Category: Winter

Skiing in one of Japan’s largest ski area: Shiga Kogen

Icihnose Ski Resort in Shiga Kogen photographed by by Native Expat 2025

Last Tuesday, Feb 11 was National Foundation Day - 建国記念の日 (Kenkoku kinen no hi) and a public holiday in Japan so we ventured out to 志賀高原 (Shiga Kogen) for some skiing. More about the public holiday in my previous blog: https://nativeexpat.home.blog/2020/02/15/3-days-skiing-in-tsugaike-hakuba-japan/ About Shiga Kogen Shiga Kogen is located in Nagano prefecture and is Japan’s largest … Continue reading Skiing in one of Japan’s largest ski area: Shiga Kogen →

Skiing in Nekoma Mountain, Fukushima

Japan has been one of the hottest travel destinations and there is no signs or reasons to slow down. Between January to October 2024, over 30million international visited Japan. https://www.tourism.jp/en/tourism-database/stats/inbound/ With domestic and especially international guests filling up nearly every accommodations in major tourist ski resorts including Niseko in Hokkaido, Hakuba and Nozawa Onsen in … Continue reading Skiing in Nekoma Mountain, Fukushima →

Foreign invasion – change in Niseko, Japan

The warm Japanese winter have suddenly changed to frigid temperature which means one thing - JAPOW ski season! ⛷️ Last weekend, we headed to Hakuba for skiing. Compared to our visit during the pandemic in 2020 or in 2021, we saw a tremendous increase and in people and not just people - lots of Aussies … Continue reading Foreign invasion – change in Niseko, Japan →

Japanese horse racing experience

One of the biggest sporting events at the end of the year in Japan is 有馬記念 (Arima Cup) a horse racing that marks the last major horse racing event of the year. As my horse racing loving father-in-law is currently visiting Japan, we headed to Nakayama Racecourse, the day before the big cup on December … Continue reading Japanese horse racing experience →

Ski weekend turned onsen weekend in Nozawa Onsen

Months ago, my husband booked the season's first ski weekend in one of our favourite onsen town, Nozawa Onsen. As the international tourists are now back like pre-pandemic era and Japanese are 'revenge' traveling to catch up on the missed travels during the pandemic, everywhere is booked well in advance. As I unpacked my ski … Continue reading Ski weekend turned onsen weekend in Nozawa Onsen →

2023 summed up by Japanese

Only a number of days are left in 2023.In Japan, there are a couple of well known ways to sum up the year. 漢字 or Character that sums up 2023 Since 1995, 日本漢字能力検定協会 (Japanese Kanji Knowledge Testing Association) announces the character of the year on December 12.2022 was 戦 (read what it means in my … Continue reading 2023 summed up by Japanese →

Here comes spring! Plum blossoms viewing in Hanegi Park in Tokyo

In Tokyo, we have started to experience some coat-free days during the day and the gray city is painted by blossoms here and there. Last weekend, we headed out to the western side of Tokyo in Setagaya ward to feast our eyes on plum blossoms at 羽根木公園 (Hanegi Park). At Hanegi Park, there are about … Continue reading Here comes spring! Plum blossoms viewing in Hanegi Park in Tokyo →

Cooling off after a hotspring getaway at Kurokawa Onsen in Kumamoto

After spending time with my aunty in Kagoshima last week, my husband and I drove 3 1/2 hours to Kumamoto which is located above Kagoshima prefecture. https://nativeexpat.home.blog/2023/01/07/happy-new-year-slightly-different-new-year-for-native-expat/ Just before we started work in 2023, we headed to one of the our favourite onsen towns called Kurokawa Onsen to relax and feel refreshed. We have visited … Continue reading Cooling off after a hotspring getaway at Kurokawa Onsen in Kumamoto →