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Onsen/Sento in Japan
Onsen/Sento in Japan
Onsen（温泉）/Sento（銭湯） is a unique experience in Japan. Both are public baths, and they are casually accessible in various places, including near Kavli IPMU. First, let's make a distinction between the two.
Onsen（温泉／おんせん）: Onsen is based on natural spring water. Japan is full of mountains, and it is often said that "wherever you dig, you can find an onsen." The water may be hot or cold, depending on its source. You may notice a strong smell of sulfur in mountainous areas, such as Hakone, Kusatsu, and Kinugawa. On the other hand, Onsens in the Tokyo area might be a mixture of seawater, and you taste salty. Finding your favorite onsen type can be a fun exploration.
Sento（銭湯／おんせん）: Sento is a public bath often based on non-spring water. In the past (before the WWII era), it was less common to have a bath in every house. As a result, you find a sento in your town and people go there for a bath. Later on, as it became common to have a bath/shower at each house, Sento started to disappear, but the culture of a public bath remains. In recent years (late 1990s), a place called Super-Sento, which is a bit more expensive than a standard (old-style) sento, contains not only a public bath, but also a place to relax, a massage, and a food court. Those Sentos may be using natural spring water, so it becomes fuzzy to make a clear distinction between Onsen and Sento in the end.
Onsen/Sento near Kavli IPMU
Mitsui garden hotel: This is one of the popular hotels for Kavli IPMU visitors. The Onsen is only available to guests staying the hotel, and it is Onsen, natural spring water based.
Spa Metsä Otaka/スパメッツァおおたか 竜泉寺の湯: It is in Ootakanomori station in TX, one station away from Kashiwanoha campus. This is very typical Super-Sento, which offers the Onsen and not limited. [loc]
It's a bit far from the campus, but another neighbor ones are
You can always type the following terms 温泉 and/or 銭湯 in Google Maps, which gives you options.
Onsen/Sento near the Tokyo area for a one-day or a few-day trip IPMU
There are many good Onsens you can go to. Please have a look at the article on this page dedicated to the Onsen, written by Tommaso. Hakone（箱根）, Nikko（日光）, Kinugawa（鬼怒川）、Kusatsu（草津）...
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There are a lot of manners, which might be implicit for visitors. Some tips might be useful. This can be a fun topic to dig into as one of our usual lunchtime chats!
Sushi restaurants near Kavli IPMU
Sushi restaurants near Kavli IPMU
A few recommended places are here! The more entry will come!
On the campus, we are proud to have Hama Sushi (JP/EN). The best is to go for lunch, but dinner is also available.
In La La Port, the mall in front of the Kashiwanoha campus station (Tsukuba Express = TX), we have the rotating table Sushi, Kaiten Sushi Misaki
The walking distance from the campus, we have two Kaiten Sushis (Conveyor belt sushi)
If you don't mind walking a bit more from the campus (25 min from IPMU), we have Isono Gatten Sushi. This is a nice compromise between formal and casual styles.
Finally, Hirago Sushi is a fine classic Japanese sushi restaurant.
More entries will come!
Typical place for visitors to stay when you come to IPMU
Typical place for visitors to stay when you come to IPMU
A few recommended places are here! The more entry will come!
Near the campus
Mitsui garden hotel Kaswa-no-ha park side [loc]
a few min walk to the campus, but less restaurants in the neighbor
Hotels near Asakusa station [loc]
There are many choices. Check out place like booking.com or expedia.com. It will be about 1 hour to IPMU from Asakusa area (30 min train using Tsukuba express w/ 800 yen one way + 20~30 min walk)
airBnb within 20 min bicycle distance
airbnb near Toyoshiki station (you can rent a bicycle here)
IPMU's recommendation for hotel / IPMU's for visitors website
View of mount Fuji from my room's window (Shiki Resort Hakone Style)
Lake Ashi from Onshi-Hakone park
Alley with multiple sculptures in the Hakone Open-Air Museum
hakone／箱根／はこね (by clement)
hakone／箱根／はこね (by clement)
Hakone is located to the west of Tokyo in Kanagawa prefecture (神奈川県) on the bottom of mount Fuji. It is rather far from central Tokyo (1h30 from Shinjuku station to Odawara station and count a small hour by bus to the interesting areas) so it can be quite short for a day trip and I recommend to spend the week-end.
As it is located in a volcanic area, Hakone is famous for its numerous onsen (温泉), the japanese hot springs, that can often be found in ryoukan, the traditional japanese inns. I highly advise staying at a ryoukan to enjoy the traditional food and the relaxed atmosphere, to try sleeping on futons, and if you are lucky maybe you will be able to see mount Fuji in the distance from the window of your room.
There are many possible activities in the area of Hakone, here is a small list of the most popular ones:
Owakudani (大涌谷) is the crater produced by the last eruption of mount Hakone ~3000 years ago were we can now witness sulfurous fumes and eat the famous kuro tamago (黒たまご), eggs cooked in onsen water. Not that it is a bit remote and quite touristic so it can be crowded and hard to access during week-ends.
Lake Ashi (芦ノ湖) is a lake near Hakone. It is pretty large (~20km of circumference) so hard to do the full tour in one day but there are very kitsch boats inspired from spanish gallions that cross the lake from the northest to the southest points of the lake which conveniently cuts the walk in two. Most of the interesting things such as the Hakone shrine, the Heiwa no Torii and the Onshi-Hakone park, are located on the east of the lake. Be careful, the last boat leaves at around ~4pm.
The Hakone Open-Air Museum is a museum dedicated to sculpture pieces of art brought from all over the world. As its name suggests, the statues are set outside and the scenery brings harmony between the sculptures and their surrounding environment. It was opened in 1969 and is now a very popular attraction, so it may be crowded, but I highly recommend passing by as it is a unique experience you will not live anywhere else. The entrance fee is 2000￥ per adult.
ASAKUSA／浅草／あさくさ (by marta)
ASAKUSA／浅草／あさくさ (by marta)
With the Tsukuba Express (TX), it only takes 30 minutes to reach the Asakusa (浅草) district (Taitō, Tokyo) from Kashiwanoha-Campus Station. From the TX station, then, it's just a few minutes walk to reach Asakusa's most famous Buddhist temple, the Sensō-ji (浅草寺).
