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The new lifestyle hotel in Kobe; The Royal Park Canvas Kobe Sannomiya
Across the Kansai region of Japan there have been a bunch of new hotels open up that have caught my eye over the past year such as the gorgeous but pricey 5-star The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu. While the timing isn’t great, to say the least, these hotels have been in the works for years…
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A step into the future with Autonomous Buses at Expo ’70 Commemorative Park (万博記念公園)
In 1970 and the site of Senri Hills in Suita, Osaka had been transformed into Japan’s first world fair, Expo ’70 or known locally as Osaka Banpaku. From March to September of that year almost 65 million people would visit the Expo, making it the largest world fair ever at the time, only surpassed once,…
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More Than Matcha – Discovering the Unique Japanese Tea Region of Kyoto
Tencha. Sencha. Houjicha. These are just a few of the amazing Japanese teas you can experience when you visit the Yamashiro region of Kyoto. The beautiful rolling hills of tea plantations combined with small towns, unique tea houses, temples, shrines and the world heritage Byodoin make it a destination unlike anywhere else in Japan. Located…
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Explore Tottori Sand Dunes & San’in Kaigan Geopark
The Tottori Sand Dunes & The Sand Museum are a must for anyone visiting the Chugoku region of Japan. Located in the San’in Kaigan Geopark on the Sea of Japan, this region has beautiful coastal drives, beaches and is home to the largest sand dunes in Japan. The Sand Museum The Sand Museum opened in 2006…
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Toka Ebisu Festival – For Success in Business
In the heart of Japan’s Kansai region, as the new year settles in, the Toka Ebisu Festival bursts into life. This vibrant festival, commencing on January 9th and concluding on January 11th, is a beacon of hope and prosperity for businesses and individuals alike. The Deity of Good Fortune: Ebisu Central to this festival is…
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Lucky Bags: Fukubukuro New Year Sales 2020
Welcome to 2020. While most shops across Japan are closed on New Years Day, they open on January 2nd and have massive sales storewide. Walk down any shopping arcade (shotengai) just after the new year and you will see bags of goods displayed out the front. These bags are called fukubukuro or lucky bags in…
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Kobe Luminarie; one of the best illuminations in Japan
Kobe Luminarie (神戸ルミナリエ) is an annual light festival to commemorate the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake that struck in 1995. Held every December, Kobe Luminarie runs for around 10 days. This a free event however donations are appreciated with many boxes for you to drop some money in. The word luminarie is Italian meaning illumination. Every…