapporo Odori's newest attraction Floor details and highlights of "4PLA" opening in summer 2025 A hotel in the center of Sapporo with a superb sauna and large public bath Experience the warmth that is unique to Hokkaido at "Danyuki Sapporo" [2025 Edition] 7 recommended cherry blossom spots in the Kitami and eastern Hokkaido areas Enjoy cherry blossom viewing in the great outdoors Seasonal “news” of Hokkaido can be checked by category You can check the information of your “town” in one place Events” held throughout the province are easy to find and can be saved This page has been automatically translated by Google Translate service Share your travel photos with us by hashtagging your images with #visitjapanjp has long been a popular activity among both locals and international visitors The cool temperatures of Japan’s autumn season are often seen as a welcome departure from countries with higher temperatures all year round Located in Toyama Prefecture, Gokayama is surrounded by mountains and is home to 40 villages Gokayama is known for its thatched roof houses which bundles of thatched straw are joined at roof top to prevent snow from piling up These can be seen in the villages of Suganuma and Ainokura which were designated as UNESCO world heritage sites in 1995 the thousands of cherry blossom trees lining the slopes make the mountain an extremely popular cherry blossom viewing spot as the trees create a fiery sea of crimson Numerous shops and rest points can be found on the mountain allowing travellers to rest their feet and enjoy local snacks while taking in the views While the scenery may be the main attraction for some, Mount Yoshino is also a center of Shugendo (mountain worship) in Japan a school of thought that originated in the Heian Era which draws from a variety of different practices it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 Autumn leaves of Mount Koya hit their peak around early November Getting there by public transport requires a few transits but the experience will surely be a rewarding one While locking down your travel dates to get the right timing can be tricky the transitory nature of the seasons is undeniably poetic and reminds us to treasure every moment in the present Let the fall colours lift your spirits and rejuvenate your senses, so that you may depart with a lighter load on your shoulders. And even after you leave, you may do so with the knowledge that autumn will be back in a year Browse the JNTO site in one of multiple languages Jon Gilliam became chief executive of Yoshinoya America Inc in June 2021 and set about transforming the Torrance-based company the company will begin to look for new franchisees to expand in California and surrounding states Please give us an overview of your franchise operation How many franchisees do you have now and how many do you plan to have by the end of 2024 Yoshinoya is the first and the largest chain of beef bowl restaurants with more than 3,000 outlets around the world The company was founded by Eikichi Matsuda in 1899 in a small shop in Nihonbashi Fish Market in his hometown Yoshinoya has rapidly expanded around the world including Japan in 1973 and we now have more than 100 locations located across California with plans for expansion to new states we plan to open four new Yoshinoya locations with our new Heritage prototype We currently have 19 franchisees with 21 franchise locations in California and are seeking franchisee partners both within the state of California and in surrounding states At Yoshinoya America we are focused on creating affordable delicious authentic Japanese cuisine featuring quality flavors and ingredients inspired by its Japanese heritage Our original menu featured Yoshinoya’s signature Gyūdon Beef Bowl and has now grown to include more than 20 bowls including our recently introduced Tokyo Fried Chicken What are the financial requirements for potential franchisees Opening a new Yoshinoya location will have an initial investment range of $385,000 to $1.4 million depending on various elements New investors must fulfill the following minimum requirements: • Franchise fee: $27,500 (for first store) and $24,750 for subsequent locations • Continuing royalty collections includes 5% to 5.5% of net sales by location • Advertising fees include 3.5% of net sales What do you think are the advantages of owning a franchise What do you emphasize to prospective franchisees about the business they are about to enter There are many benefits to owning a franchise but the one I feel is the most impactful is that franchisees have the best of both worlds; they are an independent business owner but have the full support and learnings from the parent company They have the ability to launch their business with the comfort of knowing the brand has seen success with other locations and has popular product offerings They can also learn from other franchisees in the network As a franchisee you have responsibility to shepherd a growing brand with more than a 100 years of heritage structure and business stability that a franchise provides naturally comes with the responsibility to represent a brand while not having full control It requires a shared vision in the future and a relationship of mutual respect and partnership what do you believe is the future of franchising in California it is critical that brands not only have strong value perceptions today but also have a solid plan to help support consumers with limited spending power alongside ensuring healthy margins for our parent company as well as our franchisees Yoshinoya has a leadership value position in consumers’ hearts and minds and has a strong value evolution plan underway Learn how to describe the purpose of the image (opens in a new tab) Leave empty if the image is purely decorative The dates displayed for an article provide information on when various publication milestones were reached at the journal that has published the article activities on preceding journals at which the article was previously under consideration are not shown (for instance submission All content on this site: Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. Guests can cook for themselves in the house The first floor is divided into two private rooms for guests with traditional Japanese mattresses rolled out at night-time During the daytime the first floor becomes a more private relaxation area for guests and the first floor is clad in Cypress wood The suspended staircase connecting the two floors is also in Cypress - a subtle delineation between more private and public areas The fragrant Cedar-lined shower room on the ground floor has returned to its birthplace and is now officially open for rental Today it sits by the river bank in Yoshino home to the densest Cedar forests in the world and famed for some of the most abundant cherry blossom in Japan This is a house with a greater mission than just providing a bed for the night. It offers guests the chance to experience everyday rural life in Japan hosted by volunteers from the local community under the guidance of local wood factory owner Ishibashi-san.  The house has been designed to bring community and guests together with intuitive ease and minimum fuss Long and narrow it comprises guest accommodation on the first floor in two rooms – one overlooking the sunrise the other the sunset - and an open community space on the ground floor with a kitchen area a large sunken dining table and separate shower while guests and community comfortably inhabit the more communal spaces downstairs together It feels entirely natural when locals pop in to greet you cook meals and raise a wooden cup of sake with a welcome ‘Kampai!’ For guests it is an opportunity to integrate with local life With Tokyo Bikes as your mode of transport there is much to discover behind the closed doors of Yoshino from sushi classes to tours around the sake distillery and soy sauce factory Core to Yoshino’s past and present is the industry derived from the local Cedar forests and from forest to fork (or chopstick factory) you can see every step of how the wood is prepared and used The resourceful town gently hums with production There is a social agenda with the Yoshino Cedar House beyond opening up the experience of rural life that can be so difficult to access in Japan Yoshino – as with small towns the world over – suffers from the dual effect of losing its young to cities combined with an ever-ageing population Of the 60 people in Ishibashi-san’s school class only three remain in the village (one manages Cedar veneer production Profits from the house are re-invested back into the community with the hope that a combined injection of tourism and money will bring life and opportunities to the town providing incentives for its youth to stay.  The house alone will not turn around Yoshino’s fortunes but it is a flagship initiative intended to raise awareness of a plight that needs ideas ‘There are 600 empty homes in Yoshino,’ Gebbia says ‘If we can show that this model works we hope that people here and elsewhere will be inspired to think of ways to activate idle resources that cumulatively can make a difference.’ escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox Website VIEW GOOGLE MAPS Volume 10 - 2019 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.01555 As with many other ornamental and cultivated plants that have been under human selection and cultivation for a long time it has been a major challenge to trace back the complex evolutionary history of flowering cherry This challenge has been further amplified by great morphological similarities frequent natural and artificial hybridization and poor documentation of breeding history among cultivated and wild flowering cherries The origin and taxonomic distinction between wild P and one of the most popular cultivated flowering cherries × yedoensis “Somei-yoshino” has been a controversy for the past few decades and using four different molecular markers we provided evidence for their independent origin yedoensis in Korea originated from multiple bidirectional hybridization events between two sympatric species quelpaertensis as the most probable paternal species our results supported a single artificial hybrid origin of P × yedoensis “Somei-yoshino” from cultivated P we provided strong evidence that wild and cultivated P yedoensis are distinct taxonomic entities that have originated from different evolutionary processes A potential for the development of new cultivars from wild P yedoensis and conservation of diverse germplasms in situ insular setting and ex situ should be explored in the future which was first collected by Taquet in 1908 and reported by Koehne in 1912 and it has very similar morphological features as the cultivated P × yedoensis “Somei-yoshino.” As a result of nearly indistinguishable morphological characteristics of wild P × yedoensis as well as the unsolved question of the ambiguous origin of cultivated P their taxonomic identities and origins have been debated for over several decades Figure 1 Variation in floral morphology of subg The sampling sites are marked with red box on the map (G) they did not specifically address the taxonomic distinction between wild P × yedoensis share the same maternal parent species their paternal parents are most likely different species because P if we wish to precisely determine the phylogenetic relationship between them and solve the highly controversial question of whether wild P × yedoensis are of independent origin it is crucial to test the hypothesis that they are distinct taxonomic entities by investigating contributions from different paternal species it is necessary to determine its role as the contributor in the origin of wild P have never