However, rather than rushing your way to the temple, it's worth getting a little bit lost while exploring the many old-style shopping streets in the district. This is the right place to look for traditional handmade items and high-quality souvenirs.
The streets get more and more crowded as you move closer to Sensō-ji. By when you enter Nakamise-dōri (仲見世通り) street, you're most likely slowly strolling, rather than walking (at least, this was the case in September, when I visited). Still, it's a great place to grab sweet treats and all sorts of souvenirs: both sides of Nakamise-dōri street are packed with small shops, selling everything from samurai swords to matcha green tea ice cream.
Nakamise-dōri street starts and ends at two gates: the outer Kaminarimon(雷門), and the inner Hōzōmon (宝蔵門), from which one enters the beautiful Sensō-ji temple [loc].
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Asakusa was the first district I've visited in Tokyo and it was definitely a good place to start! I loved how the red architecture (from the Sensō-ji itself, to the gates you find around the district) stands out against the surroundings; and I was amazed by the different atmospheres I experienced within just a few minutes walk. Definitely recommended!
Atomic Bomb Dome
Itsukushima Shrine at Miyajima
Okonomiyaki (soul food in Hiroshima)
HIROSHIMA／広島／ひろしま (by HIDEKI)
HIROSHIMA／広島／ひろしま (by HIDEKI)
Hiroshima is located at the west region of Japan. With Shinkansen, it takes 5 hours to reach the Hiroshima from Tokyo Station. At Hiroshima, it is convenient to use a tram (streetcar) to go around the city. Hiroshima's tram network is the longest and most used streetcar network in Japan. Hiroshima trams are operated by Hiroden (広電). (Note: You can pay the tram fee by cash or Suica/Pasmo.)
To do at Hiroshima
Atomic Bomb Dome (原爆ドーム)
This building was the only structure that remained standing in the area around the atomic bomb of Hiroshima the end of World War II. The ruin of the hall serves as a memorial to the over 140,000 people who were killed in the bombing. It is permanently kept as a reminder of the destructive effects of nuclear warfare. You can also visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial nearby.
Itsukushima Shrine (厳島神社) at Miyajima (宮島)
The Itsukushima shrine is one of Japan's most popular tourist attractions. It is most famous for its dramatic gate, or torii on the outskirts of the shrine, the sacred peaks of Mount Misen, extensive forests, and its ocean view.
Hiroshima castle (広島城)
Hiroshima Castle is a castle in Hiroshima, Japan that was the residence of the daimyo (feudal lord) of the Hiroshima domain. The castle was originally constructed in the 1590s, but was destroyed by the atomic bomb on August 6, 1945. The castle was rebuilt in 1958.
Hiroshima Tōshō-gū (広島東照宮)
Hiroshima Tōshō-gū is a Shinto shrine in Hiroshima. It is the place which enshrines the first Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate and was completed in 1648.
Eat Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き)
Okonomiyaki is a Japanese teppanyaki, savoury pancake dish consisting of wheat flour batter and other ingredients (mixed, or as toppings) cooked on a teppan (flat griddle). Common additions include cabbage, meat, and seafood, and toppings include okonomiyaki sauce (made with Worcestershire sauce, ainori(dried seaweed flakes), katsuobushi (bonito flakes), Japanese mayonnaise, and pickled ginger.
Ikura-don @ Hachikyo
Sea-food bawl @ Shihachi
Ramen shingen
Soup curry @ Picante
Jingisukan @ Higenoushi
Food in SAPPORO(HOKKAIDO)／札幌／さっぽろ (by KOSUKE)
Food in SAPPORO(HOKKAIDO)／札幌／さっぽろ (by KOSUKE)
Sapporo is the capital city of Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, where Hokkaido's outstanding food culture is gathered. As many of you have already known how attractive Hokkaido is, let me give you a list of the finest restaurants in Sapporo according to my personal research.
Sea food:
Toriton (トリトン)
Toriton is a Hokkaido-originated kaiten-sushi (conveyor belt sushi). You can taste the local fresh sushi for surprisingly reasonable price.
Hachikyo (はちきょう)
Hachikyo is well-known for their ikura-don (salmon roe bawl) called tsukko-meshi.
Shihachi sea food (シハチ鮮魚店)
They serve you the greatest sea food bawl (海鮮丼) in Sapporo. You won't know what fishes are on until you visit, and it depends on seasons.
Gotsubo (五坪) Oyster Bar
There are few people who know Hokkaido is actually famous for oysters, and this is a right place to check it out.
Jingisukan (ジンギスカン):
Higenoushi (ひげのうし)
You can enjoy the best jingisukan with good nihonshu (Japanese sake). Also this place is the best for ram beginners.
Ramen (ラーメン)
Shingen (信玄)
It goes without saying there is always a long line of people from all over Japan, perhaps including people from abroad.
Soup curry (スープカレー):
Kokoro (心)
Picante (ピカンティ)
Although in either of these restaurants you can basically enjoy great soup curry with ram, chicken, and so on, there is slightly a difference and it's fun to check them out.
Shime parfait (シメパフェ)
Among many types of unique food culture in Hokkaido, shime parfait is the best one to exemplify them. Shime (しめ) means a closing dish after all drinking of a day. Allegedly only Hokkaido people will choose parfait as the closing.
NANAKAMADOU (ななかま堂)
Parfait, Coffee, Liquor, Sasaki
Weekend short trip in Tokyo for beginners: Omote-sando→Harajuku→Meiji-jingu→Shibuya (by Tomo)
Weekend short trip in Tokyo for beginners: Omote-sando→Harajuku→Meiji-jingu→Shibuya (by Tomo)
Omote-sando／表参道／おもてさんどう
Harajuku／原宿／はらじゅく
Meiji-Jingu／明治神宮／めいじじんぐう
Shibuya／渋谷／しぶや
If you visit in Japan, you might have one or two days over weekend just after your arrival or just before leaving. This is a short description about the options to walk around Tokyo area in such a limited time. This is
Omote-sando (Chiyoda metro line): strictly speaking, this is a part of the entrance street towards Meiji-jingu (shrine), but it is fully converted with modern shops, e.g. 5th street in NY or Champs-Elysees street in Paris. You can make a 15 - 20 min walks towards Harajuku.
