Category: Japan

This article is about how to understand the Kansai Thru Pass map, which is used in conjunction with the Kansai Thru Pass. If you don’t plan on using this transportation ticket, you can skip reading it. However, if you do plan on using the Kansai Thru Pass, it’s important to understand how to read this map to avoid any confusion about its coverage area.

La Vista Hakodate Bay is part of the renowned Dormy Inn hotel group.
I learned about it from a local TV show or a Japanese variety show that featured La Vista Hakodate Bay.
The show mentioned that this hotel won the top spot in Japan’s Best Breakfast popularity poll,
and they even followed a family who had to strategize their breakfast choices before eating.
It was quite exaggerated, but it caught our attention, so we decided to try this famous breakfast ourselves.

The Jingo-ji Temple in Takao is a famous scenic spot for enjoying autumn leaves. The best time to admire the red leaves usually starts from early November. The nearby Kozan-ji Temple is also a World Cultural Heritage site and worth visiting. Therefore, if you want to plan a trip to the Kyoto-Takao area during the maple viewing season, you need to first understand the transportation options to Takao. Fortunately, the transportation in Kyoto and Takao is simple, and you can only rely on buses, although there are fewer bus schedules

The 2024 Shirakawa-go Light-Up information has been released! Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a popular destination in Japan’s Hokuriku region. Whether you’re planning a solo trip or a group tour, this spot remains a top attraction. The annual light-up event is a must-see spectacle that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime!

When visiting Hakodate, I usually choose to stay near Hakodate Station.
Previously, I have stayed at Super Hotel Hakodate, Hakodate LOISIR (now Four Points by Sheraton), and Hakodate La Vista.
For my stay in February 2019, I chose Route Inn Hakodate Ekimae (official website).
Route Inn is a nationwide chain of business hotels in Japan. It’s not a luxury brand but rather a more affordable option, slightly better than Toyoko Inn in my opinion…
(This is just my personal feeling)

Hieizan Enryaku-ji Temple is located between Kyoto and Shiga (Otsu). Therefore, to visit Enryaku-ji Temple, you can either go up the mountain from the Kyoto side or from the Otsu side. The tickets for the pilgrimage before going up the mountain are relatively expensive, but both sides have transportation options. The new version of the pilgrimage ticket is now divided into two versions, the Keihan Line and the Otsu Line, which are suitable for visitors going up the mountain from the Kyoto side and the Otsu side respectively.

When we visit various attractions in Hyogo Prefecture, we usually consider going to Kobe first, which is the Sannomiya area, and then from there, we can go to Arima Onsen, Himeji, Akashi, and other places. Therefore, the transportation from Osaka to Kobe is particularly important. However, for beginners who are traveling to the Kansai region for the first time, it is recommended to first understand the important transportation hub in Kobe, which is the Sannomiya and Motomachi areas. You can refer to the article on Kobe’s Sannomiya area, which will be easier to grasp!

Kansai Airport is Japan’s second-largest airport and the first to operate 24 hours a day.
Due to the increasing number of tourists visiting the Kansai region, Kansai Airport has become insufficient to meet the demand.

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine is a sanctuary of learning, culture, and art, and a popular attraction in Fukuoka prefecture.
Most people visit Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine as a day trip, and often choose Hakata as their starting point. There are three main ways to get to Dazaifu from Hakata.

Arima Onsen is located in the northern district of Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture. With its long history and abundant hot springs, it is one of Japan’s three famous hot springs and one of the three ancient hot springs. It is very suitable for general tourists to visit as a day trip from the Kansai region. However, staying overnight in Arima Onsen is also a good choice. This article will summarize the transportation routes from Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe to Arima Onsen. Please note that there are many routes available, so I will only list the routes that I personally recommend. I will not introduce routes that are obviously not suitable. Thank you for your understanding.