been rigorously tested with a broad and suitable sampling method that would include all paternal candidate species involved in the origin of wild and cultivated flowering cherries we extensively sampled wild populations of P speciosa in their natural habitats of Oshima Island We hypothesized that the paternal species differed in wild P yedoensis collected from Jeju Island were compared to P speciosa using several informative nuclear DNA markers we attempted to evaluate the genetic variations between the maternal species using maternally inherited chloroplast markers with the goal of resolving the differences between wild and cultivated taxa based on a large sample of P ascendens from Jeju Island in Korea and from Japan According to the results of our earlier analysis of the phylogenetic relationships between wild P × yedoensis by comparison of chloroplast DNA sequences ascendens occurred exclusively in one region (i.e. the aim of this study was to determine the phylogenetic relationship between wild P × yedoensis based on biparently inherited nuclear markers and maternally inherited chloroplast makers we hoped to address the following questions: (1) Is there concrete evidence to support independent hybrid origin of wild P (2) What are the parental species that contributed to the hybrid origin of wild P and (3) What is the origin of cultivated P × yedoensis “Somei-yoshino” we aimed to elucidate the spontaneous hybridization process and artificial selection that are parts of the enigmatic origin of the cultivated flowering cherry We also hoped that our extensive sampling and use of diverse molecular markers would solve the debates about the taxonomic entities of wild and cultivated flowering cherries that have been ongoing for several decades we sampled three species of Prunus subgenus Padus: P (one individual from Korea and one from Japan) For the analysis of the cpDNA haplotype network All voucher specimens were deposited at the Ha Eun Herbarium Additional internal primers 20ex5P and 20ex3P were also used for amplification and sequencing We cloned the ITS regions of several representative species Split networks were constructed using the neighbor-net method generated from inferred distance matrices The edges were labeled with bootstrap probabilities of more than 50% calculated with a bootstrap analysis with 1,000 bootstrap replicates Figure 2 RAxML tree based on 194 accessions and seven concatenated cpDNA regions Different colors represent different localities of the species in the P Numbers above branches indicate bootstrap support (BS) percentages of >50% based on ML analysis Another distinct group included eight cloned accessions of wild P and 880 accessions) as well as the directly sequenced and cloned accessions of the species from Jeju Island (excluding two cloned ribotypes of P Figure 3 50% majority-rule consensus tree of 50,000 equally parsimonious trees based on nrDNA ITS regions including 322 accessions of representative Prunus species Different colors represent different geographical regions: red for wild P × yedoensis from Japan; royal blue for P Numbers above branches indicate bootstrap support (BS) percentages of >50% Hybridization hypothesis was visualized on the network and three major groups × yedoensis were placed in the center of the split graph without unique patterns (i.e. × yedoensis constructed eight split networks that were generally separated from each other except for one network that included five wild and three cultivated accessions Figure 4 A neighbor-net split graph obtained based on four concatenated RosCOS markers for 89 accessions and H4) with its putative maternal parent P ascendens collected from Jeju Island and Japan ascendens haplotype (H4) exclusively in Japan and wild P yedoensis most likely represent undetected haplotypes of P ascendens involved in the origin of wild P × yedoensis shared the H10 haplotype and were separated from the remaining haplotypes genetic distinction from wild and cultivated forms was possible Figure 5 A haplotype network obtained based on five concatenated cpDNA regions of wild P Different colors within each haplotype are proportional to the frequency of each taxon in the haplotype Sizes of circles are proportional to the number of individuals that is written in parentheses Table 1 Chloroplast haplotypes of 105 accessions of wild P based on four lines of evidence from the analysis of three independent nuclear (nrDNA ITS and single copy nuclear gene PolA1) and chloroplast loci we documented that independent natural and artificial hybridization events have occurred in wild P We determined the parentages of the two taxonomic entities quelpaertensis sympatrically distributed on Jeju Island contributed to the origin of wild P which occurs naturally in the Izu Islands and Izu Peninsula was determined as the paternal parent of cultivated P From the obtained maternally inherited cpDNA haplotype network we concluded that P ascendens plants involved in the origin of two taxonomic entities had a different genetic background; wild P whereas most likely a single cultivated plant of P ascendens was involved in the origin of cultivated P Although the potential hybrid origin of wild and cultivated flowering cherries can be traced back to the 20th century proposed the hypothesis of an independent origin of wild P × yedoensis with a possibility of these species being distinct taxonomic entities Based on the chloroplast (rpl16 intron and trnL-F intergenic spacer) and ISSR markers yedoensis from Jeju Island differs sufficiently from the cultivated Somei-yoshino cherry from Japan their conclusions were poorly supported; they overlooked the fact that the several accessions of Somei-yoshino cherries (1 and 123) showed a close relationship with P and that two haplotypes from cpDNA sequences of the rpl16 intron overlapped [the wild “TA” haplotype and the cultivated P Based on this phenogram and cpDNA haplotype patterns it can be concluded that Somei-yoshino cherries originated from the wild P yedoensis from Jeju Island and that wild P × yedoensis are taxonomically identical this study proposed the possibility of wild P yedoensis from Jeju Island and cultivated P × yedoensis being different taxonomic entities with independent origin These results suggest that the individuals from Japan and Jeju Island sharing the same chlorotypes most likely contributed as maternal donors to the origin of both wild P which they shared with only two out of 75 accessions of P ascendens (one accession from Japan and one from the Korean peninsula) which corresponded to the “AA” haplotype from the study of Roh et al. ascendens accessions shared the “TA” haplotype with all except two accessions (YE833-1 and 833-2) of wild P yedoensis that unexpectedly had the H10 haplotype ascendens suggest that the accessions having the “AA” haplotype of the rpl16 gene which is relatively rare in natural populations × yedoensis exclusively as a result of hybridization Given this unexpected placement of wild accessions collected from the same population around Kwaneum Temple (reported independently in two separate studies) we suggest the possibility of cultivated flowering cherries (P × yedoensis) having escaped from cultivation and spread into natural habitats including the forest surrounding Kwaneum Temple and adjacent areas × yedoensis might have been intentionally planted around the Temple or in the Hallasan National Park it is possible that the samples from Kwaneum Temple were collected and misidentified as wild P yedoensis because of high morphological similarities between wild and cultivated flowering cherries and an unexpected locality for wild P yedoensis individuals are rarely found in undisturbed natural habitats surrounding Mt × yedoensis plants are usually planted along streets and roads Excluding the two unusual constituents of wild P the cpDNA haplotype network clearly separated the haplotypes among accessions of wild P × yedoensis had only one haplotype (H10) yedoensis contained diverse yet closely related haplotypes (H1 which was a result of a reverse direction of hybridization event with P ascendens accessions from Japan was nested between wild P sargentii complex were most likely the paternal parent we provided evidence of the involvement of P Considering certain morphological characteristics of somewhat variable wild P a typical corymb inflorescence type in wild P yedoensis is most likely a trait inherited from P which has a very short peduncle bearing an umbel-like inflorescence Along with another individual designated as Natural Monument #158 in Bonggae-dong (estimated age of 200 years) these wild individuals can be used for selecting for longevity and any other desirable traits through breeding programs it is critical to carefully characterize and document morphological and genetic variations of wild populations found throughout Jeju Island and to screen them for potential disease and pest resistance traits as well as various other horticultural traits Figure 6 Variation in plant morphology between natural populations of P yedoensis individual with the estimated age of 265 years and the height and girth of 15.5 m and 4.5 m (B–I) Morphological variation observed in wild P yedoensis driven by multiple bidirectional hybridization and introgression events More importantly, wild P. yedoensis on Jeju Island is currently listed as an endangered species (ER) according to the IUCN categories (i.e., very narrow geographical distribution and small number of individuals) (NIBR, 2014). Most wild P. yedoensis individuals are typically found in undisturbed natural habitats, e.g., ravines surrounding Mt. Halla (Cho et al., 2014) some individuals occur along the streets and roads or on forest edges and are exposed to potential anthropogenic disturbance because of the lack of strong isolation mechanisms between congeneric species of subg Cerasus and post-hybridization gene flow between wild P yedoensis remains uncertain in terms of conservation yedoensis appear to be genetically divergent although without strong reproductive isolation mechanisms we concluded that a hybridization event that occurred between them resulted in the formation of sterile wild P some hybrid individuals can be fertile and involved in later hybridization events These complex evolutionary processes may result in generations abundant with admixture individuals sympatrically occurring with congeneric parental species and this could further facilitate the ongoing gene flow process it is critical to carefully document and characterize these complex ongoing evolutionary processes and genetic reservoirs to identify any natural and anthropogenic threatening factors and to establish and implement conservation strategies and management plans All datasets generated for this study are available at Dryad under doi: 10.5061/dryad.cz8w9gj02 M-SC and S-CK designed the experiment and collected the samples M-SC performed the experiments and analyzed the data M-SC drafted the manuscript and S-CK revised it M-SC and S-CK both approved the final manuscript This project was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) (grant numbers 2017R1A6A3A01075954 and 2019R1A6A1A10073079) The authors declare that the research was conducted without any commercial or financial support that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest and people from the SKKU Plant Systematics Laboratory for their assistance during fieldwork The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2019.01555/full#supplementary-material Draft genome sequence of wild Prunus yedoensis reveals massive inter-specific hybridization between sympatric flowering cherries Hortus Third; 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This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: Seung-Chul Kim, c29uY2h1czk2QHNra3UuZWR1; c29uY2h1czIwMDlAZ21haWwuY29t Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish offers far more than Todaiji and the Nara Park deer Although Nara city – and the prefecture as a whole – is best known for its temples and free-roaming deer, there’s much more to experience in this beautiful region we give you a complete guide to spending three days touring the area Though Nara hasn’t been Japan’s capital for more than 1,200 years hints to its illustrious past are scattered across the city as tradition lives shoulder to shoulder with modern life Start your first morning right by taking a relaxing stroll through Nara Park and then climbing the winding path to Nigatsudo one of the many stunning structures in Todaiji Temple’s complex Here you can enjoy some peace and quiet – when we visited only a few visitors had made it up to Nigatsudo before noon despite its proximity to the Great Buddha Hall which reveals how historic buildings are nestled next to their contemporary counterparts Locals stop by to show their respect to the temple on their way to work or to go on errands showing how integral shrines and temples are to daily life in Nara even today After that early morning walk – invigorating though it is – a well-deserved caffeine boost is on the cards The store’s minimalistic modern design fits seamlessly into Nara’s traditional landscape and is run by award-winning latte artist Junichi Yamaguchi and award-winning barista Taka Ishitani or ascend to the second floor for a bite to eat and some people watching from the window it’s time to visit the city’s well-worn sights Drop by Kohfukuji Temple and its famed five-storied pagoda or explore the nearby Nara National Museum it’s a short walk to Higashimuki Shopping Mall This is the perfect place to find a lunch that suits you an accessory shop that specializes in traditional hemp products End the day’s sightseeing at one of Japan’s most famous temples This extensive complex has much to offer and deserves a couple of hours to explore fully First founded around 1,300 years ago when Emperor Tenmu ordered its construction to pray for his consort’s recovery from illness (spoiler alert – it worked and she later outlived him the temple is still extremely important today Yakushiji Temple’s elegant East Pagoda is the only building in the complex to survive over a millennium of earthquakes and fires The lone-surviving tower underwent a renovation – including dismantling – starting in 2009 and scheduled for completion in March 2021 so you might want to check out Nara city’s exciting food scene but for a hearty meal make your way to the charming Amanojyaku JR Nara Store This ramen restaurant – run by a fashionable couple – combines contemporary music and design with classic Japanese soul food Be ready for the hints of yuzu in the broth a flavorful innovation that heightens the taste For after-dinner drinks look no further than the exclusive Lamp Bar handcrafted cocktails in a decadent old-fashioned milieu a traditional dinner is included in the rate so you could opt for a relaxed delicious meal at this secluded oasis in the heart of the city so it pays to leave the city limits and immerse in the region’s untouched nature Start the morning with a tour of Menfudo Limestone Cave – the largest of its kind in Kansai Be sure to take the quaint monorail up to catch a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding mountains stroll through historic hot spring town Dorogawa Onsen it may be good to have your own packed lunch with you it’s time for an afternoon hike through Mitarai Valley’s untouched natural scenery It takes about two hours from Dorogawa Onsen through the valley to central Tenkawa village head further south to Tenkawa Daibenzaiten-sha Shrine one of Japan’s largest shrines dedicated to Benzaiten music and other things that flow – including the rivers nearby and then settle down for the night at Misenkan Here you can enjoy a substantial meal of local fare and a much-needed soak in the open-air bath before drifting off to sleep to the gentle sound of the babbling brook outside Dig deeper into the fascinating world of Nara’s crafts and traditions (and maybe find some handcrafted souvenirs along the way) it’s time to zip back through Nara city and into Takayama an area that has a 500-year history of making bamboo whisks for tea ceremony Take a tour of 20th generation chasen artisan Tango Tanimura’s studio (pictured top) to witness firsthand the painstaking effort and skill required to make these delicate yet strong bamboo whisks Reservations are required for both tours and experiences If experiencing an actual tea ceremony is more your bag head instead to Taiseian in Horyuji to learn the art of tea from Kiyoko Gamo who is proficient in both English and the way of tea She will guide you through the correct way to make and drink matcha in a traditional 200-year-old teahouse near Horyuji Temple Return to Nara city for lunch and dine on a luxurious feast of Nara heirloom vegetables served in traditional fashion at Awa Naramachi The restaurant is housed inside a 140-year-old machiya home that has been renovated with care Awa Naramachi’s exclusive course menus require reservations in advance head to its sister store Coto Coto for similar fare in a more casual setting To learn more about Nara’s long tradition of craftsmanship Not only does this facility display a variety of historical items there are works by local artists available for purchase Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten Nara Tsutaya Books also offers a curated selection of handcrafted items by skilled artisans (Look out for Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten Nara’s brand-new store branch opening in Ganriin-cho in spring 2021.) Before heading home be sure to stop by the be-all and end-all of Nara-sourced spirits and brews Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten Nara Tsutaya Books Japan’s ancient capital is filled with historical monuments each with its own significance and unique heritage Dig deep into Nara’s history at any of these six locations to discover how they remain important today this vermilion-lacquered shrine’s 3,000 donated lanterns add a magical mood to its grounds Said to be the oldest full-scale temple in Japan Asukadera was founded in 588 and boasts the nation’s oldest image of Buddha Believed to be Japan’s oldest existing Shinto shrine its main enshrined god is said to have created Japan This is Yoshino’s leading temple and an important place of pilgrimage for Shugendo mountain ascetics this ancient shrine is one of the sacred points on the Omine-Okugake Trail The Heijo Palace Site covers an extensive area – a testament to how powerful and prosperous the ancient capital was visitors and locals alike enjoy exploring its many structures and surroundings The browser that you use doesn't correspond to JavaScript or be invalid Go to the text area on this homepage,skip 'seach' and 'main menu'   �������Ȥ˷Ǻܤε������̿���̵��ž�ܤ�ؤ��ޤ������٤Ƥ����Ƥ����ܤ����ˡ�¤Ӥ˹�ݾ���ˤ���ݸ��Ƥ��ޤ��� It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no — it’s Bocchilla from Bocchi the Rock giving out flyers! The monster character was spotted doing an “emergency flyer distribution” for the upcoming movie and Zepp 2024 tour at Shimokitazawa the person inside the costume was none other than Hitori Goto’s voice actress The “Bocchi the Rock Re:” and “Re:Re:” posters will be up until June 9 The voice actress commented in an interview that this was her first time wearing a costume and she tried her best to move in an introverted and approval-seeking monster-like way she would turn around anxiously and sulk until staff and fans cheered for her She also said that she has much to improve and wants to work harder with Bocchilla to promote the upcoming anime movie she is hopeful that the other cast members will join her next time Located in the heart of the mountains in Nara, Cedar House explores how architecture can forge new relationships between hosts and guests in rural areas. Those who live in Cedar House are fully immersed in the community guests who book to stay there share the building with the inhabitants who live there during the year Cedar House is a place for sharing and living together The locals went so far as to form a cooperative and all take turns to welcome visitors this is the first Airbnb residence to belong to a cooperative from the locally milled wood to the communal dining table is inspired by the link between the residents of Yoshino and their traditions the fish are caught in the river that lies a stone’s throw from the building and the cedar comes from the forests that surround the village (there are 40 sawmills in the area) Everything about it is local and draws on resources from the region 2023Focus on Architecture - 15 Museums in Japan: A Journey Through the Masterpieces of Japan's Leading ArchitectsJapan's museums have been widely praised for their exceptional architecture a trend that is reflected in the increasing involvement of Japanese architects in directing these institutions This shift reflects the understanding that architectural design goes beyond creating physical structures and also encompasses the effective management of museums let's explore some of Japan's most notable museum architecture (Translated by Terrance Young)Interior of Seashell Gallery Photo: Courtesy of Seashell Gallery AD A number of the 5,738 museums across Japan are undergoing renovations and reopenings (*1) we have selected 15 museums from all over Japan for a quick overview of the current trends in museum architecture in Japan Many museums could not be included here for various reasons we hope that those who visit museums for exhibitions and artwork will be inspired to enjoy the architecture as if it were part of the collection or a permanent exhibit Kushiro City Museum was designed by local architect Kiko Mozuna (1941-2001) whose eccentric exterior makes you want to take a drone photo of it to interpret the site on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean and envisioned the museum as a “golden bird spreading its wings and embracing its eggs.” One wonders whether the museum’s functionality and rationality can be maintained in the face of such an exterior-driven proposal and flow lines are organized in the center and a giant mammoth specimen is placed in the entrance stairwell Near the museum are Kushiro City Nusamai Junior High School where visitors can see real red-crowned cranes (*2) Kushiro City MuseumDesign: Mozuna Kiko Architectural OfficeOpened: 1983Floors: 4 above ground 1 below / Site area: 4,450 m2 / Total floor space: 4,302 m2 (including 1261 m2 for exhibition rooms)Address: 1-7 Shunkodai HokkaidoHours: 9:30-17:00Closed: Mondays (if Monday is a national holiday closed on the following weekday from April to November 3; otherwise closed on Mondays) national holidays from November 4 to March year-end and New Year holidays (December 29 to January 3) and museum closing day (December 15 in 2022) Including the Hachinohe Art Museum, which re-opened in 2021, Aomori Prefecture has five spaces for exhibiting contemporary art, including the Aomori Museum of Art and the Towada Museum of Contemporary Art. The Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art is the only conversion (renovation of an existing building and further change of use) where apple cider was successfully mass-produced for the first time in Japan The plaster on the interior walls was also stripped away to expose the old bricks leaving as much of the structure as possible while bricks reproducing the old bricks were applied to the damaged areas The black tarred walls and cider barrels behind the ceiling were also left in place carefully bringing to life the time the building “remembers.” The museum is a perfect example of designer Tsuyoshi Tane’s interest in the “memory of place.” Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art (Aomori)Design: Atelier Tsuyoshi Tane ArchitectsOpening: 2020Floors: 2 floors above ground / Site area: 3606.75 m2 / Total floor space: 3089.59 m2 (including exhibition space: 1224 m2)Address: 2-1 Yoshino-cho Aomori Hours: 9:00-17:00Closed: Tuesdays (or the following day if Tuesday is a national holiday) Museum architecture has shifted with the times and the exhibits, from temples and palaces displaying the treasures of the privileged classes to white cubes that treat abstract art in a homogeneous manner. Among these, the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa is said to be a pioneer as a contemporary art museum that makes work of the same era more accessible one-story building with glass walls faces the street on three sides and the four entrances and exits are not divided into front and back entrances and courtyard keep the entire building in a dimly lit environment who had been involved in the design process of the museum since 1999 KanazawaDesign: Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa / SANAAOpened: 2004Floors: 2 above ground 2 basement levels / Site area: 26,964.5 m2 / Total floor space: 27,920 m2 (including 2,056 m2 for exhibition rooms)Address: 1-2-1 Hirosaka IshikawaHours: 10:00-18:00 (open until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays Public Zone: 9:00-22:00)Closed: Mondays (or the following weekday if Monday is a national holiday) and New Year holidays (Public Zone is closed only during New Year holidays) The Museum of Modern Art, Gunma was the first white cube to appear in Japan The concept was an accumulation of cubes measuring 12 meters on each side with the intention of allowing artworks to be placed anywhere within the cube frame and increasing the number of rooms (cubes) themselves depending on the building conditions (*3) The aluminum and glass of the exterior walls and other components are also made up of squares based on 12 meters Arata Isozaki does not regard the completion of an architectural project as completion but rather as a “cutting plane,” (*4) as if the operating system were being updated one after another This architectural work embodies a pioneering idea that is relevant to today’s information society Gunma Museum of Modern ArtDesign: Arata Isozaki AtelierOpened: 1974Floors: 2 above ground / Total floor space: 9347 m2 (including 3,318.86 m2 of exhibition space)Address: 992-1 Watanuki-machi GunmaHours: 9:30-17:00Closed: Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday) Originating from an exposition held in 1872, the Tokyo National Museum (TNM) is the museum with the longest history in Japan It was established on the site of Kan’eiji Temple in Ueno which was burnt down during the Boshin War including buildings designated as important cultural properties it is part of one of the most significant cultural areas in Japan.The oldest existing exhibition hall is the Hyokeikan (1909) It was designed by Tokuma Katayama (1854-1917) who designed the first main building of the Tokyo National Museum and a court architect known for the State Guest House in Akasaka The Expo also houses the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures which preserves and exhibits the precious treasures of Horyuji Temple Horyuji donated its treasures to the Imperial Household in order to prevent the works from being scattered due to the abolition of Buddhism the museum was restricted to once a week for the purpose of preserving the works but there were calls for increasing the number of days the works were open to the public a new gallery designed by Yoshio Taniguchi was opened with the aim of opening the works to the general public while enhancing the preservation function The museum is one of the leading museums in Japan where visitors can learn about the flow of Japan’s cultural policy Tokyo National MuseumDesign: Jin Watanabe (Honkan) Yoshio Taniguchi (Gallery of Horyuji Treasures) Shinichiro Okada (Kuroda Memorial Hall)Opened: 1872Floors: Floors: 2 above ground 1 basement level (Honkan) / Total site area: 120,270 m2 (including Yanase-so)Address: 13-9 Ueno Park (admission until 30 minutes before closing)Closed: Mondays (or the following weekday if Monday is a national holiday) and New Year holidays which became the first museum building designed by Kurokawa ten years after the capsule tower.The building was kept to a height of 15 meters in consideration of the tree-lined avenue and a kaleidoscopic atrium was created in the center of the building connecting the three floors above ground to the first basement level the outdoor intermediate area enclosed by the exposed lattice-like structure in front emphasizes the connection between the building and the park The wavy glass facade lurking behind it actively brings natural light into the exhibition rooms SaitamaDesign: Kisho Kurokawa & AssociatesOpened: 1982Floors: 3 above ground 1 below / Site area: 35,177 m2 / Total floor space: 8,577 m2 (including 2,710.82 m2 for exhibition rooms)Address: 9-30-1 Tokiwa SaitamaHours: 10:00-17:30Closed: Mondays (open if Monday is a national holiday or a prefectural holiday) Architectural historian Terunobu Fujimori designed his first museum as an architect at the age of 45, the Jinchokan Moriya Historical Museum a cave-like exhibition hall built near Fujimori’s family home The client is the head of the Moriya family who knew Fujimori well from childhood and named him “Terunobu.” The Moriya family has served as the chief priest and chief Shinto priest of Suwa-Taisha Shrine since ancient times and documents that have been passed down from generation to generation since the Kamakura period are stored and exhibited at the museum.In addition to actively using locally produced materials in the construction of the building the architectural historian has also demonstrated his ability to comply with local customs in the handling of details The four pillars that run through the eaves of the main entrance are derived from the Mikashira Festival in which sacred trees pulled down from the cliff were erected on all four sides of the shrine building as well as the Takabe Community Center in Chino City (2021) Jinchokan Moriya Historical Museum Design: Terunobu Fujimori + Shoji UchidaOpened: 1991Site area: 937.54 m2Address: 389-1 Miyagawa Located along the coast of Ise Bay, with the sea breeze blowing and an ancient burial mound in the back, the Toba Sea-Folk Museum houses and exhibits a vast collection of marine-related materials who is also known as a member of the jury for the National Stadium design competition for the 2020 Summer Olympics Seven buildings are dispersed throughout the site and the tar-painted cedar planks give the building the appearance of a fishing village Natural light floods in through the arched ceilings that resemble the bottom of a ship.On the other hand the three white storage rooms are made of precast concrete and house 60,000 items including wooden Japanese-style boats and fishing tools The large spaces with different structures are both naturally ventilated The museum is a good starting point for a visit to the Makino Botanical Garden (1999 where Naito further developed his ideas on air quality Toba Sea-Folk MuseumDesign: Naito Ko Architects & EngineersOpened: 1971 (moved in 1992 designed by Naito Ko Architects)Floors: 2 floors above ground / Site area: 18,058 m2 / Total floor space: 3,924 m2Address: 1731-68 Oyoshi MieHours: 9:00-17:00 (March 1-November 30) 9:00-16:30 (December 1-February 31)Closed: June 26-30 Opened in 1933 as Japan’s second public art museum, the Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art was Japan’s oldest existing public art museum building. The Jun Aoki and Tetsuo Nishizawa design team renovated the building and reopened it in 2020 as the Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art The architects found the characteristics of the existing building and preserved extravagant features such as stained glass and decorations that were possible only with the technology of the time In order to preserve the symbolic facade typical of the imperial crown style the western plaza in front of the main entrance was excavated down to the basement level and a glass ribbon was inserted as a facade Today’s functions such as stores and cafes were added The large display room with a 16-meter ceiling height was utilized as a central hall connecting the exhibition rooms while at the same time connecting the main entrance on the west side with the Japanese garden on the east side to enhance accessibility.Jun Aoki the director of the museum and one of the designers was involved in the design of Art Tower Mito when he was a member of Arata Isozaki Atelier going on to design the Aomori Museum of Art as an independent designer later designed the Hachinohe City Museum of Art (in collaboration with Yoshihide Asako and Junpei Mori) This work is perfect for grasping the flow of the history of Japanese art museum architecture Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of ArtDesign: Jun Aoki and Tetsuo Nishizawa Design CollaborativeOpened: 1933 (Jun Aoki and Tetsuo Nishizawa designed the 2020 renewal)Floors: 2 above ground 1 below / Site area: 25,383.71 m2 / Total floor space: 19,495.17 m2 (including 5,240.49 m2 for exhibition rooms)Address: 124 Enshoji-cho KyotoHours: 10:00-18:00Closed: Mondays (open if Monday is a national holiday) and New Year holidays (December 28-January 2) The Asahi Beer Oyamazaki Villa Museum of Art is located in the middle of a hiking trail on Mt in addition to a building designed by Shotaro Kaga completed around 1932 (used as the main museum building since 1992) the “Underground Jewel Box” (Chichu-kan) added in 1992 and the “Dream Box” (Yamanote Kan) newly constructed in 2012 and designed by Tadao Ando.The Chichu-kan is a circular semi-subterranean structure connected to the main building by a stairway A staircase surrounded by high concrete walls leads visitors to the quiet underground exhibition room where Monet’s “Waterlilies” is exhibited and as they ascend the stairs from the exhibition room they are welcomed to the ground by greenery and light coming in through the glass on all four sides this is one of Ando’s earliest works and offers a taste of the typical Ando sequence in which he skillfully manipulates the light and wind that stream through the naked concrete and provides an architectural experience that can be considered a prototype for his later representative art museums It would be best to visit the museum in conjunction with the national treasures Taian and Chochikukyo Asahi Beer Oyamazaki Villa Museum of ArtDesign: Shotaro Kaga (Main Building) Tadao Ando Architectural Institute (Underground Jewel Box [Chichu-kan] Dream Box [Yamate-kan])Opened: 1996 (Dream Box [Yamate-kan] in 2012)Floors: 3 above ground KyotoHours: 10:00-17:00Closed: Mondays (or the following Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday) Shoji Ueda is known for his “Dune Mode” series and other photographs in which he carefully arranges his subjects in natural settings. The Shoji Ueda Museum of Photography and stands in a location that seems to be solely for the purpose of viewing the famous mountain The curved wall surrounds a concrete grouping that resembles a comb lying on its side Daisen peeking through a slit in the exterior wall is reflected upside in a pool of water.Even in the exhibition room a 7m-diameter inverted large mountain is projected on the wall a device that turns the exhibition room itself into a camera