Harajuku is a small and yet busy city to visit. There are many shops and restaurants. Takeshita-dori (Takeshita street) is known as a street for high-school students who dreamed about Tokyo from TV. There are many small shops (clothes, accessories) if you go into one street away from the main streets.
Meiji-jingu is a big shinto-shrine in the Tokyo area. It sits in a forest in a busy city, and you can enjoy a traditional and quiet green area in the middle of Tokyo. There is a neighbor park to the Menji-jingu, which serves like a Hide park or Central park in London or NY. The forest where Meiji-jingu locates is an artificial forest designed about ~100 years ago.
Shibuya is a walking distance from Meiji-jingu. You can experience a mean-free-path physically by walking the famous Shibuya crossing. You can also stop by Shibuya Loft, where you can find your souvenir. The items you can find in Loft is less traditional, but you can find many cute/small very Japanese like character based stationery goods. Here is some examples.
There are so many restaurants to go. Here are the potential list to try casually:
fun Tokyo Monjayaki (and Okonomiaki) (by shaul and Niza)
fun Tokyo Monjayaki (and Okonomiaki) (by shaul and Niza)
Key words
Okonomiaki／お好み焼き／おこのみやき
Monjayki／もんじゃ焼き／もんじゃやき
Tsukishima／月島 ／つきしま
You probably know that Okonomiaki is a 'must-try' food in Japan. What I didn't know is that there is another variant called Monjayaki.
Monjayaki is also made on a hot plate, also dominated by cabbage, also comes in variants with beef, pork, seafood, etc., but the form factor, the cooking, and the eating are different. Monjayaki is flatter, and wetter.
And even more fun, there is a street in Tokyo - Tsukishima Monja Street (see map) - that is all dedicated to many small restaurants making Monjayaki. There are so many stores there, the number dwarfs the number of ramen restaurants in 'Ramen Street' (Tokyo station, which is also highly worth of a visit). Of course, most restaurants also make Okonomiaki.
It is easy to get to Tsukishima Monja Street because Tsukishima Station (Oedo line) is just 5 minutes walk nearby.
Specialized Tokyo areas (by shaul)
Specialized Tokyo areas (by shaul)
Tokyo has specialized areas. Akihabara, for example, is well known for its Anime, Manga, Gaming, and electrical equipment. Ramen Street, and the MonJayaki area are mentioned elsewhere in this page.
Here are three more areas that are worth a visit, particularly if the topics resonate with you. Even if they don't, just looking at the specialized abundance is an experience of its own.
If you are into kitchen-ware, stroll along Kappabashi Street in Asakusa. It is lined with tens of stores, large and small, all choke full of various types of kitchen equipment. There are some very fancy knife stores, and also more down-to-earth ceramic-ware, chopstick, and pans and pots shops. Some of the plastic-made mock foods are quite amazing (see photograph).
If you are into music instruments (guitars, drums, wind, ...), walk south of Ochanomizu station along Meidai Dori street.
And if you are into books, particularly used books, get off the Shinjuku line at Jimbocho station and walk along the east/west main avenue, and in the neighboring streets. Some of these stores are absolutely amazing in the abundance of books they have, even if you can't read a word (but you should be able to decipher the books in the photograph).
National Stadium (two top photographs), Waseda International House of Literature (third), and the Sendagaya Community Center (bottom).
Experience the architecture of Kengo Kuma in Tokyo (by niza)
Experience the architecture of Kengo Kuma in Tokyo (by niza)
Kengo Kuma is one of the world's most famous architects, and if you are interested in architecture you can enjoy some of his buildings in Tokyo. Here is a partial list of the places I visited. To find any one of them type the name in your favorite maps app. (No, there is no easy walking path to see several of the buildings in a couple of hours.)
Kuma designed the Japan National Stadium (国立競技場), which was built for the 2020 Olympic Games, the Nezu Museum (根津美術館), the Akagi shrine (赤城神社), The Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center (浅草文化観光センター), the Waseda International House of Literature (早稲田大学国際文学館 村上春樹ライブラリー, also called the Haruki Murakami Library; Murakami is a renowned Japanese writer who donated his notes and other artifacts to his college alma mater), and the Sendagaya Community Center (scc).
When you visit his buildings you will notice that Kuma merges contemporary western architecture with traditional design elements, respecting Japanese heritage. He is also using a lot of wood and infuses low environmental impact approaches to pay respect to the environment.
I hope you'll enjoy Kengo Kuma's architecture as much as I did!
Weekend short trip in Tokyo for beginners: Shinjuku（新宿／しんじゅく） area (by Tomo)
Weekend short trip in Tokyo for beginners: Shinjuku（新宿／しんじゅく） area (by Tomo)
If you visit in Japan, you might have one or two days over weekend just after your arrival or just before leaving. This is a short description about the options to walk around Tokyo area in such a limited time. Here, we highlight Shinjuku area.
Shinjuku station:
It is like a maze. If you went out to the west side first by mistake, and try to go to the east side, it can take very long time. I hope you download the map in advance even though you don't have network access.
East side of Shinjuku station:
Hokosha-tengoku: on Sunday, one of the major streets is blocked and available for pedestrians. Just walking on the street in the forest of buildings is fun. Also, you might see some street-performances along the street.
Kinokuniya: it is one of the biggest book stores. While online purchase and paperless become standard, we still have a Kinokuniya bookshop, one full building is a bookshop. South gate of Shinjuku station also has Kinokuniya bookshop, which has many non-Japanese books.
Sekaido: this is one of the biggest stationary shops. Entire building is for stationery goods. For those who spent life studying physics, you enjoy for sure!
Appearently, I've heard that there is Gozilla somewhere on the top of the building...
Shinjuku-Gyoen: The east side of Shinjuku has an entrance to the Shinjuku-Gyoen, a park. After walking around in the city, you might enjoy relaxing in green. In spring, you can see the beautiful Sakura blossom. You need to pay 500 yen to enter, see more in their website.
There are many izakaya and more. Though just walking through is probably fine, you might encounter unpleasant invitation to bars, and so it is always good to be cautious. If you go at night, you see exactly what you saw in Lost in Translation.
