A bout 90 minutes east of Hiroshima city on the local JR Kure train line, visitors will arrive at Takehara Station. If you intend to spend some time in Hiroshima prefecture, Takehara is definitely worth a daytrip.
Located along the Honkawa River, Takehara’s interesting history still shows in the ...
The little town of Yunotsu was once a prosperous port for the shipment of silver from Iwami Ginzan. Today it's primarily a fishing port and hot springs town, small but intensely atmospheric, with the scenic road winding up from the port to the hot springs wide enough for a single car and lined with...
Set in the mountains of Gifu prefecture, just over four hours from Tokyo by train, the little city of Takayama is a perfect choice for travelers seeking a quick escape from urban Japan.
After the Kanamori clan built its castle here in the 16th century, Takayama became known across Japan for the exc...
Only twelve of Japan's feudal era castles have survived intact to the present day, and in Matsue you can see the largest of these. Matsue Castle was completed in 1611 for the use of the local lord Horio Yoshiharu. The castle is also called the Plover Castle for its color and proximity to water.
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Only twelve of Japan's feudal era castles have survived intact to the present day, and in Matsue you can see the largest of these. Matsue Castle was completed in 1611 for the use of the local lord Horio Yoshiharu. The castle is also called the Plover Castle for its color and proximity to water.
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The beautiful town of Uchiko, its nostalgic lanes set in a stunning landscape of green hills and valleys, is located in the southwest of Shikoku, Ehime Prefecture. From the picturesque rice terraces and waterways to the excellent local cuisine and carefully preserved historic houses, Uchiko showca...
Matsue is sometimes called the Water City, or Shimane's Venice, because of its location on Lake Shinji and the city's ample system of moats built for defense and transport. Today, one of the best ways to view the city is to board one of the low, narrow pleasure boats that cruise the largest moat as...
Just beyond Matsue Castle's northwest gate, a beautiful stretch of old samurai homes stretches 500 meters along the curving, tree lined bank of the northern moat. Several of the homes are open to the public, giving visitors a feel for the daily life of the samurai families who served in feudal Mats...
Tsuwano, a picturesque castle town, lies on the border of Shimane and Yamaguchi. Often called the Little Kyoto of Shimane prefecture, the main attraction here is the town center, Tonomachi, with its fine old buildings and canals, filled with thousands of colorful carp and irises.
One of Tsuwano's m...
The city of Kurayoshi is located in central Tottori prefecture, and must be one of the most charming spots in Japan. The old Edo period grid of streets is lined with picturesque buildings, including many with the handsome whitewash "soil-lacquered" walls and rich red roof tiles that are an emblem o...