obscura The architecture is not overly decorative but simply becomes a lens to capture the scenery It could be seen as architecture as a metaphor Compare this with the Yoshio Taniguchi-designed Ken Domon Memorial Museum which is also a private museum specializing in photography Shoji Ueda Museum of PhotographyDesign: Shin TakamatsuOpened: 1995Floors: 3 above ground / Site area: 16,175 m2Address: 353-3 Sumura TottoriHours: 10:00-17:00Closed: Tuesdays (or the following day if Tuesday is a national holiday) The Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art was planned as part of the redevelopment project in front of JR Marugame Station following the opening of the Great Seto Bridge the museum is a natural extenuation of the adjacent station-front square A grand staircase by the entrance leads up to the art library After passing through the entrance on the first floor visitors are welcomed into a white space with a two-story atrium which leads to three exhibition rooms on the second and third floors The three layers from the first to the third floors are partially divided by interior windows The method of implying signs of movement in various places is typical of Taniguchi.Even though no space is dedicated to civic activities (*5) the architecture gently connects the town and the museum and the open space where visitors can always feel the outside air and light further accentuates Inokuma’s humorous style It is a wonderful collaboration between a painter with a strong interest in architecture and an architect with a deep knowledge of art museums Marugame Genichiro Inokuma Museum of Contemporary ArtDesign: Taniguchi and Associates Opened: 1991Floors: 3 above ground 1 below / Site area: 5974.53 m2 / Total floor space: 11,948.14 m2Address: 80-1 Hama-machi KagawaHours: 10:00-18:00Closed: Mondays (or the immediately following weekday if Monday is a national holiday) Year-end and New Year holidays (December 25-31) A large drop of water dropped on a lush green hill, or a building resembling a white shellfish hiding in its natural habitat. At the Teshima Art Museum the exhibits are not placed in a box like a white cube and natural surroundings create a single scene The building is almost like a roof and ground The high level of construction technology fuses with nature Teshima Art MuseumDesign: Ryue Nishizawa ArchitectsOpened: 2010Floors: 1 story above ground / Site area: 9959 m2 / Total floor space: 2334 m2Address: 607 Karato KagawaHours: 10:00-17:00 (March 1-October 31) 10:00-16:00 (November 1-February 31)Closed: Tuesdays (March 1-November 30) and Thursdays (December 1-February 31) *If Monday is a national holiday the museum will be open on Tuesday and closed the following day The Seashell Gallery is a small two-story gallery that displays a collection of shells by Kazuo Kurohara a Western-style painter living in Tosashimizu City is considered a pioneer of female architects in Japan we recommend that you make the trip to the southern tip of Kochi Prefecture to visit the Seashell Gallery from the perspective that it is one of the few places where you can actually see Hayashi’s architecture the building is made of concrete slabs that are bent symmetrically to form a freestanding roof creating a transparent space with no visually obtrusive elements with each step lifted from the central beam and the display case in the center of the second floor is made of glass on both sides Looking up from the first floor to the second floor which is usually hidden in ordinary exhibitions “I thought about how best to show the shells and made them visible under the sea” (*6) the white light falling through the blue interior walls creates a serene space that makes one wonder what it would be like to look up at the sun from the bottom of the sea and Nakahara Sekkei DoujinOpened: 1966Floors: 2 floors above ground / Total floor area: 475.2 m2Address: 23-8 Ryugushi 9:00-16:00 (September-June)Closed: Thursdays (open on Thursdays from August 13 to 15 and January 1 to 3) Kiyonori Kikutake (1928-2011) was an advocate of the Metabolism movement with Kisho Kurokawa and others and had a great influence on many of his successors, including Hiroshi Naito and Toyo Ito. Kikutake’s last museum building was the Kyushu National Museum which he designed in his hometown of Fukuoka.The building has an interesting Kikutake-like quality with its man-made technology that faces nature standing out amidst the futuristic expression of the Showa era The exterior of the building is designed to blend in with the surrounding mountains with its large titanium roof that curves gently from east to west and its glass exterior walls that reflect the sky and trees to the north and south kamaboko-shaped screen and the blue columns at the entrance give the impression of a man-made structure that is in antagonism or coexistence with nature rather than an architecture that blends with nature is clearly structured with four layers of buildings inserted within the dome with maximum consideration given to the environmental performance of the technology available at the time along with the elegant Shimane Art Museum on the shores of Lake Shinji to contemplate the architecture of the future and the relation between nature and the man-made That’s why we’ve put together a guide to 50 events taking place this year that we feel you need to know about Our selections are taken from all over the globe and cover a lot of bases – because the world still is a big and busy place once-in-a-lifetime wildlife-spotting opportunities Some of these events will take a little work and time to get to Always check government guidelines before booking and before travelling Think again if you’re expecting three weeks of Marcel Marceau impressions, as this undersung London gem is an exhilarating exploration of physical theatre The wide-ranging schedule covers contemporary dance Two of many highlights are a circus strong-lady performance combining personal storytelling and wince-inducing lifting Price: Events priced individuallyAddress: Various London venuesWebsite: mimelondon.com Price: FreeAddress: Gruvvägen 1, 981 31 Kiruna, SwedenWebsite: snofestivalen.com This popular annual event sees museums across Croatia open their doors for free on the last Friday in January with some hosting special exhibitions and events but the biggest concentration is in Noć Muzeja’s birthplace where venues as varied as the Chocolate Museum the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Nikola Tesla Technical Museum all welcome night-time visitors Price: FreeAddress: Venues around CroatiaWebsite: nocmuzeja.hr To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Yves Saint Laurent’s first runway show, six major Parisian museums are staging a simultaneous exhibition to honour the iconic fashion designer Each institution will display YSL creations alongside artwork from their collections highlighting how the designer was influenced by artists like Matisse and Picasso and looking at wider links between fashion and art Give yourself a few days – at least – if you want to attempt all six venues Price: Entry fee for each venue priced independentlyAddress: Six museums across Paris (Musée du Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Centre Pompidou, Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, Musée National Picasso-Paris, Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris)Website: museeyslparis.com If you’ve never visited Armagh before, there couldn’t be a better occasion than this culture-crammed celebration of the region’s history and heritage – if you have been before, there’s still plenty to learn. Take your pick from theatre-hopping walking tours mindfulness days in the grand Palace Demesne and much more besides Price: Events priced individuallyAddress: Venues  around Armagh cityWebsite: visitarmagh.com Those who like their carnivals classy will do well at one of Venice’s biggest calendar dates Seeing the city awash with elaborate period costumes and distinctive masks is a big draw masquerade balls and fancy suppers if you want to splash out St Mark’s Square is a constant hub of activity and theatrical goings-on throughout Price: Free with some ticketed eventsAddress: Across VeniceWebsite: carnevale.venezia Marrakech International Storytelling Festival Hear tales big and small, funny, moving, magical, educational and eye-opening, relayed by 50 poets, performers and experienced tellers from around the globe. Stories take place at cafes, museums and riads around Morocco The festival is also the next step in the World Storytelling Cafe a digital project born during the pandemic that allowed international storytelling to continue safely Price: FreeAddress: Venues around MarrakechWebsite: worldstorytellingcafe.com If you can’t stretch to Rio Carnival, the festivities on this sometimes-overlooked Portuguese island are a suitably extravagant substitute No expense is spared and you’ll find all the parades colourful costumes and dancing you’ll need for a surprisingly wild time The main parade hits the streets on Saturday 26 February before the fun ends on Shrove Tuesday with the trapalhão parade (‘slapstick’ or ‘clumsy’ parade) Price: FreeAddress: Avenida do Mar and nearby, Funchal, MadeiraWebsite: visitmadeira.pt Combine slopes and jokes at this Alpine comedy festival, hosted in ski-obsessed Mayrhofen The idea is to ski to your heart’s content in the daytime and then kick back in the evenings at daily comedy shows This year’s line-up includes co-founders Marcus Brigstocke and Andrew Maxwell Price: From £149 (five-day ticket)Address: Sport & Spa Hotel Strass, Hauptstraße 470, Mayrhofen, 6290, AustriaWebsite: altitudefestival.com This will be the 61st edition of Latin America’s oldest film festival, and while the primary focus is on Colombian and Latin American cinema diversity in filmmaking is also prioritised the 2022 schedule hasn’t yet been announced but sections of the programming highlight work from communities and cultures around the world as previous editions have welcomed the likes of Tilda Swinton Price: TBCAddress: Venues around CartagenaWebsite: ficcifestival.com While the origins of Valencia’s biggest celebration are uncertain what’s clear is that today’s incarnation is a loud ride Ready yourself for daily ‘concerts’ of firecrackers huge firework displays and bonfires burning the towering ninots (painstakingly crafted papier-mâché sculptures usually satirical versions of politicians and celebrities) that are paraded through the streets all week but it is welcoming and a whole lot of fun Price: FreeAddress: Across central ValenciaWebsite: visitvalencia.com resting amongst trees and darting through the air Price: FreeAddress: Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve Japan’s Instagram-breaking cherry blossom trees can be viewed from numerous locations during their spring bloom but Mount Yoshino remains the most revered and it’s hard to argue with its popularity Get there early (we’re talking 6am) to beat the crowds marvelling at some 30,000 trees lining the slopes and the carpets of pink and white snaking across the hillsides Price: FreeAddress: Mount Yoshino, Yoshinoyama, Yoshino-cho, Nara 639-3115Website: yoshino-kankou.jp Providing yet-another reason to visit Reykjavík is this week-long celebration of creativity where children and young people can lose themselves in activities hosted in schools Participation is key to the festival and the schedule includes theatre workshops Because why should adults get to hog all the Nordic-cool vibes Price: FreeAddress: Venues across ReykjavíkWebsite: childrensculturefestival.is Barcelona’s benchmark of festival cool launches a new chapter in the Portuguese capital mixing cutting-edge electronic music with