Golden-gai: If we say Yokocho in Kashiwano-ha-campus is for a beginner, Golden-gai is for an expert.
Omoide-Yokocho: I recommend for you to go to Omoide-Yokocho before going to Golden-gai.
West side of Shinjuku station:
Tokyo Metropolitan Government building: The top floor is open to public (free) and you can see the metropolitan Tokyo, which is impressive! I highly recommend to go. You can also play the piano in public :-)
Some cafes/foods in Shinjuku:
「Keika／桂花」@新宿 Kumamoto Ramen, a few places available in Shinjuku area.
「Funabashiya／船橋屋」Very classic tempura restaurant. They have very nice nihonshu, Sasaichi/笹一.
「Tsubakiya coffee／椿屋珈琲」Taisho style coffee shop. After a long day of walking around Tokyo, you can rest with some sweets.
「Suntory Lounge Eagle／サントリーラウンジイーグル」If you want to drink one whisky instead of 3 beers with the same price, this is the place to recommend. It isn't a place to go with a flip-flop.
Visiting Tokyo in February? Go to Yushima Tenjin Shrine (by Shaul and Niza)
Visiting Tokyo in February? Go to Yushima Tenjin Shrine (by Shaul and Niza)
If you are visiting IPMU or spending time in Tokyo in February, visit Yushima Tenjin shrine. The shrine has 300 hundred plum trees, which blossom in mid to late February. In celebration of the blooming trees the shrines holds a festival (Ume Matsuri) starting the first weekend in February through the first week in March. There are various shows, vendors, and many locals come to see the blooming trees. The place is active throughout the weekdays, and is super-vibrant in the weekends, with a long line of worshipers waiting to pray for their preferred blessings.
Check Yushima Tenjin's Shrine website for exact festival dates.
To get there, use the Chiyoda line, get off in Yushima Station, and walk 5-10 minutes.
Ramen／ラーメン／らーめん
Ramen／ラーメン／らーめん
Ramen: something that you should try during your stay in Japan. When you face it, you realize that there are many kinds and sometimes it is difficult to choose one within your limited time in Japan. So, this is the cosmologist guide to ramen :-)
Basic parameters:
Soup（すーぷ／スープ）
Shouyu (しょうゆ／醤油)
Miso（みそ／味噌）
Shio（しお／塩）
Tonkotsu（とんこつ／豚骨）
In addition to the flavor of the soup, sometimes you can choose こってり（heavy soup） or さっぱり（light soup）.
Noddle（めん／麺）
Standard: I don't think there is any particular name to this. Maybe we just say "futsuu（ふつう）" which means normal.
diameter of noodle
Hosomen（ほそめん／細麺）: thin diameter noodle
Futomen（ふとめん／太麺）: thick diameter noodle
hardness of noodle
Katame（かため）
Yawarakame（やわらかめ）
Typical default toppings（とっぴんぐ／トッピング）
Chashu（チャーシュー／焼豚）: roasted pork with a sweet soy souse.
Menma（めんま／メンマ）： long looked bamboo shoots.
Naruto（なると）： Minced fish cake with a spiral design.
Tsukemen（つけめん／つけ麺）
There is a type of ramen which is served with noodle and soup separately.
Random suggestions:
Hakata ramen（博多ラーメン）「Ippudo／一風堂」loc: La la port in Kashiwanoha campus
Kumamoto ramen（熊本ラーメン）「Keika／桂花」@新宿 Kumamoto Ramen, a few places available in Shinjuku area.
京都発祥ラーメン「Tenka Ippin／天下一品」It is originally from Kyoto but now franchised and so you can find in many places. The closest around IPMU is one in Akihabara (5 min walk) or Tsukuba (15 min talk from Tsukuba station).
Hokkaido ramen（北海道味噌ラーメン）なまら 浅草西参道店 (Asakusa) Martina and Massimiliano's first ramen in Japan :-)
炙り味噌らーめん 麺匠 真武咲弥 渋谷店 recommended by Yurika (there are some vegan veggie noodle and gluten free noodle)
麺屋 音 (Kashiwa/Kitasenju) The soup is made from dried sardines. (Recommended by Ryosuke)
東京豚骨拉麺 ばんから (Toyoshiki/Akihabara) Chashu pork is tender and tasty! (Recommended by Ryosuke)
and more
Place to eat ramen collectively:
Tokyo Ramen street in Tokyo station／東京ラーメンストリート in Tokyo station (B1@Yaesu side near the station gate)
Tokyo Ramen Yokocho／東京ラーメン横丁 in Tokyo station (B1@Yaesu side, a few min walk away from the station gate)
Tokyo Ramen Kokugikan／東京ラーメン国技館
Everyone loves dipping into an onsen on a cold winter day. Snow monkeys at Jigokudani - Nagano Prefecture.
A BRIEF AND INCOMPLETE LIST OF NICE ONSENS All AROUND JAPAN (by TOMMASO)
A BRIEF AND INCOMPLETE LIST OF NICE ONSENS All AROUND JAPAN (by TOMMASO)
Onsens or japanese traditional hot springs are a must visit especially during the winter months. This is an incomplete list of my favorite spots I have visited in the past 5+ years all around Japan. I tried to split them into made-up categories, several of them could belong to multiple categories so don't take it too seriously.
Onsens with a view:
Inubosaki - Chiba Prefecture: this onsen has an outdoor area overlooking the pacific ocean and the hot spring water is mixed with salty sea water from the ocean, so it is different from the average onsen.
Hitachi - Ibaraki Prefecture: like the previous one, this onsen overlooks the pacific ocean. On the beach just next to the onsen there is a surf shop and a local burger joint, so it is perfect for a summer day.
Kofu - Yamanashi Prefecture: during the day this onsen offers an amazing view of Mt. Fuji. There is no indoor space apart for changing room and shower room.
Oshima Island - Tokyo: just south of Tokyo bay there are a handful of minor islands, Oshima is the main one and also the easiest to reach from Tokyo (2-3 hours by speed boat). This onsen mixed and it is one of the few where swimsuit is allowed and actually mandatory. There is no indoor area and the outdoor pool overlooks the ocean to the west, so it is very popular at sunset.
