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Bassett's Bouken

Bassett's Bouken

Bassett's Bouken

About Me
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Nara Deer & Me

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My West Japan In A Week Itinerary

Hiroshima, Himeji, Kobe, Osaka & Nara – 5 cities, 4 prefectures, 1 week – a…

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Day trip from Tokyo to Nokogiriyama, Chiba’s hidden gem!

If you’ve not heard of Nokogiriyama also known as “Sawtooth Mountain” in Chiba yet, you…

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Emma Bassett

Japan adventurer

Hi there, I'm Emma & welcome to Bassett's Bouken! I started this blog as a way to show more of my adventures living in Japan. I hope to convince more of you to take a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun!

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Escape to Hikone’s Dharmakur wellness salon for the ultimate wellbeing experience

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Exploring Kumano Nachi Taisha in the Land of the Gods

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Shosenkyo Gorge – Japan’s secret scenic spot full of gems!

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Don’t miss this inconspicuous little charming ca

Don’t miss this inconspicuous little charming cafe, tucked away inside the grounds of one of Kamakura’s temples ✨

Kamakura’s a busy place these days & at some point you’ll want to grab a seat & catch your breath so why not enjoy a slice of lemon cake & coffee too? 🍋 this delightful, welcoming café is run by a friendly woman who speaks English & there are so many coffees to choose from! We loved the geisha blend ☕️ & all the while we were there, nostalgic music was playing 🎶

Super thankful to the wisteria blooming 💜 without it, I would’ve been like the many other visitors just strolling on past 🥹

📍 Kabura Coffee (@kaburacoffee), Shugenji temple, Hase, Kamakura

#kamakura #japancafe #kamakuracafe #japanfoodie #tokyodaytrip #kamakurajapan #japan #japancafe #kissaten

A Mt. Fuji morning at the most relaxing hotel 🗻

A Mt. Fuji morning at the most relaxing hotel 🗻

Truly a dream come true to start our married life as a fūfu (married couple) at Fufu Kawaguchiko 🤭

Waking up to Mt. Fuji in all its glory is something that you just can’t forget! April’s said to be the second worst month to see Mt. Fuji, as it’s only fully visible for 23% of the month so we definitely got lucky! 😍 Something to bear in mind when you plan your Japan trip, thankfully this hotel has so much to enjoy that even if you can’t see Mt. Fuji I’m sure you’d still have a wonderful time ☺️

📍 Fufu Kawaguchiko (@fufu_kawaguchiko) Can’t recommend this hotel enough if you’re looking for the perfect place to relax & rejuvenate on your Japan trip!

🏹 Feel free to share to stories or to someone who would love to stay in this hotel!

Follow @bassetts.bouken for more Japan life & travel 🇯🇵

#fufu #fufukawaguchiko #kawaguchiko #mountfuji #japanhotel #mtfujiview #mtfuji #fujisan #japantravel #japantrip #japan #ふふ河口湖

Post-sakura blues in Japan? 🌸 head to this hill

Post-sakura blues in Japan? 🌸 head to this hill of little blueties 💠

One of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen is this hill of 5 million blue nemophila, also called baby blue eyes 🥹 this park also has so much more to offer with azaleas, nanohana & tulips! 🌷

🔖 It’s in full bloom now expected to last til this weekend according to the official website, so if you’re wondering what to do this weekend, why not give this place a visit? 💙

📍 Hitachi Seaside Park (#ひたち海浜公園), Ibaraki
📆 Season is from mid-April to early May
🚃 Katsuta station & then bus

#hitachiseasidepark #nemophila #babyblueeyes #springinjapan #japanspring #igjapan #japanlove #beautifuljapan #japantravel #ibaraki #japan #ネモフィラ #みはらしの丘

🇯🇵 Japanese Apartment Tour 🏙️ A lovel

🇯🇵 Japanese Apartment Tour 🏙️

A lovely little apartment based in Yokohama’s Chinatown which I grew to really love before moving out to our current house 🏡 It was a level up in terms of size from my Tokyo apartment (scroll way down on my reels page to find that one) but at the beginning I can’t lie, I did miss living in central Tokyo🗼

What I loved about this apartment:
💴 No key money 🔑 Key money is essentially a “gift payment” you give to landlords normally about 1 months rent (moving in Japan is real expensive 😢) so I was pleased that I only had to pay 2 month deposit (still a huge upfront cost but I did actually get it all back)

🚃 Close to both JR & Toyoko line so I could get into central Tokyo super quickly! Having access to two train lines is a dream in Japan where you always need to use the train

🥢 Could eat soup dumplings anytime for dinner 🤪 Chinatown midweek is super chill too & not at all chaotic like the weekends

👗 The walk-in closet & drying function of the bathroom! Without a tumble dryer it is so convenient to hang your clothes up & have them dry inside!

