Japan is very famous for its hot spring or Onsen. One of the most popular hotspring in Japan is The Tokachigawa hot spring (十勝川温泉), especially in Hokkaido Island. The Tokachigawa Hot Spring is located quite close to Obihiro’s urban district and gushes out along the Tokachi River.
Besides Tokachigawa, another hot spring in Hokkaido are Noboribetsu, Yunokawa, Akanko, Kawayu, Utoro, Abashiri, Sounkyo, Asahidake, Jozankei, Asarigawa, Lake Toya.
Tokachigawa Onsen is the best-known and most popular lowland resort in Tokachi. It is located in Otofuke, about 10 kilometres from the centre of Obihiro city, on the north (left) bank of the Tokachi River (Tokachigawa).
Tokachigawa Onsen is a hot spring with mōru baths. The brown-coloured water contains traces of organic material from peat bogs. (The word mōru is a loan word from the German (das Moor) for bog.) Most hotels and inns allow the general public to use their baths.
What’s a “moor hot spring”?
Tokachigawa hot spring is on the Tokachi River in Otofuke Town, in the middle of the Tokachi Plains. The hot spring gushes up through a lignite layer composed of the remnants of reeds and other wild plants that have accumulated over the ages. The moor vegetation makes the water rich in organic components. The waters are milder and richer in natural moisturizers than ordinary hot springs, smoothening and moisturizing the skin and making Tokachigawa hot spring famous as a “hot spring for beauty.”
Tokachigawa Sightseeing
Tokachigawa is not only providing hot springs, but also we can enjoy a natural splendor that’s unique to Hokkaido. Some of Tokachigawa sightseeing such as :
1. Tokachigaoka Park
This park features a vast lawn and fun wooden playground equipment. At its center is a huge flower clock called “Hanack.” Its face is 18 m in diameter, and its second hand is 10.10 m long. For souvenirs and delicious soft-serve ice cream, come to the Welcome Hanack concession stand.
The outdoor cooking area and multipurpose square make this a park that embodies Tokachi’s distinctive magnificence.
2. Tokachigaoka Scenic Viewpoint
This overlook is just up the hill from Tokachigaoka Park. It commands a view of the eternally flowing Tokachi River, the Tokachi hot spring resort, the vast Tokachi Plain, and the faraway Hidaka Mountains. It’s an ideal spot to enjoy lovely sunsets.
3. Swan Viewing Area
4. Footbath
5. Tokachi Farm
6. Row of White Birches
7. Sunflower Fields
8. Ryugetsu Sweetopia Garden
Obihiro and Tokachi are known for confectionery, and Ryugetsu exemplifies the best in the sweets of these areas.
9. Suzuran Park
In early June, pretty lilies of the valley bloom in clusters in this park.
Wild birds, Hokkaido squirrels and other animals live here, and the park is a celebrated cherry-blossom-viewing spot, bustling with visitors every spring.
10. Tokachi Ecology Park
Tokachi Ecology Park was established as a park for environmental education at the Tokachigawa hot spring resort, where forests meet rivers.
There are a lot of hotels that provide hot springs in Tokachigawa, one of the best is Tokachigawa Onsen Daiichi Hotel.
Located along the river of Tokachigawa. In front of the hotel, you can enjoy glorious view of Tokachi’s nature. Tokachi Hot spring water will make your skin more beautiful, because it contains plenty of natural moisturizing factor. To offer safety food, we are particular about ingredients, which grown up in Hokkaido and Tokachi. We are proud of our speciality and to make you satisfy. Please enjoy Tokachi by delicious meals and Hot springs.
Why choose Tokachigawa Onsen Daiichi Hotel
1. The hotel is embraced by moor springs, one of Hokkaido’s heritages, and the great wilderness of Tokachi
The Tokachi region shines with abundant sunshine and rich soil. The Tokachi River nourishes the fertile soil of Tokachi. The gently flowing Tokachi River creates majestic scenery with the backdrop of the Hidaka and Taisetsu mountain ranges. The scenery of Tokachi is deeply embedded in people’s minds.
2. Hoshu-tei Traditional Japanese-style Building
Hoshu-tei is a traditional Japanese-style building. The nostalgic fragrance of tatami mats creates a calm, placid atmosphere that fills the building. The beauty of Japan that has been cherished by the Japanese is available here.
Relax physically and mentally in a Japanese atmosphere. Traditional Japanese-style interior with tatami mats and fusuma doors (thick paper sliding doors) that create the placid atmosphere of old Japan. A guestroom with private outdoor bath available only in Hoshu-tei.
Tokachigawa Onsen Daiichi Hotel Address :
Hoshu-Tei, a traditional Japanese building, and Toyo-Tei, a modern Japanese building
12 Minami, Tokachigawa Onsen, Otofuke-cho, Hokkaido, Japan 080-0263
Tel: +81-155-46-2231
Fax: +81-155-46-2238
Photos of Tokachigawa and Tokachi River sightseeing :
Tokachi Ecology Park was established as a park for environmental education at the Tokachigawa hot spring resort, where forests meet rivers.
Tokachi Nature Center. Enjoy the natural grandeur of Tokachi from riding a canoe, hot-air balloon and even paragliding. Experienced instructors show you how. It’s not every day you have a chance to try these thrilling outdoor sports.