Onsens for a winter visit:
Kusazu - Gunma Prefecture: Kusazu is a well known onsen town surrounded by mountains. You can find many onsens but I recommend this one because despite being very simple it has a huge outdoor pool surrounded by the forest.
Daisetsuzan National Park - Hokkaido: This is probably one of the most remote onsen hotel I have ever been to. The closest village is more than 1 hour away by car. It is located right at the center of Daisetsuzan National Park and I highly recommend it to those who want to spend a day or two surrounded by nothing but nature.
Nozawaonsen - Nagano Prefecture: Nozawa is a must-go place for lovers of winter sports, and it is relatively easy to reach even by public transport. The town has several onsen facilities you can choose from, and I couldn't decide which one to recommend.
Onsens for adventurous people:
This is a list of onsens I would recommend if you would like to try something different from your average onsen. Not recommended if you are looking for something very relaxing.
Kawazu - Shizuoka Prefecture: I already mentioned this place in the article about Shimoda. In the google maps link I pinned an area with hot spring pools along Kawazu river. This place has free entrance and swimsuit is required.
Shin-Hotaka - Gifu Prefecture: Another unguarded hot spring pool on the side of a river. Here swimsuit is not required and there are no gender separated pools. This place is located very close to Kamikochi valley which is a great location for a hike and also not far from Kamioka, site of the Super Kamiokande experiment.
Lake Kussharo - Hokkaido: Same as above but on the lake side.
Eboshidake - Akita Prefecture: There are several nice onsen and ryokans in this area. But for hikers I recommend hiking on one of the trails to Mt. Eboshidake and jump in one of the many natural hot spring pools between the river and the trail on the way down from the mountain.
Smelly Onsens:
This is a list of onsen with water containing a high concentration of sulfur and other chemicals that give a characteristic strong smell, as well as a milky color to the hot water. I personally love this type of onsen but it is definitely an acquired taste.
Beppu - Oita Prefecture: Beppu is Kyushu onsen capital and one of the most famous onsen towns in Japan. Around the town center you can find many boiling ponds of different colors because of different chemicals dissolved in the hot water and even a few geysers. There are way too many onsen in and around Beppu, but I recommend the one linked here because of its very traditional atmosphere.
Bandai National Park - Fukushima Prefecture: Very nice traditional and local onsen located in the mountains.
Towada-Hachimantai National Park - Aomori Prefecture: An old onsen hotel with a mountain hut atmosphere located just below Mt. Hokkada. For those into extreme winter sports, Mt. Hokkada is well known for backcountry skiing. Highly recommended in the area is a easy mostly flat hike along Oirase Gorge starting from Lake Towada.
Akan National Park - Hokkaido: Akan National Park offers some graet hikes, beautiful panoramas and it is pretty easy to spot wild animals. Why not end the visit with a nice relaxing onsen?
Onsen/Super-sento around Tokyo?
SpaLaQua in Tokyo Dome City located in Ochanomizu or Korakuen, This is based on the natural hot spring and the water is salty because this area used to be nearly sealine.
hiking trip in Kamikōchi (上高地 ) by julien
hiking trip in Kamikōchi (上高地 ) by julien
松本市 (Matsumoto), 長野県 (Nagano prefecture)
Access:
Nagano is accessible from Tokyo by shinkansen in less than 2 hours, but I took a night bus (5 hours long trip). When I arrived in Nagano city, I took some time to visit Zenko-ji, which is a very famous Buddhist temple with a very nice garden!
From Nagano, you can take the Shinonoi line to go to Matsumoto, the second city of Nagano prefecture. Matsumoto is famous for its castle, one of the twelve remaining original tenshu (天守閣 , meaning keep) in Japan.
From Matsumoto station, the local Alpico line takes you to Shinshimashima Station (新島々駅 ), and a bus takes you to Kamikochi valley! Outbound is 2710¥. If you want to take some days hiking in Kamikochi, there are hotels and some mountain huts where you can stay, I also saw some people camping in tents!
Once you are in Kamikochi, enjoy! The surroundings are very beautiful, with cristalline turquoise water! We even encountered a monkey family!
IMPORTANT: Bears are spotted in Kamikochi. Although they are harmless most of the time, you should keep your distance. A bearbell is recommended. Also, it is important to have mountaineering shoes when going on trails!
Specialty :
Soba (そば ) : buckwheat
Sanzoku-yaki (山賊焼き ) : Fried chicken (which comes in XL portions, you might want to share with your friends!)
Oyaki(おやき ) : typical dumpling from Matsumoto!
Yasaka Tower
Kyoto Tower
Ginkaku-Ji
Eikan-do Temple
Saga Arashiyama
Monkey Park
Sagano Romantic Train
Kyoto／京都／きょうと (by toshiya)
Kyoto／京都／きょうと (by toshiya)
Kyoto is one of the oldest municipalities in Japan. The best way to go to Kyoto is to use the bullet train (新幹線, Shinkansen) from Tokyo station to Kyoto station. It takes approximately 3.5 hours from the Kashiwanoha campus station. Once you arrive in Kyoto, I recommend you to use a bus. There are also two subway lines. You can buy a day pass ticket for the bus at Kyoto station (the bus Information office in front of the JR Kyoto Station central entrance). You can also find travel guidance online (here is an example). Below is my list of places I want to go again / recommend you to visit.