🏙️ Being on the 9th floor which was the top meant no one was stomping around above me but to be honest I barely heard any neighbours in this building!

What I didn’t like so much…
🥁 The sound of drumming until gone 9pm at night from nearby temples & schools very frequently, so loud 😳

🌆 I really wanted to use the balcony but even on the 9th floor the smell from nearby restaurants would waft up so it was hard to get fresh air into the apartment 😖

💸 The move-in costs but this goes for any Japanese apartment, it is so expensive moving here! How does it compare to your country?

I hope you liked the tour! If you have any questions let me know in the comments below! 👇

🏹 feel free to share to anyone thinking of moving to Japan! 🇯🇵

#japaneseapartment #apartmenttour #tokyoapartment #movingtojapan #livinginjapan #lifeintokyo #lifeinjapan #japanlife #yokohama

The type of cherry blossom magic you dream of & ca

The type of cherry blossom magic you dream of & can find as soon as you escape Tokyo 🌸

🌸 This temple had so many sakura trees of different types dotted around the premises, in fact there were more cherry blossom trees than people admiring them! If you want to experience the zen side of Japan that many imagine, then I can’t encourage you enough to get out of the city & explore the surrounding prefectures as there are so many stunning places like this waiting for you to discover them!

I was particularly blown away by the 100 year old pink weeping shidarezakura as it’s quite rare to be able to freely walk through the branches. This one is particularly special too as it was one of the only survivors of the large fire that burnt down the original temple in 1949 🥺

✨ Top tip! Combine your visit with the marvellous Wanitsuka Sakura (see a recent previous reel) & the 2000 year old Jindai Sakura (scroll down for that post)

📍Nichirenshu Myoryo Temple, Yamanashi
📆 taken April 2nd - save for next year’s spring! 🔖

#sakura #shidarezakura #weepingcherryblossom #cherryblossomseason #cherryblossoms #妙了寺 #myoryoji #yamanashi #visityamanashi #tripjapan #visitjapanjp #japantour #traveljapan #japanrevealed

🗻 Mt. Fuji’s Sea of Pink! 🌸🛶 Hundreds

🗻 Mt. Fuji’s Sea of Pink! 🌸🛶

Hundreds of thousands of pink, white & lilac shibazakura literally meaning “lawn cherry blossom” (how cute! 🤭) are beginning to bloom right in front of our old favourite, Fuji-san! 🌸

With 7 varieties of this little sakura making the pink panorama you can really “Breathe, pink” - this theme of the 17th year of this Mt. Fuji festival! 🩷

Last time people accused me of trampling the flowers to row in the boat but of course there is a path organized by the resort 😅 the two other photo spots for this year are a fairytale book framing Mt. Fuji & a yellow dokodemo door 😍 Have you ever seen such pink flowers? 🩷

🏹 Share with someone who’d love to see Mt. Fuji 🗻🌸
🔖 & save for your Japan spring trip!

📍 Fuji Shibazakura Festival, Fuji Motosuko Resort
🌸 Check the blooming status on their official instagram! @fujimotosuko
📆 Starting tomorrow! April 13th - May 26th
🎟️ ¥1000-1200 depending on the date
📸 taken on 16th April 2023
🚗 so much parking available!
🚃 Kawaguchiko station then a 50 minute bus

#fujishibazakura #mtfuji #fujisan #shibazakura #富士芝桜まつり #cherryblossom #sakuraseason #sakura #cherryblossomseason #springinjapan
#reelsofinstagram #discoverjapan #japantrip #tokyotrip #tokyotravel #japantravel

