Accommodation The Italia Ken Hotel in Niigata Tomoko Kamishima The Italia Ken, a long-established hotel located in Niigata city’s famous old district, Furumachi, still keeps its unique fla...
Culture Maruoka Castle Bryan Baier Built in 1576, this hilltop castle is the oldest remaining castle in Japan
Shopping Kyu-Karuizawa Shopping Street Peter Sidell In the resort town of Karuizawa in Japan's Nagano prefecture, there's a pedestrianized kilometer of stores selling souvenirs ...
7 Culture Suwa Taisha (Suwa Grand Shrine) Brian Wood-Koiwa Suwa Taisha (Suwa Grand Shrine) houses the four largest logs of the Onbashira festival and a tree that snores when it lowers ...
Food Diavolo e Bambina Trattoria Justin Dart Diavolo e Bambina provides wonderful service, good Italian food all in a traditional Minka-style Japanese row house only 10 m...
Food Kaburaki Restaurant in Yuzawa Rufus Starbuck Great food inspired by the four seasons in Kaburaki Restaurant in Yuzawa. A blend of international and Japanese offerings wit...
Accommodation Camping at Motosuko Lake & Mt. Fuji Nathan Hoernig Finally, the quintessential North American-style campground with open, on-ground campfires; lots of trees; a beautiful lake a...
12 Culture Kozenji Temple Bryan Baier Kozenji is a gorgeous Buddhist temple nestled against the Chuo Alps in Komagane Nagano. It perfectly blends human constructio...
Culture Route 20 for a drive out of Tokyo Joe Peters A nice drive out of Tokyo - see Mt. Takao, Lake Sagami, or keep on going to Lake Yamanaka.
Culture Oyama Jinja Kerrie Hankinson Perched on the top of Tateyama's Oyama Peak is Oyama Jinja, once a flourishing center of Shugendō, the mountain religion of J...