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Destination Spotlight

Enjoying Mt. Adatara in Autumn

Mt. Adatara is one of Fukushima Prefecture’s most spectacular places to go and see the bright colours of the autumn leaves, in a custom that is called 'momiji-gari' in Japanese. I went to Mt. Adatara in Nihonmatsu to try and do some momiji-gari of my own! I was a little worried abou...

Enjoying Mt. Adatara in Autumn
Destination Spotlight

Ouchi-juku Snow Festival

Ouchi-juku, Minamiaizu, is a town with a rich history, and is well known having been used as a ‘post-town’ for travellers during the Edo period. The area includes 33 buildings which have been painstakingly preserved as they were hundreds of years ago. Ouchi-juku’s breathtak...

Ouchi-juku Snow Festival
Destination Spotlight

5 Reasons to Visit Sazaedo Temple

Sazaedo is a very special Buddhist temple. Constructed in 1796 entirely from wood, Sazaedo has a double-helix structure, meaning that those who enter Sazaedo will leave the temple without encountering anybody traveling in the opposite direction. The one-way route of Sazaedo was int...

5 Reasons to Visit Sazaedo Temple
Destination Spotlight

Watching Exhilarating Samurais On Horseback – Soma Nomaoi

The Soma Nomaoi is a 3-day festival takes place during the last weekend of July every year, and is centered around 3 main shrines in the cities of Minamisoma and Soma. It is thought that the festival has its roots in a local tradition from the 10th century, when horses were chased and tame...

Watching Exhilarating Samurais On Horseback – Soma Nomaoi
Destination Spotlight

10 things to do at Abukuma Cave

Formed over 80 million years by underground streams and covered with stalactites and stalagmites is the Abukuma Cave. This 3 km-long limestone cave network was discovered in 1969, and 600m of it has been opened to the public to date. Abukuma Cave is said to hold the biggest variety and number ...

10 things to do at Abukuma Cave
Destination Spotlight

Visiting Aquamarine Fukushima

Aquamarine Fukushima is a fun, thought-provoking aquarium and research center in Iwaki. Aquamarine Fukushima educates visitors about the marine animals and ecosystems found in oceans, rivers, streams, seashores, and even rice paddies, through a wide range of displays. From ‘li...

Visiting Aquamarine Fukushima
Destination Spotlight

The Hula Girls Of Iwaki Yumoto Onsen

A city on the eastern coast of Fukushima is probably the last place you would expect to find a Polynesian Hula Girl Show. Since the 1960s, Spa Resort Hawaiians (a resort complex, home to countless spas, swimming pools, hotels and the world’s largest open-air bath) has been a ven...

The Hula Girls Of Iwaki Yumoto Onsen
Destination Spotlight

Historic Maezawa Farmhouses In Rural Japan

Constructed at the end of the 16th century, the thatched roof farmhouses of Tateiwa Village are a hidden gem, buried deep in the heart of Minamiaizu, Fukushima Prefecture. L-SHAPED FARMHOUSES One of the first things I noticed upon arriving at Maezawa Village was the huge size and o...

Historic Maezawa Farmhouses In Rural Japan
Destination Spotlight

Yunokami Onsen In Spring

I visited Yunokami Onsen during the cherry blossom season! We visited the station in late April – which just so happened to be perfect timing! We were greeted with blue skies and sakura in full bloom. YUNOKAMI ONSEN STATION Yunokami Onsen Station is a very picturesque local station on...

Yunokami Onsen In Spring
Destination Spotlight

Daruma Paradise In Shirakawa City

I love art and creating things, so I was really pleased to learn I’d be painting a daruma as part of my trip to Shirakawa City, Fukushima Prefecture. WHAT IS A DARUMA? Daruma are a traditional craft with origins rooted strongly in Buddhism. The word daruma seems to have come from ...

Daruma Paradise In Shirakawa City
Destination Spotlight

History Of Dekoyashiki Craft District

'Takashiba Dekoyashiki' is the name given to a group of 4 residences-turned-museums-and-shops that make traditional crafts in Takashiba District of Koriyama City. Each of these 4 residences is open for the public to come and visit most days (They are closed on Thursday though). The...

History Of Dekoyashiki Craft District
Useful Information

Rotenburo Heaven – Private Open-air Baths In Fukushima

In this article, I’m going to introduce you to a number of traditional Japanese inns (ryokan) in onsen towns throughout Fukushima where you can experience the magic of private rotenburo outdoor baths. WHAT ARE ROTENBURO? 'Rotenburo' translates as ‘open-air bath’. ...

Rotenburo Heaven – Private Open-air Baths In Fukushima
Destination Spotlight

Goshiki-numa’s Breathtaking Blue Lakes

Summer is the perfect time to take a hike around the incredible the Goshiki-numa Ponds in Urabandai. The range of colours which can be seen in the water of the picturesque lakes and ponds of this area has given it the name ‘Goshiki-numa’, meaning ‘Five Coloured Ponds’. ...

Goshiki-numa’s Breathtaking Blue Lakes
Useful Information

6 Reasons To Go Skiing In Fukushima (& Where To Go)

I’m going to jump right into it: 6 Reasons to Go Skiing in Fukushima this winter! 1) ACCESS FROM TOKYO Some of Fukushima main ski resorts can be reached in just 2.5 hours by train (shinkansen and local) & bus 2) LONG SKI SEASON Being the third largest prefecture in Japan makes for a v...

6 Reasons To Go Skiing In Fukushima (& Where To Go)
Useful Information

Guide to Visiting the Famous Tadami River Bridge Viewpoint

I am often asked about how to reach the No. 1 Tadami River Bridge Viewpoint (also known as Daiichi Tadami River Bridge Viewpoint) which has become the focus of spotlights across the world. Taking a look at the beautiful photographs that can be taken there, it is easy to understand why people all ...

Guide to Visiting the Famous Tadami River Bridge Viewpoint

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