🌸 Two alternative cherry blossom river spots 🍡

Whilst Nakameguro will always have its charm & the matsuri feeling there is fun, some people visiting are surprised & somewhat overwhelmed by the huge crowds especially on weekends so if you want to avoid those & enjoy a bit more of a local vibe, I recommend…

📍 Kanda River in Tokyo
📍 Ookagawa River Promenade in Yokohama

They’re just as beautiful & not as well known, so if you’re looking for a slightly more relaxing way to see the cherry blossoms in Tokyo or nearby Yokohama this weekend, I recommend you to visit one of these! 🌸

Oh & the reason I say Yokohama’s is even better is that it gets you to see a city most tourists sadly skip but is so worth visiting! It has a completely different vibe & there are so many cool local cafes, bars & restaurants along this river for you to check out!🍻

🚃 For Kanda river - start from Edogawabashi station (exit 1a) & stroll along the river until you reach Waseda, there are a couple of little parks along the way & you can even set up a blanket under the sakura in some spots.
🚃 For Ookagawa river - my favourite is starting the walk from Sakuragicho or Hinodecho station & going along!

📆 Visit the next few days & this weekend to see the last of the blossoms as green leaves emerge & the petals start to fall 🍃

#kandariver #nakameguro #yokohama #sakura #cherryblossoms #cherryblossom #tokyo #hanami #tokyotravel #tokyotrip #tokyotravelguide #japannow #japantips #blossomseason #sakurablossom

🌸 A temple with sakura in every corner you look

🌸 A temple with sakura in every corner you look! With an abundance of higanzakura, shidarezakura & the famous somei yoshino cherry blossom to be found here, it really is a sakura lover’s dream 🌸

The 100 year old pink weeping shidarezakura is the true star of the show here though, having survived the large fire which burnt down the original temple in 1949 🥺

I was genuinely surprised why this temple isn’t more well-known as it really is such a beauty, but when researching it is quite tricky to get to with public transport so a car would be best 🚗

📷 by the way, which edit do you prefer? The soft pink or fluffy white one for the first two photos? I couldn’t decide so went for a combination 🤭

✨ Top tip! Combine your visit with the marvellous Wanitsuka Sakura (see previous reel) & the 2000 year old Jindai Sakura (scroll down for that post)

📍Nichirenshu Myoryo Temple, Yamanashi
📆 taken April 2nd, now the petals are falling so either visit for the sakura snowstorm or save for next year! 🔖

#sakura #shidarezakura #weepingcherryblossom #cherryblossomseason #cherryblossoms #妙了寺 #myoryoji #yamanashi #visityamanashi #visitjapan_uk #visitjapanjp #offthebeatenpath #japanspring #explorejapan #japancherryblossom #sakura🌸 #someiyoshino

🗻 Mt Fuji’s blossom road 🌸 In an area of

🗻 Mt Fuji’s blossom road 🌸

In an area of hundreds of peach farms lies this road lined with cherry & peach blossoms alongside a gently flowing river 🌸

With Mt. Fuji view roads like those in Fujiyoshida now overwhelmed with tourists, we were pleasantly surprised to come across this even more beautiful view with nobody around, just us ✨

Imagine how even more stunning it’ll be full bloom on a clear day! 🗻

📍 It’s a very quiet local spot with only farmers around so please bear that in mind. If you wish to visit during your Mt. Fuji travels, make sure to follow and comment Mt. Fuji 🌸 for the exact Google Map pin to be DM’d to you 💌

#mtfuji #fujisan #japaninspring #cherryblossomseason #cherryblossoms #sakura #sakuraseason #japansakura #sakura🌸 #japan

🌸 Most beautiful sakura tree in Japan? 🇯🇵

🌸 Most beautiful sakura tree in Japan? 🇯🇵

My third time seeing this Edo higan sakura tree yet I am just as blown away as the first time I laid eyes on it!

