Discover Japan through your interests
How to ride the Toyama Chiho Railway between Toyama and Tateyama Station, the Toyama-side gateway to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route: fares, train frequency, cash-only paper tickets, and why your JR Pass and Suica will not work.
Ride the Kita-Yatsugatake Ropeway to Tsuboniwa at 2,237m near Chino, Nagano: an easy loop walk over a lava plateau, moss forests, summit views, fares and timetables.
Murodo Station at 2,450m on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route: snow fields right outside the door in November, Tateyama panoramas, mountain huts, food, and what to wear.
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route tickets explained step by step: web tickets, same-day purchase at Ogizawa, fares, baggage rules, luggage forwarding, and whether the Japan Rail Pass works.
Step-by-step route from Tokyo to Ogizawa Station, the eastern gateway of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route: Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano, the Alpico express bus, and how to buy tickets.
Visiting Kurobe Dam, Japan's tallest arch dam on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route: the dam walk, observation deck, Lake Kurobe, discharge season, and how it differs from the Kurobe Gorge.
A complete one-day guide to crossing the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route through Japan's Northern Alps: cable cars, ropeways and electric buses, late-autumn snow, tickets, luggage forwarding, and what to wear.
Atami, just 40 minutes by Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo, is home to the famous power spot Izu Shrine (伊豆山神社), known for love connections and good fortune. Surrounded by a tranquil forest, the serene grounds feature highlights like a heart-shaped sculpture and a red and white dragon fountain. This powerful spot, steeped in the legend of Minamoto no Yoritomo and Hojo Masako's union, is a hidden gem known to those in the know.
A castle-themed park in Atami where you can wear samurai armor and kimono for free photo shoots. From the 160m high observation deck, enjoy a 360-degree view of Sagami Bay. With just the entrance fee, you can play unlimited games at the arcade, and the scenic foot bath is also free. Experience holding a real Japanese sword. A complete guide to Atami Castle, a favorite among families with children.
