This autumn, I visited Showa Village, in rural Okuaizu region. (I wrote about Showa Village in my last post as well.) One of the places I took a trip to was Michi-no-Eki Karamushi Orinosato Showa (Roadside Station) – pictured below – where I was able to try traditional ramie weaving! From shirts to bags, decorationsContinue reading Trying out Ramie Weaving in Showa Village
I recently visited Suirakuen Gardens, which are located in Nanko Park in Shirakawa City. I visited the park a couple of years ago during autumn, when the leaves looked amazing. At that time I wasn’t able to visit the gardens due to time restrictions. So I was really glad to have the chance to takeContinue reading Green tea in Suirakuen Gardens
Back in October I was interviewed for a program called “Fukushima Then & Now, the Samurai Spirit”, which aired on NHK World as part of one of their J-Trip Plan shows in December. You can see the program online here! During the filming I was joined by Hoshi Kenko san. We visited the Tadami LineContinue reading Shooting the Tadami Line: Tips from Pro Photographer
A couple of weeks ago, I attended a samurai-themed monitor tour from Tokyo to Aizu-Wakamatsu City! (Monitor tours are trial tours that are run in order to gain feedback about a tour that is in the process of being planned or made.) This Samurai Train Tour is supposed to take you on a journey fromContinue reading Samurai Train Tour
Last week I headed to Mt Adatara to make the most of Japan’s autumn leaves season, and to celebrate the fact that the weather is finally beginning to cool down! There are a number of great viewpoints up Mt Adatara for seeing autumn leaves, including Yakushi Dake, which is located at an altitude of 1,350m.Continue reading Mt Adatara Autumn Hike Photoblog
Fukushima Prefecture has some absolutely beautiful spots for enjoying Japan’s amazing autumn leaves. Although many of these can be accessed by public transport, one of my favourite spots is a little difficult to get to without hiring a car. So, I recommend renting a car and making a day of it in southern Fukushima –Continue reading Autumn Drive & Onsen Day-Trip in Southern Fukushima
Where is Iizaka Onsen & What is a ‘Kenka Matsuri’? Iizaka Onsen is a quaint town built around the sources of the Iizaka Onsen hot springs. Iizaka Onsen hot spring water has been loved for over a millennium, and is well-known in Japan. Residents of Tokyo often pop up on the Shinkansen to take aContinue reading Iizaka Onsen & Kenka Matsuri Autumn Festival
The hot, humid days have suddenly become cooler, and it’s getting darker earlier every day, which means one thing and one thing only… autumn is here! It never ceases to amaze me how quickly the seasons change over in Fukushima. This year, I’m hoping to take advantage of the beautiful red and yellow autumn leavesContinue reading Short Autumn Hike Along Natsuigawa Valley
Nanko Park in Shirakawa City is such a beautiful spot to visit during autumn, and it is particularly spectacular in mid-November! Sooo, I thought it was fitting to introduce Nanko Park in this week’s blog! 1.) Nanko Park (南湖公園 Nanko Koen) The area now known as Nanko Park used to consist of wetlands, which gradually gainedContinue reading Must-Visit Autumn Spots in Shirakawa City!
Shiramizu Amida-do is a beautiful, historic Buddhist temple in a serene and peaceful garden. For those planning a trip to Iwaki or Northern Ibaraki, it is a great place to add to your itinerary! What is an Amida-do? An Amida-do is a temple dedicated to the Buddha referred to as Amida Buddha. If you don’tContinue reading Shiramizu Amida-do Temple in Iwaki