330 years old & over 17m tall with a shape like those drawn in fairytale books 🗻 With a Mt. Fuji backdrop from one side (was so excited to see for the first time this year!) and the Yatsugatake mountains from the opposite, the Wanitsuka no Sakura is one of the most loved sakura trees in Japan 🌸 It’s easily the most beautiful cherry blossom tree I’ve laid eyes on in my 12 sakura seasons spent in Japan & I’m sure if you visit, you’ll also agree with me! 🇯🇵

By the way, the black bin-like objects by the way are lights not trashcans 🤭 so you could also visit this spot to see the illuminated tree at night! 💡

📍Wanitsuka/Wanizuka no Sakura, Nirasaki, Yamanashi
📆 taken April 2nd at 70%, likely full bloom now so visit this weekend ✨

#wanizuka #wanitsukanosakura #japaninspring #cherryblossomseason #cherryblossoms #sakura #sakuraseason #yamanashi #わに塚の桜 #japansakura #sakura🌸

🌸 New beginnings in spring! 💒 A little note

🌸 New beginnings in spring! 💒

A little note to apologise for not posting much lately as I’ve been playing tour guide for my family (so itineraries will be coming to you soon!) & just to let you know I’ll be absent over the next few days as my wedding is finally here! 🥹💒 Just in time for the sakura to bloom too! 🌸

I like to tell myself they were waiting for us 🤭 It’s the latest blooming since 2012 which interestingly is actually the first time I ever experienced Japan’s sakura season! 15 days later than last year but thankfully Tokyo has officially announced yesterday that blooming has started so I can hopefully see some on my wedding day! 🤞🌸

I had thought based on early forecasts & my past experiences that they’d be in full bloom or even sakura fubuki (sakura snowstorm) for my wedding but that’s the nature of cherry blossoms, always blooming at their own pace! Just like me, it took time for me to find myself & then to find the man I look forward to spending a lifetime with 🥹 The best things really are worth waiting for! That’s enough cheesy romantic stuff from me now, will save the rest for the wedding 🤭✨

I’ll be back to sharing more Japan travel spots (including sakura) soon! Stay tuned! 🌸

📷 Our engagement/pre-wedding photo shoot was captured by the wonderful @cj_photo_works - if you’re looking to capture special memories on your trip to Tokyo, you’ll want to reach out to him!✨

📍🌸 Kishamichi Promenade, Sakuragicho, Yokohama
📍🌸 Ōoka River, Hinodecho, Yokohama
📆 Already full bloom this date last year but they need a few more days! 🕰️
📍🏮 Street shots around the Noge area, a strange choice for an engagement shoot but for us we’ve had so many fun memories there, we love the nostalgic atmosphere & it’s my personal favourite drinking area in all of Greater Tokyo! 🍻

#cherryblossomseason #sakuraseason #sakura #japantravel #japantrip #yokohama #findyouryokohama #engagementshoot #preweddingshoot #japanwedding

🌸 Kyoto’s rarely seen camellia temple 🌺 O

🌸 Kyoto’s rarely seen camellia temple 🌺

Only open to the public for two short periods a year, during spring season for the blooming of its famous camellias & the changing of the leaves in autumn, it’s one of Kyoto’s rarely seen hidden temples! ✨

With 100 varieties of camellia, every little pocket of this enchanting temple is filled with such beauty 🥹 just tucked away off The Philosopher’s Path it offers a peaceful little respite from your cherry blossom walk 🌸

Other than it’s name of The Camellia Temple, it’s also known as The Imperial Residence in the Valley ✨ Since 1654 to the Meiji Restoration, Imperial Princesses served as the head Priestesses there 🙏 if it’s good enough for a princess, I’m sure it’s beautiful enough to impress you! 🥰

🔖 SAVE for your trip to Kyoto, trust me, you’ll need to get away from the chaos of the hotspots of the city to find a moment of zen!

🏹 Feel free to share this with someone who loves Japan to brighten their day 🇯🇵

📍 Reikan-ji temple, Kyoto
📆 Until Sunday April 7th. I visited on the 22nd March so from my reel you can imagine there’ll be even more blooming over the next week or so
🚃 7 minute walk from the Shinnyodo-mae or Kinrin Shako-mae stops on bus route 5 from Kyoto Station
🎟️ ¥800 entry for adults

#reikanji #camellia #tsubaki #japanesetemple #kyoto #springinjapan #kyototrip #kyototravel #offthebeatenpath #cherryblossomseason #japantravel #japantrip #thisisjapan

Japan’s Path of Happiness 🌸 You can see why i

Japan’s Path of Happiness 🌸 You can see why it has this name in Japanese can’t you? 🥹 A long row of harumeki cherry blossoms right next to a gently flowing river, it’s a sakura dream come true!

