Train ride through Japan’s countryside

Beef in in Japan – Wagyu? Kobe beef?

In short "wagyu" just means Japanese beef and there are several areas in Japan that are famous for their beef (Kobe being one of them). So "Kobe beef" is a type of high grade wagyu that's from Kobe and perhaps more well known thanks to some good international marketing. Kobe beef will be grade A4…

*Japan* Kobe – “budget” trip (2D 2N)

Kobe is the capital of Hyogo prefecture and is only a 20min train ride from Osaka - getting to Kobe is really easy with several lines running between the two cities. The city has a nice harbour and several foreign traces left by previous foreign expats in the city (note the Kobe foreign settlement was…

*Japan* Zao onsen, Yamagata (Feb 2020, 2N 3D)

Dates: 9-11 Feb (trip with E&M). Snowing, winter appropriate weather. Transport (access) Shinkansen / bullet train (Tokyo to Yamagata station, reserved seats - approx. 21,000 yen per person) Bus (queue at bus stop 1 and pay before getting on - 1,000 yen per person) There's been a lot of talk around Japan having disappointing snow…

*Japan* Izu Atagawa – Weekend away from Tokyo (Jan 2020, 1N 2D)

Tokyo - Kita-Kamakura stop over - Izu Atagawa DAY 1 - Kita-kamakura (railway town with shrines & pottery) Train: Tokyo (Gakugeidaigaku st) to Kita-Kamakura (change at Yokohama). We had been to Kamakura (+Enoshima) before with my parents and vowed to come back. It's a peaceful area full of shrines, several pottery studios, Vegetarian and French…

*Japan* Yakushima – forest, sea & hiking (Aug 2019, 4N 5D)

JAPAN - Yakushima (in Kagoshima, Kyushu) Dates: 4 Nights 5 Days (Aug 2019). Nice sunny weather. V wet higher up on the island. Day treks (x2)Nature, sea, forest, mountain, trekking, wildlife, moss, big old trees, rain - waterproof jackets are a must!Useful map - generally and for hikes ITINERARY DAY 1: Tokyo - Kagoshima - Yakushima…

*Japan* Kyushu – onsen & nature (Oct 2019, 11N 12D)

JAPAN - Kyushu (Fukuoka, Oita, Miyazaki, Kumamoto, Saga, Nagasaki prefectures) Dates: 9 Nights 10 Days (Aug 2019) A get to know Kyushu trip featuring onsen, matsuri (festivals), nature and shrines ITINERARY DAY 1: Tokyo - Fukuoka Flight: Cheaper than by train (booked flights but due to typhoon we left a day early and got the shinkansen)Shinkansen:…

*Japan* Nagano – Mt Tsubakuro 1N2D (Jul 2019 – 3Nights, 4Days)

JAPAN - Mount Tsubakuro in Azumino, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Situated in Japan's Hida Mountains in Nagano Prefecture. Date: 3 Nights 4 Days, late June (Trek - 1N, 2D)Itinerary: DAY 1 Drive from Tokyo to Nagano (Friday night after work - 4 hrs by car) STAY (1 night): Azumino backpackers (安曇野バックパッカーズ) in Azumino, Nagano (approx 7,000…

*Japan* Nagano – Mt Akadake 1N2D hard hike (Jun 2019 – 2Nights, 3Days)

JAPAN - Nagano, Mount Akadake (Yatsugatake mountain range, Nagano) Date: 2 Nights 3 Days, late June (Trek - 1N, 2D) Itinerary: DAY 1 Drive from Tokyo to Nagano (Friday night after work - 4 hrs by car) Overnight at Pension Sequoia in Nagano, Hara (approx 11,000 yen - shared toilet / bathroom. decent western breakfast.…

*Japan* Mitsutoge day hike / Sights of Fuji – Yamanashi (May 2019 – 1Night, 2Days)

JAPAN: Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi (Mitsutoge & Lake Kawaguchi) Our yearly hike form Mitsutoge to Kawaguchiko for great views of Mt Fuji. Some good info about hiking routes from https://mynihonblog.com/2020/11/10/mitsutoge/ Date: late May 2019 (1N 2D) This has become a yearly hike for us - we went in 2021/2022/2023 around late Feb / early March (note in Feb…

*Japan* Nagano – Mt Yakedake day hike (Aug 2019 – 2N/3D)

Tokyo - Nagano: approx 4hrs by car Yakedake (active volcano)Date: 2 nights 2.5 days, early August (day trek) Can be hiked from 2 places1. Kamikochi (not accessible by car - take bus / taxi to Kamikochi) - come back down the same way - go down to Nakanoyu2. Nakanoyu (accessible by car -Yakedake Tozanguchi Parking…

*Indonesia* Krakatau (May 2018 – 1Night, 2Days)

Krakatoa, Indonesia (an active volcanic island situated between Java and Sumatra, Indonesia) Date: Late May 2018 Activities: Outdoor - camping, trekking, snorkeling weekend (6 people) Cost: approx USD 180 - 220 per person (incl. a round trip Jakarta (airport) pick up - Carita, boat trip Carita - Krakatoa, snorkling, camping, water, soft drinks and meals).…