visual art across the separate day and night showcases with some parties lasting through the night Confirmed artists so far are a mix of progressive producers Price: £36.55-£54.82 (single event night ticket), £45.68 (single day-only ticket), £100.51 (two-day ticket), £228.42 (full day and night ticket)Address: Venues across LisbonWebsite: sonarlisboa.pt As Coventry’s UK City of Culture status draws to a close the opening of the UK’s first permanent immersive digital art gallery will help cement its cultural legacy Housed in the former offices of the Coventry Evening Telegraph the 800m2 space will launch with a fittingly innovative statement uses AI and machine learning to display heady 360-degree digital interpretations of NASA space photography Price: Ticket prices TBCAddress: The Reel Store, Telegraph Hotel, Upper Well Street, Coventry, CV1Website: coventry2021.co.uk Price: Events priced individuallyAddress: Venues around FoweyWebsite: foweyfestival.com Edinburgh International Children’s Festival This expertly curated festival with 30 years under its belt handpicks children’s theatre and dance shows from around the world. The resulting programme features diverse performances for all ages – from toddlers right the way up to teenagers – including intelligently presented shows for the older audiences that don’t shy away from difficult issues. There are also free pop-up events around Edinburgh Price: Shows priced individuallyAddress: Venues around EdinburghWebsite: imaginate.org.uk/festival Unsurprisingly, Berlin’s annual design deep-dive is a slick affair with an eye firmly on current trends parties and business speed dating are offered in the programme creatives and anyone with an eye for aesthetics But the event is more than just a visual feast and will explore how design can address sustainability and societal challenges through its 2022 theme Price: Events priced individuallyAddress: Venues around BerlinWebsite: berlindesignweek.com One of Africa’s largest and most established biennales Dak’Art focuses on contemporary art from around the continent 59 artists and collectives will exhibit paintings Make sure to also seek out work from Dak’Art OFF – hundreds of unofficial exhibitions happening across the city Price: FreeAddress: Ancien Palais de Justice, Dakar, SenegalWebsite: biennaledakar.org Kudos to whoever thought of combining two marvellous things – hot air balloons and wine – into a three-day festival See Temecula’s spectacular vineyards from above as you drift over in a balloon before sampling the goods when you land at daily wine tastings – local microbreweries will be on-hand if beer’s more your thing There’s also a ‘balloon glow’ (grounded balloons are inflated and lit up at dusk) Price: £25-45 (one-day ticket), £74-£92 (three-day ticket)Address: Lake Skinner Recreation Area, 37701 Warren Road, Winchester, CA 92596, United StatesWebsite: tvbwf.com The largest art museum in the Nordic region opens in June after a seven-year wait, merging collections from three other prestigious Norwegian institutions. Among the 5,000 century-spanning items on display will be a van Gogh self-portrait and The Scream by Norway’s own Edvard Munch textiles and fashion (including items from Norwegian designer Edda Gimnes) alongside the striking architecture of the new venue Price: TBCAddress: Brynjulf Bulls plass 4 0250, Oslo, NorwayWebsite: nasjonalmuseet.no A former hospital in what was Denmark’s largest refugee camp following the Second World War is being transformed into a museum to tell the stories of some of the 35,000 refugees who were housed in the camp FLUGT will also explore the lives and challenges of refugees in modern-day Denmark Price: TBCAddress: Præstegårdsvej 21, 6840 Oksbøl, DenmarkWebsite: vardemuseerne.dk Toronto’s Pride is one of the largest in the world meaning lots is going on throughout June leading up to the main parade Trans March and Dyke March – plus music and parties galore – at the festival weekend (24-26 June) Performers include dancehall artist Spice and former RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Symone and there’s a welcome sustainability gesture in the event’s banning of flatbed floats and petrol vehicles in parades Price: Free with some ticketed eventsAddress: Across Toronto (parade routes TBC)Website: pridetoronto.com Nowadays, jazz is just one component of this highly respected festival. The 2022 line-up is still under wraps, but considering Montreux has hosted everyone from Nina Simone to David Bowie to Kendrick Lamar over the years, assume you’re in safe hands. There’s also a sizeable free programme (concerts, pool parties, star-studded jam sessions) and the dreamy Lake Geneva shoreside location to enjoy Price: TBCAddress: Montreux Music & Convention Centre, Avenue Claude-Nobs 5, 1820 Montreux, SwitzerlandWebsite: montreuxjazzfestival.com A mix of international entertainment and local culture is what you’ll find at this festival in beautiful Galway Starry musical headliners playing a riverside big top tent include The Flaming Lips literary readings and poetry are never far away And that’s before you’ve explored Galway’s charms such as Michelin-starred restaurants and the buzzy Latin Quarter Price: Big top shows from £30, other events TBCAddress: Venues around GalwayWebsite: giaf.ie One of the longest-running folk festivals in the world has evolved into a big deal but still feels intimate and fun you’ll hear far more than ‘just’ folk music – blues and other global sounds are all readily available Chico Trujillo and heralded guitarist Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram Price: £31-£78.28 (adult day ticket), £187.46 (adult weekend ticket)Address: Cherry Hinton Hall, Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridgeshire, CB1 8DW, EnglandWebsite: cambridgelive.org.uk Lace-up your running shoes and prepare for a spectating marathon, as Birmingham hosts some of the world’s top sporting talents from 72 nations athletics and what’s claimed to be the largest integrated para-sport programme in history Price: From £15 for adults and £8 for under-16sAddress: Venues across Birmingham Website: birmingham2022.com The Seoul chapter of Comic-Con will transform into Seoul POPCON (Pop Culture Convention) for 2022 Exhibitors and a wider schedule are yet to be announced POPCON promises to unleash a whole universe of cult delights Price: TBCAddress: Coex 513, Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06164, South KoreaWebsite: seoulpopcon.org Surfing is a great spectator sport, especially when you’re in Tahiti the small village of Teahupo’o is the setting for one of the World Surf League’s most thrilling championship events (on both the men and women’s tours) thanks to some truly monstrous waves arising in a select spot It’s a remote location but well worth seeking out for the thrills and the scenery Price: FreeAddress: Teahupo’o, Tahiti-Iti, French PolynesiaWebsite: worldsurfleague.com If the Chelsea Flower Show is just too static for you this horticultural carnival dating back to 1902 should do the trick including an illuminated night-time parade Previous battles have featured floral versions of Arctic wildlife scenes from Avatar and mock-ups of The Muppets while marching bands Price: £19-£35 (single parade ticket)Address: Victoria Avenue, Jersey, British IslesWebsite: battleofflowers.com Melbourne’s film festival was launched in 1952 making it one of the world’s oldest and a big date on the city calendar The event presents innovative films plucked from around the globe and one of the world’s largest Australian film showcases Broaden your horizons even further with masterclasses on acting and directing techniques Price: Events priced individually (multi-film passes cost £58 and £105)Address: Venues around MelbourneWebsite: miff.com.au The migration is an ongoing cycle throughout the year but the Maasai Mara section is the most famous due to the mighty herd’s epic Mara River crossing It’s a sight you won’t forget – just make sure to do some research and choose an ethical safari Price: Varying depending on safariAddress: Maasai Mara National Reserve and there are chef demos and a kids’ cookery school alongside an array of global food stalls Price: TBCAddress: Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, WalesWebsite: abergavennyfoodfestival.com the skies above an eight-hectare seafront strip of Dieppe are filled with astronauts dinosaurs and thousands of other characters and colourful shapes as one of the world’s largest kite festivals hits town There are acrobatic kite competitions and workshops for all ages but just observing the hypnotic aerial action alongside several hundred thousand other visitors is the most rewarding activity Price: FreeAddress: Dieppe seafront, Normandy, FranceWebsite: dieppe-cerf-volant.org Whale watching presents its own set of ecological concerns. One way around this is to visit Hermanus one of the best whale watching spots on Earth which has an abundance of shore locations where southern right whales can be observed – surprisingly closely – without disturbance The 12km Cliff Path is peppered with viewpoints and September is the perfect month for shoreline spots Price: FreeAddress: Cliff Path, Hermanus, 7200, South AfricaWebsite: Hermanus.co.za European beer festivals aren’t all lederhosen and Löwenbräu as this small but perfectly formed microbrewery festival proves Sip through as many craft beers as you dare from around 80 brewers including many homegrown Czech operations like Urban Třebíč and Malý Janek all taking place in Purkmistr Brewery’s courtyard Price: FreeAddress: Selská náves 21/2, 32600 Pilsen, Czech RepublicWebsite: slunceveskle.cz For over 40 years the village of Zafferana Etnea has hosted gastronomic gatherings every Sunday in October to trade and champion regional produce The markets and food stalls are a big focus and you’ll find blissfully fresh porcini mushrooms mustard and wine – each Sunday highlights different items documentary screenings and live bands accompany these lively local meetups Price: FreeAddress: Zafferana Etnea, Catania, Sicily, ItalyWebsite: ottobratazafferanese.it If you’re going to celebrate the power and enjoyment of the written word, the world’s oldest literature festival (as organisers say) seems the place to do it As well as readings from high-profile authors and guest curators (Bernardine Evaristo Maggie O'Farrell and Richard Dawkins are previous contributors) there’s a substantial children’s offering and a Lit Crawl with comedy and parties popping up around town Price: Events priced individuallyAddress: Venues around CheltenhamWebsite: cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature Designated an International Dark Sky Reserve in 2011, Exmoor is privy to some of Britain’s clearest night-time skies, making it a stargazing hub The region’s popular Dark Skies Festival celebrates this status children’s craft sessions and astrophotography workshops Price: Events priced individuallyAddress: Venues around ExmoorWebsite: darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk There are countless fantastic locations across India in which to spend Diwali – the Festival of Lights and a time for celebrating – but the ‘Pink City’ is one of the most magical It’s a visually intoxicating place year-round its landmarks and streets are draped head-to-toe in lights – Johari Bazar and Albert Hall Museum both look dazzling for the occasion consider heading up to Nahargarh Fort for superlative views across an illuminated city Price: FreeAddress: Jaipur, Rajasthan, IndiaWebsite: tourism.rajasthan.gov.in Not all the best music festivals happen in summer, as proven by the Icelandic capital’s deep dive into forward-thinking sounds Established international