With less than 40 reviews on Google Maps & with us literally being the only people there last year, it’s very much a quieter, local spot to enjoy a picnic beneath the blossoms 🌸 If you’re looking to live out anime in real life, then you’ll want to make the adventure to this spot! ✨

Did you spot the little pastel houses in the background? 🏡 I’d love to live in the mint green one with this view of sakura! 🌸

🏹 Feel free to share to your stories but no reposts without permission

📍 On Google Maps it’s written as 「幸せ道」 you can find this place close by to the Harumeki-Sakura Cherry Blossoms in English and is near the main Harumeki ・
Shiawase Michi Sakura Matsuri festival but is further downstream the river. To see the other popular viewpoint of Harumeki sakura, scroll down to my 🌸 posts from last year & you’ll find the slightly more well-known (yet still super quiet!) sakura spot of Kanagawa!

🚃 Closest to the Fuji Film-Mae station, Minami-ashigara, Kanagawa

📆 Blooming now! These were taken this day last year - 19/03/2023

#cherryblossoms #cherryblossomseason #sakuraseason #sakura #visitkanagawa #harumekisakura #springinjapan #japantrip #japantravel #tokyotrip #幸せ道 #春めき桜

Toba - the pearl of Mie 🤍 Close by to the most

Toba - the pearl of Mie 🤍

Close by to the most sacred shrine of Japan, Ise Jingu, lies Toba city, a charming coastal city which makes for a perfect base for exploring Ise & beyond. Even though there are plenty of options in Ise, I’m so glad I ventured a little further to discover the charms of this city too …

🌸 Shiroyama Park, Toba Castle Ruins - whilst only a few traces of Japan’s only sea-facing castle can be seen, what remains is the breathtaking panoramic view of Toba Bay & if you visit in this season, plenty of cherry blossoms blooming!

🦪 Mikimoto Pearl Island - discover all about how the world’s first cultured pearls came to be back in 1893, giving rise to one of the most famous pearl jewellery brands worldwide 🌍 perhaps the coolest experience here is seeing the Ama divers, female freedivers who collect the pearls - a cultural tradition existing for 2000 years but it can rarely be seen these days! Amazingly they can hold their breath up to 2 minutes!! 🫢

🛏️ I stayed at a little local hotel called Kaigetsu which has a long history since 1887! I still remember how kind & friendly the owner was 🥹 plus the breakfast was delicious!

🐸 Meoto Iwa 👰🏻‍♀️ the Wedded Rocks 🪨 a romantic sight to see, with even Mt. Fuji visible on a clear day! Right next to Futami Okitama shrine, also known as the frog shrine! Frogs are the messenger of the god enshrined here so you can spot many froggy friends dotted around the place to help make your wishes come true ✨

📷 taken 26/03/2021

Have you ever visited Toba or Ise? I hope to return to Meoto Iwa once I’ve gotten married to see those rocks again 🥹

#toba #ise #visitmie #meotoiwa #mieprefecture #myjapan #amadivers #mikimotopearlisland #mietrip #japantrip #cherryblossoms #sakuraseason #offthebeatentrack #japanscenery #japanlover

⛩ An inari shrine with a view! 🌸 Whilst many

⛩ An inari shrine with a view! 🌸

Whilst many still flock to Kyoto to see Fushimi Inari, there are so many other inari shrines across Japan with hundreds of torii you can visit that will impress you just as much! Ukiha Inari shrine is one of my personal favourites out of the hundred or so I’ve visited that I’d like to encourage you to visit!

Walking up through the 90 torii gates will lead you to views that go on for miles! Breathtaking in any season, but it’s particularly beautiful when the sakura trees start to bloom! 🌸

📍 Ukiha Inari Shrine, Fukuoka
📆 01/04/2022 but cherry blossoms seem like they’ll bloom earlier this year so keep an eye on the forecast!
🚃 25 minute walk from Ukiha station or check Google Maps for the local bus times!

