Category Archives: Japan

Shiroi Koibito Park is a kind of theme park by Ishiya, a local chocolate company. The company’s flagship product are the Shiroi Koibito cookies, two thin butter cookies with white chocolate in between, a mandatory item on the souvenir shopping … Continue reading →

Furano and Biei are two towns in the center of Hokkaido, known for their pleasant and picturesque rural landscapes. The best time to visit is July, when most lavender fields are in bloom. During winter, the region turns into a … Continue reading →

A photo of lavender fields at Farm Tomita in a railway calendar in the 1970s marked the beginning of Furano as Japan’s ultimate lavender viewing destination, a distinction that is attracting large numbers of domestic and oversea tourists to the … Continue reading →

Biei is a small town surrounded by a beautiful hilly landscape. One of the most pleasant ways to enjoy the charm of the rural region is by walking, cycling or driving through the hills and along the fields. For easier … Continue reading →

Furano Ski Area is one of Hokkaido’s famous snow resorts. Located in a town known for its flowers and television dramas, the resort offers an exciting attraction for the cold winter months. It is a good place for a multiday … Continue reading →

Daisetsuzan is Hokkaido’s largest national park. It preserves a densely forested, mountainous area of virtually unspoiled wilderness, which equals more than ten times the size of Osaka City. It is a paradise for hikers, outdoor lovers, deer and brown bears. … Continue reading →

Sounkyo is a touristy hot spring resort in a narrow valley of Daisetsuzan National Park with a pleasant village center, onsen baths and beautiful nearby waterfalls. It is also a good base for walks and hiking tours into the national … Continue reading →

Jigokudani or “Hell Valley” is a spectacular, appropriately named valley just above the town of Noboribetsu Onsen, which displays hot steam vents, sulfurous streams and other volcanic activity. It is a main source of Noboribetsu’s hot spring waters. From the … Continue reading →

Lake Shikotsu and Lake Toya are the two most prominent geographical features of Shikotsu-Toya National Park. Both lakes, called Shikotsuko and Toyako in Japanese, are caldera lakes, which were formed from collapses in the earth after volcanic activity. Shikotsu Kohan … Continue reading →

Hakodate is Hokkaido’s third largest city, located at the island’s southern tip. Hakodate is best known for the spectacular views to be enjoyed from Mount Hakodate (see picture above) and its delicious, fresh seafood. As one of the first Japanese … Continue reading →