One of the things I love about Japan is that the seasons are celebrated and mark distinct times of the year. Spring is Sakura or cherry blossom season. A time when everyone comes out to celebrate the fleeting cherry blossom and picnic under the delicate, transitory petals. This is one of the most popular times…
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Snow Monkeys or Japanese Macaques, are known worldwide for soaking in the hot springs of Nagano in winter. The monkeys are wild and come down from the surrounding mountains to play and chill out… or warm up!… in their own Onsen. The Monkey Onsen (or hot spring) is man made. The monkeys started to visit…
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North of Tokyo is a land of monsters and at night the monsters are lit up in a chilly, spooky, multicoloured display! Zao Onsen is an ancient Onsen town, a ski resort and one of three places in Japan where you can see Juhyo or snow monsters. The bitter Siberian winds whip over the mountains…
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Hidden in the hills of Japan, is a magical onsen town where wooden multi-story ryokans are camped right on the banks of the river. The cobblestone streets, gaslights and red bridges that criss-cross the river add to the romance and nostalgia of this charming town. Ginzan Onsen was founded in the 1400’s. The town took…
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Christmas If you are dreaming of a White Christmas in Japan you can certainly get the white and it’s easy to get to from Australia, however, Christmas is not a big celebration in Japan. You will hear Christmas music (minus the words) playing in the shops and Western shops will be wrapped up like a…
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We do not claim to be a skiing family or experts of any sort! This post if for families like us that want to check out Japan and spend some time in the snow while they are there. Here are our suggestions for planning and organising your trip. Decide which ski field to visit This…
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Japan is home to 500 ski fields! With so much choice it can be hard to know where to visit. Deciding where to go will depend very much on what you want to experience. Do you want a big ski village with lots of options of slopes? Do you want to stay close to Tokyo…
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If you plan to travel to Japan in winter, then it is worthwhile purchasing your winter clothing towards the end of winter in Australia when you can find some excellent end of season bargains! These are some of the items we recommend to pack when travelling through Japan in winter. Jackets We took snow jackets…
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Winter time in Japan is truly magical, seeing the countryside covered in a layer of soft fresh snow makes it especially beautiful. If you are dreaming of a White Christmas in Japan you will certainly get the white, but perhaps not the Christmas. Christmas is not really celebrated in Japan. You will hear Christmas music…
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