#cherryblossoms #sakuraseason #cherryblossomseason #fukuoka #japantrip #japantravel #discoverjapan #japanshrine #visitjapan #japanexplorer #japan #visitfukuoka #toriigate #inari

Mochimune 🌊 the prettiest little Japanese port

Mochimune 🌊 the prettiest little Japanese port town you’ve probably not heard of yet, but really need to visit! 🛥️

With stunning coastal scenery, views of the surrounding mountains including Mt. Fuji on a sunny day & its nostalgic atmosphere, it’s a place you can truly relax & rejuvenate 😌

When visiting, choose to stay at one of @nihon_iro’s 8 kominka - traditional Japanese folk houses, each one with it’s own character & appeal paying homage to the history whilst combining comforts of a modern day lifestyle 🛖 Three of the houses are also pet friendly which is super rare in Japan! 🐶

🛏️ We stayed at Kohaku which can sleep up to 8 people - perfect for a family or friends getaway ✨ We particularly loved the tatami living area with a huge projector connected to wifi & the relaxing hinoki bath ✨

Our stay at Nihon Iro was really more than just a place to sleep as there are so many things you can experience beyond a usual hotel. Who knew that you could travel by tuk-tuk in Japan?! The staff kindly drove us along the coast to a specialty himono shop for us to pick up some fish to grill for a pre-dinner snack 😋

🚲 There are free bicycles to use & you can get free entry to Mochimune Port Spa which offers an open air onsen with views of Mt. Fuji! ♨️

Close by is La Palette, a trendy gelato shop offering the sweetest parfaits 🍨 & for those who love craft beer (& seriously tasty American food!) check out West Coast Brewing 🍻

For the past 300+ years this beautiful harbour has been well-known as a fishing village but it’s so rewarding seeing it have a new lease of life being revitalised as a vibrant travel destination. Whilst domestic tourism is fairly popular in this area, it’s still off the radar for international tourists so I’m hoping this post can encourage you to pop this onto your Japan itinerary! 📝

🔖 SAVE for your next off-the-beaten-path yet easy to get to with public transport adventure! ✨

🚃 From Tokyo take the shinkansen to Shizuoka 🚅 then hop on the local tokaido line train for 6 minutes to Mochimune!

#PR #NIHON_IRO #shizuoka_hotel #eagle_tour #mochimune #exploreshizuoka #japantourism #japanitinerary #japantravelguide #japantrip

🗻 A Shizuoka weekend with Mt. Fuji & tea 🍵

🗻 A Shizuoka weekend with Mt. Fuji & tea 🍵

With so much to see in Shizuoka, I really recommend adding it as a destination for your Japan trip - it’s easy to add on as it’s a stop on the shinkansen route from Tokyo to Kyoto! 🚅

🏙️ I stayed at @birupaku_shizuoka, a trendy decentralised hotel with guest rooms scattered throughout Shizuoka city, with my room being Cosmos 401. I love their concept of the rooms being hideaways for adults - the addition of a hammock and soft lounge area to watch the projector was perfect for a cosy weekend away!

Nihondaira’s @yumeterrace - an observatory as beautiful as its Mt. Fuji view! Designed by Kengo Kuma & made with wood from Shizuoka, it blends seamlessly into the landscape 🏞️

🍃After taking in the epic 360 degree views and enjoying some of Shizuoka’s famous tea at the plantation 🍵 take the ropeway from Nihondaira (@nihondairaropeway.official) to Kunozan Toshogu Shrine (@kunozantoshogu.official) 🚠

⛩️ Whilst many tourists visit Nikko’s Toshogu shrine, many don’t know that Shizuoka’s one was the first to be built dedicated to the famous shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa ✨ It’s just as elaborate and breathtaking as the one in Nikko with far less tourists so you can really feel the energy of this power spot

🍤 Stop for lunch at Nasubi (@nasubigroup) & enjoy the humongous 36cm swinging deep fried ebi, I’d never seen anything like this before! 🤭 I recommend making reservations as it’s become super popular having been on Japanese tv!