Near the JR Kyoto Station
Kyoto Tower (京都タワー)
Toji Temple (東寺)
Kyoto Railway Museum (京都鉄道博物館) & Kyoto Aquarium (京都水族館) if you travel with your children
East / Northeast
Kiyomizu-Dera (清水寺)
Ginkaku-Ji (銀閣寺) (close to Kyoto University)
Gion (祇園), Yasaka Shirine (八坂神社), Maruyama Park (円山公園)
Eikan-dō Temple (永観堂)
One of the best autumn leaves spotsEating: restaurants around Hyaku-man-ben (百万遍), Ra-men streets at Ichi-Joyji (一乗寺)
Central
Nijo Castle (二条城)
Nishiki Market (錦市場) for Japanese sweets, pickles, dried seafood, and sushi
Kamo-River (鴨川)
You can enjoy Kamogawa Nouryou-Yuka (納涼床) in the summerEating: restaurants around Pontocho (先斗町), Kyoto BBQ (京焼肉, e.g. 弘)
North
Kurama-Dera (鞍馬寺) & Kurama hot spring (くらま温泉)
You need to ride on the train (叡山鉄道) from Demachiyanagi Station (出町柳)
West / Northwest
Kinkaku-Ji (金閣寺)
Kitano Tenmangū Shrine (北野天満宮)
Saga Arashiyama (嵯峨嵐山)
Spring / Autumn is the best season.Arashiyama Monkey Park (嵐山モンキーパーク)
Sagano Romantic Train (嵯峨野トロッコ列車) & Hozugawa River Boat Ride (保津川下り)
You can also go to Yunohana hot spring (湯の花温泉)Toei Kyoto Studio Park (太秦映画村)
South
Fushimi-Momoyama (伏見桃山)
Kizakura Kappa Country (黄桜酒場)
Hotel recommendation by Nobu
Other Daiwa roynet hotels near the station are also good
Mitsui garden hotels kyoto-sanjo
Other Mitsui garden hotels are also good
Looking up the H2 rocket from the bottom (50 m tall).
Mt. Tsukuba
Tsukuba-shrine at Mt. Tsukuba
one day trip to tsukuba（つくば／筑波） (by Tomo)
one day trip to tsukuba（つくば／筑波） (by Tomo)
Tsukuba is one end of TX line, ~20 min from Kashiwanoha campus station. Besides visiting national labs, e.g. KEK, JAXA, U. of Tsukuba, AIST, for work, Tsukuba is an ideal place for a day trip from Kashiwanoha campus.
near Tsukuba station:
Tsukuba expo center (H2A rocket, planetarium, science museum.) [loc]
BBQ Days (only in summer)
Walking distance from Tsukuba station
Bus or rental car
Tsukuba shrine（筑波神社） in Mt. Tsukuba（筑波山） [loc]
Take a bus from Tsukuba station, bus terminal 1 (①筑波山方面). It takes about 30-40 min from Tsukuba station.
National lab exhibition
Below: View from the top of Mt. Tsukuba. You can see the full Kanto plane from the north end. If the weather corporates (usually clear day in winter), you can see Mt. Fuji and Tokyo sky tree.
Shimoda - A SUMMER Getaway 3 HOURS from Tokyo (by Tommaso)
Shimoda - A SUMMER Getaway 3 HOURS from Tokyo (by Tommaso)
Shimoda is a small town in Shizuoka prefecture. It is located on the tip of the Izu peninsula, just south of mount Fuji. It can be reached in about 2.5 hours from Tokyo station by shinkansen (bullet train) to Atami + local train from Atami to Izukyu-Shimoda station. The cost is roughly 5000 yen, cheaper (but much slower) options are available if you take a local train from Tokyo. For a multi-day trip a car is probably a better option to explore the area.
Several beaches can be reached by foot or a short bus ride from Izukyu-Shimoda station or other stations along the Izukyuko line. A car opens up many more options.
A few of my favorite spots:
Hirizo beach - A rocky beach that can only be reached with a 2-min boat ride (2000 yen for return ticket) during the summer months. This is a snorkeler paradise where you can see plenty of colorful fishes, moray eels and according to locals even sea turtles if you are lucky.
Irozaki cape - For some beautiful views of the ocean from steep cliffs.
Tatadohama beach or Shirahama beach - If you are a surfer.
Any sushi place around Izukyu-Shimoda station.
Kawazu - Another stop along the Izukyuko line. This spot is famous for early Hanami (cherry blossom watching) in February and Kawazu Seven Waterfalls where you can take an easy path along a gorge with a bunch of waterfalls, and get into your swimsuit and jump into an outdoor onsen (hot spring) along the lower section of the gorge just next to one of the waterfalls.
The area is famous for hot springs, so it is a nice getaway all year round.
If you are a bicycle enthusiast, I recommend exploring the area by bicycle. You can take your bike from Tokyo by train, if you use a bike-bag to carry it. The area is very hilly so a sporty bike in good conditions is recommended.
Pictures (from top to bottom): Hirizo beach, Irozaki cape, Shirahama beach, Kawazu Seven Waterfalls, bike tire fixed with tape on my way to Hirizo beach.
A full day in Kamakura (by Thuong)
A full day in Kamakura (by Thuong)
Kamakura, just south of Tokyo, is a perfect place for a day trip. It takes about an hour to get to Kamakura from the Tokyo station. Kamakura was the political capital of Japan, this city is an attractive place for tourists with ancient Japanese history and culture. It is famous for the Great Budda statue, many shrines, and temples. We can visit Kamakura for a walking tour.
Komachi street: just next to the Kamakura station, we can try some local Japanese sweets and shopping.
Tsurugaoka Hachiman shrine at the end of the Komachi street
The Great Buddha statue (11.3 m) [loc], "Buddha sitting in a roofless house", the construction of the Buddha began in 1252, and it is a Japanese national treasure.
Yuigahama beach [loc]: A popular beach for surfers.
There are many more things to do in this historical city as an example guide on tripadvisor.
Kuju-kuri beach (by ryota)
Kuju-kuri beach (by ryota)
Kuju-kuri beach is in the east side of Chiba and you can see a beautiful sunrise with ocean view (Picture taken by Ryota, and this is a special sunrise taken on 1/1, called as "hatu-hinode". A lot of people go there to see it). Actually Kuju-kuri is my hometown and I often go there
How to get there? since it is country side, we need to care about the traffic table, otherwise you have to wait 1 ~ 2 hours at the bus stop.
But if you can stay in Kuju-kuri overnight to see sunrise, Sunrise Kuju-kuri is the best hotel.
This hotel is also recommended by my family, you can see the sunrise from the room of this hotel
This hotel provides the shuttle bus from Chiba station, I think it is the easiest way to arrive:
Take a train to get to Chiba station
Take a shuttle bus to the hotel at the bus stop No.4 in the side of East exit of Chiba station
Two symbols in tokyo: Tokyo tower & SkyTree (by Tomo)
Two symbols in tokyo: Tokyo tower & SkyTree (by Tomo)
In both places, you can go up to the observatories and see the awesome view of the greater Tokyo area. The hard choice one has to make is if you go during the day time or night time. During the day time, you can see the view (see left). It's small, but you can see Mt. Tsukuba from Skytree in the photo (right-top). Also, you should be able to watch Mt. Fuji from both observatories. If you go at night, you see the beautiful night view. If you go around the sunset, you might be able to see the dark Mt. Fuji in the sunset and that's very impressive.
