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Utsunomiya Terrace: Discover a world of comfort during your travels.
Recently, I had the chance to visit the newly-opened shopping complex near Utsunomiya Station in Tochigi, Japan: Utsunomiya Terrace. As the name suggests, you might imagine being on the terrace of your home or resort. But the establishment resembles a resort/apartment type architecture where one can enjoy spending outdoors at the roof deck garden or terrace. The outdoor space brings an overall appeal to the building which is different from other shopping malls. It is also a perfect place to catch a glimpse of the nearby buildings or simply sunbathe during the cold winter months. Curious about what's inside Utsunomiya Terrace? Let's find out in my tour. Shops and stores Utsunomiya Terrace officially opened last August 2022 with some shops…
CANOLA FLOWERS: Japan’s Gorgeous Golden Flowers in Spring
When spring comes in Japan, we only have one flower in mind to watch out for: cherry blossoms or sakura. Did you know that the country is a plethora of flowers, especially during springtime? It ranges from flowering trees to vast flower fields that stretch through the horizon. And one of the best flowers to watch out for is canola/ rapeseed flowers or nano hana in Japanese. Also read: https://www.tanboblog.org/what-you-need-to-know-about-japans-cherry-blossoms-season/ WHAT ARE CANOLA FLOWERS? Image by Yves from Pixabay Canola or Rapeseed flowers are bright yellow members of the mustard family, harvested mainly for their oil-rich seed which is edible and contains erucic acid. In Japan, it is consumed as a side dish either boiled or sauteed. Canola oil is the third-largest source of…
Winter Illuminations at Grimm no Mori Park
Every winter in Japan, the country's parks and commercial centers comes alive with spectacular lights and illuminations to brighten the season's long chilly nights. Most of these spots have Christmas themes and decorations while some just display floral or fairy tale themes. One of my favorite spots near my town is Grimm no Mori. Fairy Tale Theme Illumination I wrote a previous blog about Grimm no Mori which you can find here. This park was built as a dedication to the Grimm brothers who wrote world-famous fairy tales such as Hansel and Gretel. The sprawling park turns into a fantasy on a winter night. Elaborate Christmas lights are adorned at every corner of each garden, making it one of the…
Hiking Nikko’s Lake Yunoko
Before September comes to an end, I would like to share with you one of my best summer experiences this year--my family hiking the calm and serene Lake Yunoko. Located in Oku-Nikko up in the mountains in Nikko City and a few minutes drive from the bigger Lake Chuzenji. This lake is a 3km round lovely lake which you can do a round trip hike for about an hour. In my previous blog article, we had an enjoyable summer camp with the kids, and one of the plans that we love to do is to hike this small lake rich in natural beauty. As I was searching online about what it's like to explore this place, it caught my interest…
Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Park- A perfect summer getaway
During the summer camp with my family, I had the opportunity to visit the Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Park and was curious to learn about this place that is being recommended as a sightseeing spot in Nikko. It is located on the banks of the popular Lake Chuzenji. There is no proper parking area when you visit this museum because the management does its part to preserve the surrounding areas of the villa. However, you can park in the spacious parking area near the ferry boat ride of Lake Chuzenji. Rich in history and Italian culture, this villa turned museum attracts visitors because of its vintage-style interiors and natural-looking architecture that blends well with the surrounding trees. In this blog,…
SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE IN NIKKO, JAPAN
Hey guys, welcome back to my blog! Apologies for not writing for a long time. Been absent for a month due to a very hectic personal schedule but I'm back again! I am looking forward to sharing with you some exciting summer activities during my online absence. The summer season was a blast in spite of the sweltering heat. I can tell you that this year's summer was really hot that most of the time we stay indoors during the daytime. Nevertheless, we find ways to beat the summer heat. Summer 2022 Soaring temperatures began at the start of school summer vacation until the last week of August. I couldn't imagine people going outdoors unless you visit the mountains. Ideally,…
Quick daytrip to Kasama City
It's the beginning of a long sweltering summer in Japan but people still find ways to get outside of their houses and explore what Japan has to offer. Kasama Inari Shrine So we decided to head off to Kasama City in Ibaraki Prefecture. We discovered that this city has a lot of things to offer for every tourist. From historical museums to shopping malls and cafes, it's definitely a must-visit destination for a quick getaway. KASAMA CITY in IBARAKI Kasama is a small city next to the place where we live in Tochigi. The city has numerous amazing local attractions and events to enjoy. It includes Kasama Castle, Kasama Inari Shrine, Kasama Nichido Museum of Art, Kasama-yaki (pottery) and Kasamatsutsuji Park…
OFF THE BEATEN PATH SERIES: KEISOKUSAN HIKING TRAIL
Today, I'm going to introduce to my readers some places that are underrated but worth visiting. So I started the off-the-beaten-path series to share with you what it's like to travel cheaply without breaking your wallet and avoid tourist traps. My family loves to explore hidden gems in Japan. While it's definitely cheaper and free to visit, these places are tucked away from the crowd and commercial tourism. The loosening of travel restrictions in Japan after two years is good news for the overall economy of Japan, however, let us still consider that Covid- 19 still exists and that we should always abide by precautionary measures. Expressways and national highways are filled with vehicles stuck in traffic and I could…
Mashiko Spring Pottery Fair 2022
The sleepy town of Mashiko located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan once again has been brought to life! After 2 years of hiatus due to the coronavirus restrictions, the pottery fair was held once again in full swing. Held from April 29 to May 8, The Golden Week event was a blast and a relief to most artisans and entrepreneurs. It was a sign of economic recovery as people from other places flocked together and enjoy buying goods, not to mention, the restaurant businesses in the nearby areas benefited from this fair. And the event even came back with more variety in terms of merchandise. WHAT I SAW DURING THE FAIR In addition to ceramics and potteries, there were handmade goods,…
Moka SL: Steam Locomotive in Modern Japan
Have you ever wondered what it's like riding a steam locomotive? Perhaps we saw it once in vintage movies. And with trains evolving into faster and convenient ways, it is a rare event to see a steam locomotive in action. Because of their rareness, people often regard these antique trains as extraordinary and special. We often heard about bullet trains speeding their way from Tokyo to the rest of Japan's regional cities. But in Tochigi prefecture just north of Tokyo, you will see and experience a steam locomotive train that dates back to 1912. It is called SL Moka which is operated by Moka Railway. History of Moka Railway Moka Railway was launched originally before World War II in 1912.…