🌊 Miho no Matsubara - one of the most picturesque views of Mt. Fuji you can see, with 30,000+ pine trees next to the ocean, you can witness a typical Japanese postcard scene popularised by ukiyoe artist Hiroshige 🗻

🔖 SAVE to remember to add this to your Japan itinerary & share with someone who’d love to experience this! 🏹

#PR #BIRUPAKU #shizuoka_hotel #eagle_tour #shizuoka #visitshizuoka #mtfuji #fujisan #japantravel #japanitinerary #japantravelguide #japantrip

March in Tokyo 🌸 one of the prettiest times of

March in Tokyo 🌸 one of the prettiest times of the year to wander around the city ✨

Looking at the updated cherry blossom forecast, the somei yoshino is blooming even earlier this year with first bloom starting March 22nd & full bloom predicted for March 29th! Not long now til we see Tokyo in bloom everywhere 🥹

📍 The Diet Front Park
📆 taken on 13th March 2022, the large daikanzakura tree seems to have bloomed two weeks earlier looking at Japanese twitter 😱 worth visiting as soon as possible as this park also has plenty of plum blossom trees blooming too. Still one of the lesser known cherry blossom spots of Tokyo as it’s near the parliamentary building which isn’t quite a sightseeing spot! There’s only a few sakura trees in this park but their size & beauty make up for their lack of numbers! 🌸

#sakura #tokyojapan #tokyo #cherryblossomseason #cherryblossoms #japaninspring #sakuraseason #japanspring #tokyotrip #tokyotravel

☎️ Japan’s nostalgic craft village calling!

☎️ Japan’s nostalgic craft village calling! 🛖

🌲 Welcome to Yunokuni no Mori, a picturesque village consisting of 100 year old thatched houses, each one dedicated to showcasing a different Japanese traditional craft 👩🏻‍🎨 a personal favourite was the huge house featuring washi paper making & soba noodle making! It was perfect for lunch & i really recommend trying their specialty croquette too! 🍜

With the help of skilled artisans, you can learn about & enjoy so many traditional activities originating from the Hokuriku region, from Kutani pottery painting (the brightly coloured, renowned pottery from this region) to decorating gold leaf onto tableware ✨ of course you can try Kanazawa’s famous gold leaf ice cream too!🍦

🔖 I think this park is perfect for those who want to experience so much of the Hokuriku region’s cultural experiences but are limited on time. There’s so many beautiful photo spots to capture for your memories too! Remember to save for your future Japan trip & feel free to share on your stories 🏹

♨️ I recommend combining your trip with a relaxing stay at Yamashiro Onsen @yamashiro_spa which is also wear I rented this beautiful kimono from - Taniguchi’s kimono shop! 👘 did you notice my sakura obi? 🌸 so pretty 🥹

📍 @yunokuninomori Yunokuni no Mori, Komatsu, Ishikawa
🎟️ ¥550 entry, activities have an additional price
📆 09:00-16:30 closed on Thursdays
🚃 20 minutes by car from Kaga Onsen station or you can check out the Kaga tour bus ‘Canbus’ 🚌

#PR #hokuriku #kagaonsen #yamashiroonsen #komatsu #visitishikawa #traditionaljapan #ruraljapan #inaka #unknownjapan #japanawaits #japantrip #japantravel #yunokuninomori #japantravelguide

🌸 Escaping Tokyo for Japan’s countryside 🗾

🌸 Escaping Tokyo for Japan’s countryside 🗾

I’ll always love Tokyo but the older I get, the happier I am that I’ve moved to Yokohama which just feels so chill in comparison 🚢

Since getting my license here, the countryside has become even more accessible & I’d go mad if I didn’t escape there most weekends 🥹 If I can encourage you to add one thing to your Japan itinerary it’s to head into the countryside to see a side of Japan you just can’t get in the cities, plus there’s nothing like the Japanese inaka to heal your tired brain!

Let me know if you prefer Japan’s cities or the countryside in the below! 🗳️

Locations featured…

🛖 Ainokura village in Gokayama, Toyama - a World Heritage Site but barely known compared to the nearby Shirakawago. Taken on 23rd April 2022 for full bloom 🌸

🏞️ Ohazuki Coast, Chiba - a tucked away hidden spot on a coastline shaped in ways rarely seen in Japan, a little hike to get to it but for those views it’s worth it!

🌸 Oi Yume-no-Sato, Kanagawa - in bloom now & the most impressive cherry blossom spot I’ve ever seen, offering views of Mt. Fuji & so many sakura to chill beneath!

#tokyo #tokyotrip #tokyojapan #japantrip #japantravel #japanesecountryside #inaka #ruraljapan #exploringjapan #offthebeatenpath #tokyojapan

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