The northern half of the Shio-no-michi trail runs along the sides of a narrow and rugged valley and was relatively isolated until the road and train line were built, mainly running through tunnels, in the later half of the 20th [...]
Japan is a country of matsuri- or festivals - which are usually based around the changing seasons. At the beginning of May each year, Golden Week - when three public holidays mean that most Japanese take the whole week off [...]
‘Yukiwarisou’ is a lovingly restored 150 year old traditional farmhouse located in ‘Irori no Sato’, a tiny village of 11 homes located in northern Nagano at 800m above sea level at the foot of the towering North Alps. Yukiwarisou [...]
The Shio no Michi area is located along a major geological fault and in an area of volcanic activity. This same geology has bestowed a number of blessings - and few of these hold as central a place in Japanese [...]
In between two of Niigata’s largest fishing ports, - Itoigawa and Joetsu - lies Marine Dream Nou - one of the best places to enjoy the bounties of the Sea of Japan. Itoigawa’s unique position on the edge of Toyama [...]
The Kubiki Cycling Road is a classic bicycle "rail trail" - built atop the remains of the Old Hokuriku Railroad, which was moved into the mountains in the 1960s. As the course follows the old railway line, the Sea [...]
The Oito Line is one of Japan's most picturesque local rail lines - connecting Itoigawa - facing the Sea of Japan - with the city of Matsumoto which is located in the middle of Nagano Prefecture - home of [...]