Skytree: The Skytree is 634 m which is after 武蔵（むさし/Musashi）, originated from the old name of this region. it is a walking distance from Asakusa and so combined trip with Asakusa will be perfect!
Tokyo tower was and still is a symbol of Tokyo. It is built after the Eiffel tower and is slightly taller at 333 m.
One unique thing about the Tokyo tower is that you can walk up to the observatory by the stairs.
It is ~15 min walk from JR Hamamatsucho station (you might have used it from Haneda). On its way, there is 増上寺 (Zojo-ji) [loc] that is a historical template. There are several mausoleum of Tokugawa shogun.
One potential way to connect Skytree and Tokyo tower is to use a water bus. There is a pier called Hinode-sanbashi（日の出桟橋 [loc]）near Tokyo Tower (30 min walk) and the Asakusa pier（浅草 [loc]）. It is only less than 1000 yen for a one-way trip. You will go close the rainbow bridge [loc]. Asakusa is where you can take the Tsukuba express, so this can be a fun water front experience in Tokyo bay.
Downtown Hotel recommendations by Nobu
Blossom Hibiya (this is a chain hotel of JR Kyushu. Very good for the money)
Gate hotel Tokyo (this is a chain hotel by Hulic. Very good for the money) They have hotels in Asakusa are as well
The image from https://www.suijobus.co.jp/en/
Few days in Nikko (by Louise)
Few days in Nikko (by Louise)
Nikko is a very nice place to spend few days or even more if you like hiking.
In the Nikko city:
Nikko is easily accessible by train, from Tokyo it takes less than 2 hours. Nikko is a small city, very famous for its temples, especially the Toshogu sanctuary. You can easily spend one day to visit it, the place is very nice because temples are hidden inside the forest. The Shinkyo bridge, on the way when going to the temples, is also very impressive.
Chuzenji lake:
This lake is located in the mountains above Nikko, about 40 minutes by bus from the Nikko train station. You have many buses (much more than what Google map says) and you can ask the times at the tourism office in the station. You can also buy a pass for 1 or 2 days to takes the bus as much as you want. At the office, they also have a map with hiking trails around the lake. For example, there is a path which follow the shores of the lake, about 20 km which is essentially flat. It is a very nice hike, below the trees, with many beautiful beaches where you are basically alone.
Kegon falls:
This is a very high fall, about 100 m, located next to the lake, 5 min by walk from the bus stop. You can take an elevator to go down and look at the fall. It is very impressive: the noise, the quantity of water falling down, the fact that it never stops...
Hiking from Yumoto:
With the same bus that goes to Chuzenji lake, you can reach Yumoto, a small village with an other lake at approximately 1500 m. From Yumoto, you have many trails in the mountains. One that you can do is going to Shirane mount which is at 2578 m. The view is awesome and you are was basically alone in the mountains (except at the pic which was crowded because there is probably another simpler path coming from the other side). However, do not do it if you never hiked in mountains, it is pretty difficult, no climbing but the path is very steep and rocky so I do not want to be responsible for any cosmologist lost in the Japan mountains!
MUST EAT typical (lunch/dinner) FOOD in JAPAN
MUST EAT typical (lunch/dinner) FOOD in JAPAN
This is to introduce a set of foods you can eat in Japan. Introducing a specific restaurant can be found in other sections, and here is just a list of foods! Though there is no strict rule, some foods are commonly found in lunch and some in dinner. The list is marked by B (breakfast type food), L (lunch type food), or D (dinner type food).
O-sushi（寿司／すし）: L&D
Standard Sushi（寿司／すし）
Kaiten sushi（回転寿司）
Misoshiru（味噌汁／みそしる）: B, L, D
Ramen（ラーメン）: commonly L
Shoyu（醤油／しょうゆ）
Miso（味噌／みそ）
Shio（塩／しお）
Tonkotsu（豚骨／とんこつ）
Jirou-kei（二郎系／じろうけい）
Ie-kei（家系／いえけい）
...
Gyoza（餃子／ぎょうざ）: L&D, often w/ Ramen
Soba（蕎麦／そば）: L
Tanuki（たぬき）
Kitsune（きつね）
Sansai（さんさい）
Ontama（温玉／おんたま）
...
Udon（うどん）: L&D
Tanuki（たぬき）
Kitsune（きつね）
Sansai（さんさい）
Ontama（温玉／おんたま）
...
Curry（カレー）: L&D
Edamame（枝豆／えだまめ）: D
Umeboshi（梅干／うめぼし）
Natto（納豆／なっとう）: B, sometimes L&D
Japanese fusion made spaghetti : L&D
Tarako spaghetti（たらこスパゲッティ）
Napolitan（ナポリタン）
...
Yakitori（焼き鳥／やきとり）: D
Don-mono: L&D
Tendon（天丼／てんどん）
Gyudon（牛丼／ぎゅうどん）
Oyako-don（親子丼／おやこどん）
Katsudon（カツ丼／かつどん）
Unaju（うな重／うなじゅう）
Kaisen-don（海鮮丼／かいせんどん）
...
Sukiyaki（すき焼き／すきやき）: D but sometimes L
Shabushabu（しゃぶしゃぶ）: D
Agedashi Tofu（揚げ出し豆腐／あげだしどうふ）: D
Konamono（粉物／こなもの）: L&D
Okonomiyaki（お好み焼き）
Hiroshima style（広島風／ひろしまふう）
Osaka style（大阪風／おおさか）
Takoyaki（たこ焼き／たこやき）
Monjayaki（もんじゃ焼き／もんじゃやき）
Demi-Omuraisu（デミオムライス／でみおむらいす）: L&D
Korokke（コロッケ／ころっけ）: L&D
Tonkatsu（とんかつ）: L&D
Yakizakana（焼き魚／やきざかな）: B&L&D
Doria（ドリア／どりあ）: L&D
Yakiniku（焼肉／やきにく）: L&D
Kushikatsu（串カツ／くしかつ）: D
Nabe（鍋／なべ）: L&D
Osashimi（お刺身／おさしみ）：D
Karaage（唐揚げ／からあげ）： L&D
Tempura（天ぷら／てんぷら）：（L&）D
Tofu（豆腐／とうふ）: B&L&D
MUST drink items in JAPAN
MUST drink items in JAPAN
This is to introduce the set of drinks you can try in Japan. Introducing a specific place can be found in other section, but here is just a list of foods!