names usually headline (though still on the alternative side of things – think Caribou and Blood Orange) but the real joy for non-locals is being introduced to tons of Icelandic acts Another bonus is hopping between impromptu gig venues across the city Price: £102 (Four-day ticket)Address: Venues around ReykjavíkWebsite: icelandairwaves.is Why celebrate Bonfire Night just once when there are so many days in November This seems to be the ethos behind one of the UK’s oldest illuminated processions consisting of eight separate carnival dates in different towns (and one city each carnival features elaborately decorated illuminated ‘carts’ (similar to carnival floats) Price: FreeAddress: Regions around Somerset throughout November (Bridgwater – Saturday 5; Burnham-on-Sea – Monday 7; Weston-Super-Mare – Friday 11; North Petherton – Saturday 12; Midsomer Norton – Monday 14; Shepton Mallet – Wednesday 16; Wells – Friday 18; Glastonbury – Saturday 19)Website: somersetcountycarnivals.com Find out what happens when you combine mountain biking with pint-quaffing at this marvellously muddy adventure. The boozy bike ride launches the Mid Wales Beer Festival in Llanwrtyd Wells (Wales’ smallest town) and offers riders a choice of 15 or 25 miles through show-stopping Cambrian Mountain scenery ‘Refreshment’ stops on route provide choice ales from a local brewery Price: TBCAddress: Llanwrtyd Wells (starting point TBC), Powys, LD5, WalesWebsite: green-events.co.uk Laugh your way through a chunk of November at this respected comedy festival which has showcased hundreds of big names and up-and-coming comics since launching in 2004 It’s a rewarding exploration of the US comedy scene for both super-fans and newcomers with some international talent represented Price: TBCAddress: Venues around New YorkWebsite: nycomedyfestival.com If you’ve resolved to run a marathon in 2022, make it a special one – like Queenstown’s 26.2 miler the aptly-named Remarkables mountain range and the cute gold rush chic of Arrowtown will help weary legs power through You can also enter as a walker or opt for a half-marathon or 10km Price: £110 (full distance), £80 (half-marathon), £45 (10km), £18 (kids’ run)Address: The Avenue, Millbrook Resort, Arrowtown 9371, New ZealandWebsite: queenstown-marathon.co.nz If you want a far-flung Christmas getaway but can’t do without tinsel, artificial snow and twinkling fairy lights, go revel in Hong Kong’s annual WinterFest featuring all of the above and a towering Christmas tree in Statue Square Victoria Harbour and the surrounding areas hold the richest concentration of illuminations making it the ideal way to get your holly jolly fix amid the urban sprawl Price: FreeAddress: Victoria Harbour, Hong KongWebsite: discoverhongkong.com Before winter moves in, stock up on Vitamin D by basking in Floridian sunshine at the Miami chapter of this unapologetically hip art fair The contemporary programme is packed with bold and experimental work from galleries around the globe but the sheer scale means there’s enough to appeal to pretty much everyone A big part of the experience is hunting out the numerous satellite art fairs and afterparties (some decidedly glitzy) that flood the city Price: TBCAddress: Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, United StatesWebsite: artbasel.com/miami-beach Price: FreeAddress: Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilWebsite: visitbrasil.com Every December, light artworks and installations by international artists are scattered around Amsterdam’s canals, parks and streets, giving the city a heart-warming glow. The works also form a trail that can be followed by purchasing a digital map and audio guide, or by boarding a Light Festival canal cruise Or just work out the route for yourself – either way Price: Free/ticket prices for audio guide and cruises TBCAddress: Around AmsterdamWebsite: amsterdamlightfestival.com JavaScriptが無効のため、文字の大きさ・背景色を変更する機能を使用できません。 Aichi Prefecture is located near the center of the main island of Japan Known for Nagoya city and Chubu Centrair International Airport Aichi provides excellent access to both eastern and western Japan Blessed with a mild climate and rich water resources forestry and fisheries that deserve much wider recognition Aichi has its own distinctive and very enjoyable food culture including Nagoya-meshi (local cuisine unique to Nagoya) and akamiso (dark-brown miso) we advise savoring the ingredients themselves We have organized a free tour to experience the delights of Aichi agriculture 2019 and participants visited various tourist attractions in the Nishi-Mikawa area from a soba-making workshop and a visit to a fishing wattle built across a clear stream at Otogawa Yana in Okazaki City; grape picking at Okazaki Komadachi; to a visit of “Oasis Farm,” farmer’s store in Kariya Highway Oasis (a highway rest area) where they could buy local products as souvenirs 10:15 Visit Otogawa Yana (23 Himukai 13:00 Grape picking at Okazaki Komadachi (62 Amayake 15:20 Visit Kariya Highway Oasis (55 Yoshino Many spoke fluent Japanese or proactively made comments with broken Japanese and their confidence strongly impressed our staff who hesitated to speak out in English we had a lively conversation on various topics such as daily diet as well as the food culture of their home countries I can feel that farmers make a lot of effort to improve it.” I usually don’t care about their appearance at all.” but it’s hard to get the right seasonings to do that.” Here are some snapshots of the visits:  １．　  Soba-making Workshop (at Otogawa Yana) All the participants enjoyed their first-ever soba-making experience using locally produced buckwheat flour from Nukata The process of soba-making is rather simple—mixing buckwheat flour and finally thinly chopping it to make soba noodles making proper soba noodles is more difficult than you think “soba-making shows your character.” is one’s personal character rather than national character (They both were difficult—Kneading the dough to roll it out and sitting seiza style.) during New Year’s holidays people in Vietnam eat a dish made of dough due to the growth of nuclear families and ready-made meals that can be bought in supermarkets fewer and fewer households make this dish from scratch.) it was difficult to properly handle a Japanese kitchen knife making the resulting noodles look like udon or kishimen we visited a fishing wattle built across a clear stream.) ２．　Grape Picking (at Okazaki Komadachi) Everyone was surprised and impressed by the sweetness of the grapes produced in the vineyards here The grape varieties that can picked at Okazaki Komadachi are Wink and Akamine with Wink being more popular since it is sweeter than the latter but they have never participated in grape picking in their home countries They fully enjoyed the grape picking experience saying “It’s fun!” as well as “I wish I could have eaten more!” (Everyone enjoyed the grapes till they were full.) (Mulberry leaf tea from Toyota City was introduced accompanied by a lecture on the history of the rise and fall of the silk-worm industry as well as efforts to transform agriculture into the sixth sector of the economy.) ３．　Visit to Farmer’s Store and Souvenir Shopping (Kariya Highway Oasis/Oasis Farm) Many participants knew of Kariya Highway Oasis but few knew that there is a farmer’s store there They were surprised by the cheap prices and good quality of flowers sold at the entrance as well as the wide variety of vegetables and fruits offered Some said it was more fun than going to their ordinary supermarkets They were impressed by the cheap price of fish It is said that Japanese food is booming and I have been assuming that the most popular Japanese food is sushi People have their own preferences—Some preferred tonkotsu (pork bone broth) ramen while others loved soy sauce or salt ramen—but I felt that everyone fully appreciated Japanese food in their own way they all agreed that Japanese meat is wonderful This comment made me laugh since this tour was rather vegetarian with only soba and grapes Thank you everyone very much for your active participation we will learn more about “brewing,” an important food culture of Aichi Prefecture We also visit a farm where tropical fruits such as bananas and papayas are raised I look forward to seeing you at the next tour Sign up to access your saved articles across all your devices By continuing with your action, you agree to Have Halal, Will Travel’s Term of Use Password should contain atleast 8 characters with combination of alphanumeric special characters and one uppercase letter IF you have need multi face Authentication Please check your mail to get key and manually enter in on Google authenticator app and verify the token Farah Fazanna Do you want to explore more about our listings We recommend reading our Terms of Service and Privacy Notice https://www.havehalalwilltravel.comundefinedCopyBack to listBack to list outdoor camping Camping is a classic outdoor activity to enjoy the magnificent nature of Hokkaido you can enjoy the extraordinary scenery of the four seasons from spring to fall we will introduce 26 campgrounds near Sapporo and Ishikari that are conveniently located and offer Hokkaido's unique scenery Camping and various activities can be enjoyed in the great outdoors as it is There are plans to enjoy camping even if you don't have anything to bring and you can have an exceptional time at glamping using the "Sumibako," which creates a comfortable stay space The campground is located in a natural wooded area adjacent to the Furuyama Reservoir the first large reservoir built in Hokkaido The campground is well-equipped with cooking facilities and toilets and its excellent location in a beautiful wooded area allows visitors to enjoy trekking and barbecue with your family and friends while enjoying nature to the fullest Kuriyama Park is located at the foot of Mt making it a popular place for families to spend time together This campground is located on the grounds of Hakkenzan Winery and playing experiences throughout the year along with the seasonal views of Hakkenzan and its vineyards there is a restaurant that uses local ingredients and a shopping facility that sells the winery's own wines A natural park where water and greenery are in harmony and used as a place of relaxation for the townspeople There is also a 3-km cycling path around the park Many people come to the park for crucian carp fishing as it is one of the best places in the whole province to fish for crucian carp This campground is located 5 minutes by car from downtown Nanporo so camping and sports such as baseball and soccer can be combined you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Tokachi mountain range to the east Mount Eniwa and Mount Tarumae to the south and playground equipment for families and couples alike and there is also a hot spring and restaurant nearby One of the best five-star auto campgrounds in Japan All sites are equipped with a power supply and all cottages have Wi-Fi It can be used not only for camping but also as a work vacation The Family Travel Village and Elm Plateau Auto Campground offer relaxing camping in a vast natural setting There is also a trim square for parents and children to enjoy a lone stadium with a cascade (artificial waterfall) You can also walk to the hot springs for a comfortable stay This campground offers a blessed natural environment and ample space The field has auto sites with electrical outlets and bungalows with barbecue stoves allowing campers to enjoy camping in style The adjacent hot spring hotel offers day-trip bathing so you can spend a relaxing and leisurely day The campground in Mieko Park is a five-minute drive from downtown Minamihoro making