I Wander

Travel & Food, Itineraries & Guides, Hotel Reviews

Japan

The Perfect Itinerary for Saitama, Gunma & Niigata – Northward Golden Route With JR East Pass (Nagano, Niigata area)

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Located immediately north of Tokyo, the three prefectures of Saitama, Gunma and Niigata are quite possibly one of the most overlooked areas of Japan. Well-connected from Tokyo via the shinkansen and local trains, this region is brimming with atmospheric medieval towns, whimsical theme parks as well as venues for thrilling outdoor activities. 

Through the JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area), it is very much possible to get here in just an hour as with the case for Saitama, or around two hours for Niigata. Within that short span of time, the landscape outside shifts from concrete buildings to alpine villages, sulfuric hot springs and deep gorges. This region is known as one of Japan’s agricultural baskets and the local produce is prized all over the country. Recently, I managed to visit the three prefectures of Niigata, Saitama and Gunma thanks to an invitation from the tourism boards of these prefectures. It was an eye-opening experience as I did not know much about this region until this particular visit.

If you are looking for some fresh ideas on places to visit from Tokyo that’s away from the maddening crowd but not too far from Tokyo itself, this region is a compelling choice. This travel guide and suggested itinerary for Saitama, Gunma and Niigata shows you how to do the trip with the JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area) in as short as 5 days and runs through a variety of activities including historic towns, adventure sports, temples as well as compelling food to try.

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Brilliant Autumn Colors in Tokyo’s Showa Kinen Park

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Autumn is a magical time in Japan. The leaves start to wither, earlier in the countryside and in northern Japan, and at about late-November to early-December in Tokyo’s open areas like Showa Kinen Park. Called koyo, Japan’s parks and forests turn into a sea of red, yellow and brown especially when seen with a backdrop of maple and gingko trees. Autumn is widely considered to be the favorite season of most Japanese, and it was with much luck that my visit to Tokyo last week fell right smack in this season.

Editor’s Note: Here are more autumn leaves viewing spots in Tokyo.

With very little time, I shortlisted a few nice autumn viewing spots. Places such as Hibiya Park in central Tokyo, the Rikugien in Bunkyo Ward as well as Shinjuku’s Gyoen are considered to be some of the best autumn viewing spots in Tokyo. Since I only had time to visit one or two places, I eventually decided on Gingko Avenue or Icho Namiki in Aoyama and Showa Memorial Park (Showa Kinen Koen) in Tachikawa in western Tokyo.

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My Secret Wakayama – Attractions, Itinerary and Travel Guide to This Hidden Gem 1 Hour From Osaka

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My recent trip to Wakayama encapsulated the ease and convenience of visiting Japan’s off-the-beaten path destinations. I have so far been to Japan for five times prior to this trip and had not known about Wakayama until I participated in the “My Secret Wakayama” project. It is an initiative to uncover this little known destination in the southern part of Kansai region brimming with resorts, historic attractions and some of the best ramen in Japan.

Despite being little known to foreign visitors aside from Mt. Koya which is also located within Wakayama’s namesake prefecture, the city is surprisingly easy to get to. From Kansai International Airport, it is slightly less than 1 hour away which makes it practical to combine with a trip to Osaka and Kyoto. You can also easily book a tour that covers the essential sights in Wakayama as a day trip.

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8 Off-the-Beaten Path & Unique Attractions in Osaka and Kyoto

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There is no shortage of off-the-beaten path attractions and unusual things to do in Osaka and Kyoto if you know where to look. Like in Japan’s other major cities, you can find just about every kind of diversion that you can think of while traveling here. What most don’t realize is that Osaka and Kyoto’s quirky attractions extend to much more than just the cosplay or maid cafe venues that foreign visitors often find intriguing. The attractions here are both modern and traditional – sometimes even coming straight out of the unexpected and mundane.

I visited the Kansai Region recently as part of a collaboration with Hotels.com to check out these relatively unknown places. If you are looking for something new during your first (or subsequent) trip to Osaka and Kyoto, make sure to include these sights into your itinerary.

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Guide to Visiting Shirakawa-go (How to Get There, Travel Guide With Printable Map, Where to Eat)

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A few years back, I chanced upon a photo shared in Facebook of a village with thatched houses covered with snow. The fairy-tale scene piqued my interest and after a little research, I found out that it was in a place called Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which I never heard of until I came across that photo. Sometimes, all it takes is one photo to inspire me to visit a place. Such was the case with Hallstatt in Austria, Perast in Montenegro as well as the Italian Dolomites.

Fortunately, the village of Shirakawa-go is much nearer than any of those European towns I enumerated. The former’s also a lot easier to get to although non-Japanese folks may initially get intimidated with Japan’s transportation system. In this post, I shall explain how to visit Shirakawa-go as well as elucidate how you can do this picturesque visit as a day trip on the journey from Kanazawa to Takayama (or vice versa) if you so wish.

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3 Traditional Areas to Transport You to Old Time Tokyo

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Mention Tokyo and the first impressions that come to mind probably won’t stray away from neon lights, innovative gadgets and concrete jungles. What many do not realize is that Tokyo is one of the oldest big cities in the world. Its population had already topped 1 million in the year 1800 which would have given rise to a large swathe of historical sites scattered around town. Unfortunately, many of them were destroyed during the war. Today, it is still very much possible to see the other, more traditional side of Tokyo if you know where to look. With their narrow streets, colorful shops as well as remarkable architecture; these pockets of nostalgia offer a great contrast to the modernity which Japan’s capital is known for.

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Best Autumn Viewing Spots in Tokyo

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In my previous entry about autumn viewing spots in Tokyo, I highlighted the expansive Showa Kinen Park in Tachikawa as the best place to see fall foliage in the Japanese capital. Tachikawa is located in Western Tokyo and is about a 45 minute train ride away from the city center plus a 15 minute or so walk. If you’re pressed for time, you can consider these other worthy autumn spots which are definitely must-sees if ever you find yourself in the city between late November and early December.

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How to Do Tokyo Comfortably For Just $35 a Day

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Although Tokyo no longer ranks as the world’s most expensive city, the stereotype is somehow hard to shake off. The thought of $250 airport to city taxi rides alone is enough to turn off the budget-conscious traveler. The good news is that Tokyo is no longer the ultra expensive city that it once was. Economic stagnation coupled with the weaker Yen have made this city a much more reasonable place for travelers. When I visited last year and again this year, I found Tokyo to be at par, if not more reasonably priced than the capitals of other developed countries. Save for the hefty taxi costs, I found Tokyo to be cheaper than other notable cities in Asia such as Singapore.

It’s possible to get by cheaply in Tokyo without compromising comfort if you know where to look. Here are some ideas on cheap things to do in Tokyo:

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