Alcohol
Beers
Sapporo（サッポロ）、Kirin（麒麟／きりん）、Asahi（アサヒ）、Ebisu（エビス）
the most important phrase as quoted by Eiichiro is ``Nama''（生／なま）or ``Namachuu''（生中／なまちゅう）, which means a draft beer.
Nihon-shu (We don't call this ``sake"!!)（日本酒／にほんしゅ）
Shou-chu（焼酎／しょうちゅう）
Imo（芋／いも）
Mugi（麦／むぎ）
Highball（ハイボール／はいぼーる）
Non-alcohol
Nihoncha（日本茶／にほんちゃ）
Mugicha（麦茶／むぎちゃ）
Pocari sweat（ポカリスエット／ぽかりすえっと）
Yakult（Yakuruto／ヤクルト／やくると）
Calpis（Karupisu／カルピス／かるぴす）
Non-alcohol beer（ノンアルコールビール／のんあるこーるびーる／のんある）
MUST EAT Japanese bReads
MUST EAT Japanese bReads
This is to introduce the set of breads you can find in Japanese bakery. Introducing a specific restaurant can be found in other section, but here is just a list of foods!
An-pan（あんぱん）
Curry pan（カレーパン／かれーぱん）
Melon pan（メロンパン／めろんぱん）
Yakisoba pan（焼きそばパン／やきそばぱん）
Korokke sando（コロッケサンド／ころっけさんど）
Andounattsu（アンドーナッツ／あんどーなっつ）
choko korone（チョココロネ／ちょこころね）
Ogura tousuto（小倉トースト／おぐらとーすと）
Sweet potato pie（スイートポテトパイ／すいーとぽてとぱい）
MUST EAT ``Traditional'' SWEETS in JAPAN
MUST EAT ``Traditional'' SWEETS in JAPAN
This is to introduce the set of Japanese ``traditional'' sweets you can eat in Japan. Introducing a specific restaurant can be found in other section, but here is just a list of foods!
Ohagi（おはぎ）
Kinakomochi（きな粉餅／きなこもち）
Odango（お団子／おだんご）
Mitarashi dango（みたらし団子／みたらしだんご）
Anko（あんこ）
Goma（ごま）
Taiyaki（たい焼き／たいやき）
Shingenmochi（信玄餅／しんげんもち）
Yokan（羊羹／ようかん）
Daifuku（大福／だいふく）
Kashiwa-mochi（柏餅／かしわもち）
Sakura-mochi（桜餅／さくらもち）
Osihruko（お汁粉／おしるこ）
Zunda-mochi（ずんだ餅／ずんだもち）
Kuzumochi（葛餅／くずもち）
Monaka（最中／もなか）
Warabimochi（わらび餅／わらびもち）
Anmitsu（あんみつ）
Osenbei（お煎餅／おせんべい）
Dorayaki（どらやき）
Yakiimo（焼き芋／やきいも）
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter
MUST EAT Seasonal foodS in JAPAN
MUST EAT Seasonal foodS in JAPAN
This is to introduce the set of seasonal foods you can try in Japan. Introducing a specific restaurant can be found in other section, but here is just a list of foods!
Spring
Takenoko（筍／たけのこ）
Sansai tempura（山菜天ぷら／さんさいてんぷら）
Strawberry（苺／いちご）
Sakura-mochi（桜餅／さくらもち）
Katsuo（Bonito／カツオ／かつお）
Asari・Hamaguri（clam／あさり・はまぐり）
Summer
Soumen（素麺／そうめん）
Hiyashi chuuka（冷やし中華／ひやしちゅうか）
Zaru soba（ざるそば）
Zaru udon（ざるうどん）
Mizuyoukann（みずようかん）
Garigari-kun（ガリガリくん／がりがりくん）
Monaka ice（モナカアイス／もなかあいす）
Yukimi daifuku（雪見だいふく／ゆきみだいふく）
Pear（梨／なし）
Autumn
Sanma（Pacific saury／秋刀魚／さんま）
Kabocha（pumpkin／南瓜／かぼちゃ）
Yakiimo（焼き芋／やきいも）
Budou（葡萄／ぶどう）
Kyohou（巨峰／きょほう）
Shine muscat（シャインマスカット／しゃいんますかっと）
Delaware grapes（デラウェア／でらうぇあ）
...
Kaki（persimmon／柿／かき）
Kuri（chestnut／栗／くり）
Winter
Nabe（鍋／なべ）
Buta kimuchi nabe（豚キムチ／ぶたきむち）
Miso nabe（味噌／みそ）
Kaki nabe（Oyster／牡蠣／かき）
Tounyu nabe（豆乳鍋／とうにゅうなべ）
Motsu nabe（もつ鍋／もつなべ）
Yose nabe（寄せ鍋／よせなべ）
Chanko nabe（ちゃんこ鍋／ちゃんこなべ）
Ankou nabe（アンコウ鍋／あんこうなべ）
Oden（おでん）
Hakusai（Chinese cabbage／白菜／はくさい）
Daikon（大根／だいこん）
Stationery in Japan
Stationery in Japan
As you spent a long time studying over the years, stationery goods are your very close friend. Japan is known as a country that makes a variety of stationery goods in design and functionalities. The examples are
various types of notes
super-smoothly writable/erasable pens
cute clips,
various shapes of post-its
miniature sizes of usual stationery items
disposable brush pens.
It is worth stopping by a stationery shop, and you will enjoy finding various things. It can be also a good souvenir for your family and friends.
Hands be in LaLa Garden
Tsutaya in Kashiwanoha
LOFT in Nagareyama Ootakanomori S.C. or in Tsukuba Tonarie Q't
DAISO (stationery section) in LaLa Garden
...
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