it popular with campers who like fishing The water playground with a fountain where toddlers can play safely is very popular and can be enjoyed by families with small children the campground is clean with hot water available in the cooking building and flush toilets with bidet functions The adjacent Naganuma Onsen hot springs can also be enjoyed in a relaxing atmosphere The sandy campground facing Lake Shikotsu is all free tent sites allowing you to pitch your tent anywhere you like The location offers a great sense of openness with a view of Mt and you can enjoy Lake Shikotsu changing its expression at different times of the day The campground is surrounded by Lake Shikotsu which boasts one of the highest environmental standards in Japan and the "Giant Tree Forest," a natural forest nurtured over a long period of time Visitors can enjoy the magnificent view of Lake Shikotsu and the surrounding mountains with birds chirping The Domin-no-mori Forest is located in the northern area of Tobetsu with approximately 12,000 hectares of untouched forests and mountains The site offers a full range of facilities in harmony with the forest We recommend camping or staying in a cottage to enjoy the stars at night and the chirping of wild birds in the morning reservation-free campground is located in Yoshino Park It is conveniently located about 20 minutes from the central city center Adjacent to the park is the Yoshino District Revitalization Center Adjacent to Nopporo Forest Park and the provincial Nopporo Sports Park this is a quiet campground surrounded by forest This campground has both general and auto sites The administration building has flush toilets and there are also shower and cooking facilities Ikoinomori Park Campsites are pet-friendly grass sites allowing campers to enjoy a free layout within the compartment Hotarunosato Auto Campsite has American-sized trailer houses (cottages) with kitchens and bathrooms Visitors can see fireflies in a natural setting away from the city Okusawa Campsite is a campground in the forest where the chirping of birds and rustling of trees is pleasant The Japanese garden and hot spring right next to the campground are also attractive Izumisawa Shizen no Mori Campsite is located in the natural environment of Yamazawa as it is This campground is located at Hamamasu Pirika Beach in Kawashita Beach It is adjacent to a popular beach with clear waters and well-maintained beautiful sandy beach This campground is located in the park "Bell Park Chippubetsu It is also convenient for using the adjacent sports center This park is located at the entrance to the trail to Amaryunuma Marshland in Chichibetsu Amari-Yakijiri National Park Visitors can enjoy camping as well as mountain climbing to Uryu-numa and Minami-Satsusan-dake This campground is located near Route 36 and is easily accessible All information is current as of April 2024 Please check the official website for details The 21 recommended campgrounds in the Goshi area near Lake Toya Family-oriented camps with a variety of fun activities and Kamikawa Area: 22 Campgrounds Recommended for the Year 2024 Camping in contact with nature and animals Recommended 13 campsites near Hidaka and Erimo Kushiro Campgrounds: 23 recommended campgrounds in the Kushiro and Nemuro areas for 2024 The 21 recommended campsites in the suburbs of Rumoi and Soya area for 2024 Camping to enjoy the ocean and spectacular views all around "BEDDI" incorporating a multifunction such as comfortable sleeping & wake-up support function in the alarm clock Why Hollywood movies continue to make disastrous sequel things? Jul 07, 2016 22:00:00 in Tasting I went to a special tour where I could see the contents of the ``underground temple'' and the metropolitan area outer drainage channel I tried to make thick rolled sushi with "Sushezi (Sushi Easy)" which extrudes rolled sushi with Tsurun like Bazooka Nov 14, 2015 15:00:00 in Coverage,   Tasting,   Video Amazing Onsen Spots in Japan for Cherry Blossom Viewings Hot spring Onsen bath and Cherry Blossoms. This is possibly the best way to enjoy spring in Japan Check out the 5 greatest hot spring resorts in Japan where you can enjoy beautiful cherry blossoms while soaking up your body in Onsen bath *Please note that this article contains affiliate links Bandai Atami Onsen Hanare no Yado Yomogino (磐梯熱海温泉離れの宿 よもぎ埜) is a luxurious ryokan style hotel located in Bandai Onsen resort in Fukushima prefecture Offering 3 different baths for guests including “Mori to Sakura no Yu” where guests can bathe under the majestic cherry blossoms in day and night << Check the best rate for Bandai Atami Onsen Hanare no Yado Yomogino NOW! >> Price per person per night: 20,000 yen~ (dinner and breakfast included) Best time for cherry blossoms: mid to late April Official Website: http://www.yomogino.net/ Fuga no Yado Choseikan (風雅の宿 長生館) is located in Murasugi Onsen resort in Niigata prefecture which is known for efficacious radium spring water Offering one of the largest scale of open-air bath in Japan Cherry blossoms can be viewed in the bath and also their beautiful Japanese garden << Book Fuga no Yado Choseikan with the best rate now! >> Best time for cherry blossoms: early to mid April Official Website: http://www.chouseikan.co.jp/onsen/ Yugawara Onsen Fukiya (湯河原温泉ふきや) is located in Yugawara City which is a popular Onsen trip destination near Hakone town Guests can enjoy 7 different baths including an open-air bath with the magnificent mountain view and the Japanese garden front bath with cherry trees << Check the best rate for booking Yugawara Onsen Fukiya!! >> Official Website: https://www.yugawarafukiya.com/en/index.html Shogawa Onsen Furyu Midou Zashiki Yumetsuzuri (庄川温泉風流味道座敷ゆめつづり) is located in Toyama prefecture Their magnificent open-air hot spring bath can be enjoyed all year around with beautiful seasonal scenery The best time to is definitely spring with the spectacular cherry blossoms << Click HERE to book Shogawa Onsen Furyu Midou Zashiki Yumetsuzuri with the best rate!! >> Official Website: http://www.yumetsuzuri.com/english/index.html Yumoto Hou no Ya (湯元 宝の家) is located on Yoshino mountain in Nara prefecture Yoshino mountain is considered as the best viewing spot for cherry blossoms in Japan and this hotel is offering an unbeatable landscape from their open-air bath and the guest rooms Enjoy the exclusive cherry blossom view just for yourself << Book Yumoto Hou no Ya with the best rate now! >> Official Website: http://www.hounoya.gr.jp/eng/index.php ↓↓↓For more articles about Japan check these links!! ↓↓↓ "The world is my oyster." As a dedicated globetrotter and hammock enthusiast and discovering the world’s most incredible destinations I’ve always had a deep connection to my roots but my love for adventure has led me to spend over a decade exploring countries across the globe—from culture-rich cities to remote hideaways Travel isn't just a hobby for me; it's a lifestyle I'm constantly searching for new ways to fuel my wanderlust I’ve developed a wealth of knowledge and a treasure trove of tips that make traveling more enjoyable I've come to appreciate not only the beauty of travel but also the importance of understanding diverse cultures and I’m excited to share those lessons with others and firsthand stories that help travelers navigate their journeys to Japan or setting off on a global adventure From hidden gems in Japan to travel hacks that make any trip smoother I hope my insights inspire you to embark on your own adventures and make the most of every moment You can also find my stories here ▶ https://medium.com/@nahobm Yoshinoya re-opened it’s newly renovated branch as the SM Mall of Asia Mall.Present at the occasion where special guest like the Hon dignitaries from the Japanese Embassy and the management of Yoshinoya Century Pacific Incorporated headed by President Timothy James Yang Here are also some Yoshinoya events happening in the Philippines:Yoshinoya 4th Gyudon Eating Contest 2014 and the  grand winner will get a free roundtrip plane ticket to Japan You can register for a fee of Php 800 inclusive of uniform I would like to thank Ms.Cha Sy of travelonshoestring.com for the invitation to this event Related posts: Yoshinoya Opens New Branch at Ayala Fairview Terraces Yoshinoya was born in 1899 under the ingenuity of its founder Matsuda created a delicious recipe of beef and rice known as Gyudon (beef bowl) there is a predominant belief that the the origin of the name,[3] and the letter 家 (ya) means “house.” The letter 吉 (yoshi) means “good fortune” and 野 (no) means “field.” The nickname of the restaurant is “yoshigyū” (吉牛) which is an abbreviation of Yoshinoya no gyūdon (吉野家の牛丼 It was an entirely new concept in Japanese culture and both the hard-working fisherman and market visitors embraced it Japan was hit by the Great Kanto Earthquake and Yoshinoya had to move to Tsukiji with the rest of the fish market and throngs of hungry patrons continued to enjoy Yoshinoya’s original grudon turned the business into a 24-hour restaurant and rapidly gained wide spread popularity in Japan it became a corporate company operating on a chain store system Yoshinoya boasts of more than 100 years of tradition Yoshinoya has grown to be one of the biggest fast-food chains in Japan there aremore than 1200 outlets around the world Century Pacific Group under its retail arm entered into Franchise Agreement with Yoshinoya International Co. Ltd in 2001 and started its first store operation in December 2001 and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()) This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. NO REMOTE? NO CONTROLLER?? NO PROBLEM!!! Ganon kadali gamitin ang DJI NEO @dji_official #wazzupph #djineo Yoshinoya has opened a new branch in Ayala Fairview Terraces Yoshinoya is popular for its beef and rice bowl known as Gyudon (beef bowl) and other modern Japanese comfort food The new branch is located at the 2nd level of the mall.  If you use Maligaya mall entrance take the escalator twice to get to the 2nd level and you can find the Yoshinoya as you turn to the right side Thanks to the invitation of Ms. Cha Sy of www.travelonshoestring.com I attended the grand opening of the new branch The opening was graced by Yoshinoya Century Pacific celebrity guests Louella de Cordova and Jenny Fajardo The fifth district of Quezon City Congressman and actor We were served with the delicious variation of the Gyudon (beef bowl) I like their Kani Shumai with pork filling and with crab meat topping Yoshinoya was born in 1899 under the ingenuity of its founder Matsuda created a delicious recipe of beef and rice known as Gyudon (beef bowl) there is a predominant belief that the the origin of the name,[3] and the letter 家 (ya) means “house.” The letter 吉 (yoshi) means “good fortune” and 野 (no) means “field.” The nickname of the restaurant is “yoshigyū” (吉牛) which is an abbreviation of Yoshinoya no gyūdon (吉野家の牛丼 It was an entirely new concept in Japanese culture and both the hard-working fisherman and market visitors embraced it Japan was hit by the Great Kanto Earthquake and Yoshinoya had to move to Tsukiji with the rest of the fish market and throngs of hungry patrons continued to enjoy Yoshinoya’s original grudon turned the business into a 24-hour restaurant and rapidly gained wide spread popularity in Japan it became a corporate company operating on a chain store system Yoshinoya boasts of more than 100 years of tradition Yoshinoya has grown to be one of the biggest fast-food chains in Japan there aremore than 1200 outlets around the world Century Pacific Group under its retail arm entered into Franchise Agreement with Yoshinoya International Co. Ltd in 2001 and started its first store operation in December 2001