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Japan’s Cat Islands: Tashirojima, Aoshima & More — A Practical Visitor’s Guide
Nature & Outdoors

Japan’s Cat Islands: Tashirojima, Aoshima & More — A Practical Visitor’s Guide

Japan has developed, somewhat accidentally, one of the world's most specific wildlife tourism niches: islands where domestic cat…

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Furano & Biei: The Lavender Fields & Patchwork Roads of Central Hokkaido
Destinations

Furano & Biei: The Lavender Fields & Patchwork Roads of Central Hokkaido

There are two places in Japan that appear on more calendars, more tourism posters, and more desktop wallpapers…

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Autumn Foliage (Koyo) in Japan: The Complete Regional Guide
Nature & Outdoors

Autumn Foliage (Koyo) in Japan: The Complete Regional Guide

If cherry blossom is Japan's spring obsession, koyo (紅葉 / autumn foliage) is its autumn equivalent — a…

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Autumn Leaves in Kyoto: Tofuku-ji, Arashiyama & the Local Spots
Nature & Outdoors

Autumn Leaves in Kyoto: Tofuku-ji, Arashiyama & the Local Spots

If cherry blossom is Kyoto's spring obsession, autumn foliage is its complementary autumn one — arguably even more…

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Autumn Leaves in Nikko: Why Japan’s Most Colorful Koyo Is Outside Tokyo
Nature & Outdoors

Autumn Leaves in Nikko: Why Japan’s Most Colorful Koyo Is Outside Tokyo

Among Japanese koyo enthusiasts who have visited multiple regions across multiple years, Nikko consistently emerges as a leading…

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Best Hanami Spots in Tokyo Beyond Ueno Park
Nature & Outdoors

Best Hanami Spots in Tokyo Beyond Ueno Park

Ueno Park (上野公園) is Tokyo's most famous cherry blossom destination — approximately 1,000 trees along the park's central…

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Canyoning in Japan: Descending Waterfalls in Gifu and Hyogo
Experiences

Canyoning in Japan: Descending Waterfalls in Gifu and Hyogo

Canyoning (キャニオニング) — the activity of descending steep river gorges by a combination of jumping, sliding, rappelling, swimming,…

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Cherry Blossom Season in Japan: A Week-by-Week Guide to Peak Bloom by Region
Nature & Outdoors

Cherry Blossom Season in Japan: A Week-by-Week Guide to Peak Bloom by Region

Sakura zensen (桜前線 / "cherry blossom front") is the term the Japan Meteorological Corporation uses to describe the…

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Cherry Blossoms in Kyoto: The Local’s Itinerary for Avoiding the Crowds
Nature & Outdoors

Cherry Blossoms in Kyoto: The Local’s Itinerary for Avoiding the Crowds

Kyoto in cherry blossom season is, by any honest assessment, severely crowded. The combination of the city's historical…

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Cherry Blossoms in Tohoku: Japan’s Last Sakura Season (April–May)
Nature & Outdoors

Cherry Blossoms in Tohoku: Japan’s Last Sakura Season (April–May)

Tokyo's cherry blossom season concludes by mid-April. Kyoto's by mid-April as well. For the vast majority of international…

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