Category: Travel

4 reasons why a small onsen town Kinosaki Onsen is increasingly popular amongst foreign tourists

Back in October 2021, my husband and I visited Kinosaki Onsen (more about our road trip in the previous blog 👇🏻). https://nativeexpat.home.blog/2021/10/02/silver-week-2021-part-3-shimane-tottori-hyogo/ It was a small onsen town that offers 7 rotenburo (outdoor onsen) for free when you stay a night in the town or 1,500 yen for a day-visit to all 7 onsen. Many … Continue reading 4 reasons why a small onsen town Kinosaki Onsen is increasingly popular amongst foreign tourists →

Sleep above tankful of beer? Gourmet weekend away in Yamanashi

The birthplace of Japanese wine, Yamanashi Prefecture is the largest producer of Japanese wine, producing approximately one-third of the national Japanese wine production. Not surprisingly, Yamanashi produces the most amount of grapes (and peaches) in Japan and Yamanashi is famous for the bountiful produce. I read about an interesting gourmet travel experience in Yamanashi so … Continue reading Sleep above tankful of beer? Gourmet weekend away in Yamanashi →

Slushy spring ski and onsen in Yamagata

Last weekend, we decided to squeeze in the last ski trip for the season in 蔵王温泉 (Zao onsen) located in 山形県 (Yamagata prefecture) located in the northern end of 本州 Honshu or the main Japan island. We visited Zao onsen in Yamagata in August 2020 (some highlights from the previous trip below) so we were … Continue reading Slushy spring ski and onsen in Yamagata →

Revisiting Chichibu, Saitama

Last week, Tuesday March 21 was a public holiday (Spring Equinox) in Japan. I took Monday 20th off to enjoy a 4 day long weekend but my husband couldn't take time off so I searched for an easy access workation accommodation with onsen to relax. I found いこうの村ヘリテイジ（Ikoinomura Heritage) accommodation located 30 minutes away from … Continue reading Revisiting Chichibu, Saitama →

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 →

Nagano’s Bessho onsen and natural wine bistro

November 23rd being a public holiday in Japan and the following day being my husband's birthday. He likes onsen♨️, beef🥩, natural wine🍷, nature🍁 and traveling🧳 so we headed for a quick getaway in Nagano for a celebrate his birthday at Bessho onsen and a natural wine bistro. Bessho Onsen Bessho onsen is the oldest onsen … Continue reading Nagano’s Bessho onsen and natural wine bistro →

Autumn is for art. Visiting Kadokawa Culture Museum

Weekly typhoon has been hitting some part of Japan nearly every weekend this September. Typhoons have caused a lot damages in parts of Miyazaki and a number of other prefectures. In Tokyo, it's just been rainy and windy (then a bit sunny resulting in intense humidity) and slowly, it's feeling more like autumn.Max temperature is … Continue reading Autumn is for art. Visiting Kadokawa Culture Museum →