Hot Air Ballooning at Ohibiro City. See a vast panorama from 30m (100 feet) in the air: the Tokachi Plains, Tokachi River, the Hidaka mountains and more!
Whooper Swans, Tokachi River, Hokkaido, Japan
Tokachigawa Hot Spring. This hot springs gushes forth from the ground on the left bank of the Tokachi River in the town of Otofuke, situated in the center of the Tokachi Plain.
Japan may be one of many tourist top destination country, but not everyone can visit Japan because of the high cost and incapable of speaking Japanese. A usual tour service usually charge about 2000-3000 USD for travelling inside Japan cities, but not everyone can pay the high cost only for a 7 days tour.
One of alternative way to visit Japan is by ferry from Shanghai. Shanghai, the modern city in China, is the world’s third largest port and China’s largest seaport. We can use the ferry from Shanghai, cross the East China Sea to Osaka.
‘New Jianzhen’ is a passenger and cargo ship sailing regularly between Shanghai and Japan. It starts from Shanghai at 13:00 every Saturday, and arrives at Kobe or Osaka Ports of Japan on Monday morning the next week. The ship makes its return voyage from Kobe or Osaka at 12:00 every Tuesday, and it reaches Shanghai on Thursday. The speed of the ship is low, and a round trip usually takes over 80 hours. However there are still many people who choose this liner because of the good environment, excellent service, and low price. A single journey ship passage costs CNY1,300 to CNY2,600 (JPY20,000 to JPY40,000) per person according to the standard of cabin chosen. Alternatively you can pay CNY6,500 (JPY100,000) for a VIP room, which can accommodate two persons. For more information of this liner, you can phone 021-63257642.
‘Suzhou’ ship also voyages between Shanghai and Osaka in Japan. Starting from Shanghai at 11:00 every Tuesday, it reaches Osaka at 9:00 on Thursday. Every Friday, the ship makes its return at 12:00, and gets to Shanghai on Sunday. The ship passage is almost the same as that of ‘New Jianzhen’ ship.
When you take an international cruise, you’d better go to the port two hours before departure to conduct the boarding procedures. Ship tickets can be bought or booked at Shanghai International Ferry Co., Ltd. with your passport or other valid identification.
Ticket Office Address: D-G, 15 F, Jin’an Mansion, No.908, East Daming Road, Hongqiao District
Ticket Information Line: 021-65375111
After completion of the whole project, Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal will have more international passenger liners to facilitate the needs of modern tourism.
How to travel from Shanghai to osaka by Ferry
The Shanghai Ferry Company operates a weekly service between Osaka and the Chinese port city of Shanghai. The journey takes approximately 48 hours. During these 48 hours they offer cheap and best service to their passengers at a very low rate. This ferry is Japan’s first largest and modern ferry.
One- way tickets cost between 20,000 and 50,000. They offer discounts of up to 40% on return fares and 10% discount is given to students is also available.
Ferry runs weekly between Shanghai and Osaka, Japan. The ferry is having restaurants, a game room, and even karaoke on board, that makes your journey more enjoyable. It leaves from Waihongqiao Harbor every Tuesday at 11 AM and arrives in Osaka at 9 AM the following Thursday.
They recently launched a ship from Shanghai’s Waihongqiao Harbor every Saturday, alternating between Osaka and Kobe in Japan. The journey takes approximately two days and tickets for this journey can be booked through the company or through CITS.
Tickets for this ferry can be booked through the company or through China International Travel Service (CITS), the government tourism office.
Website for info about Shanghai-Osaka Ferry
http://www.shinganjin.com/index_e.php
The Shanghai Ferry
4-1-2 Minami Kyuhoji-cho, Chuo-ku
541-0058 Osaka
Fukushima (???) is the capital city of Fukushima Prefecture, and situated about 250 km north of Tokyo and 80 km south of Sendai .
Fukushima City and its surrounding area has many hot springs, which are in Iizaka, Takayu and Tsuchiyu for example. Fukushima is blessed with many natural resources. It has a lot of scenic beauty and various sightseeing places including the Bandai Azuma Skyline. It is one of the biggest tourist resort areas in Tohoku.
The city’s location makes it highly accessible from many areas of Japan through a well organized transportation system. From Tokyo, it takes 3.5 hours by the Tohoku Express- way and it takes 1.5 hours by the Tohoku Shinkansen Line. Fukushima Airport was opened in 1993, making it easier for many people to visit the city from not only the metropolitan areas, but also from the Hokkaidou, Kansai,and Kyushu areas.
Fukushima’s best known tourist attraction is the former castle town of Aizu-Wakamatsu.
Fukushima is the major tourist spot in Tohoku region. The main attractions including castle, lakes, and hot springs.
Fukushima Location
The city of Fukushima,which is located in the northern part of Fukushima Prefecture,covers an area of 746.43 sq km,stretching 29.9 km from east to west and 38.2 km from north to south. The Fukushima City Hall stands at latitude 37?45′N and longitude 140?28′E. Fukushima lies within 300 km of Tokyo.
Some of Fukushima best sightseeeing :
1. Five Colored Lakes (???) are a beautiful attraction visited by many sightseers. The lakes were formed after Mount Bandai (???) erupted in the 1800’s. The minerals from the eruption give each lake a different color.
2. Iwaya-Kannon (????) has sixty Buddhas carved into the rock face of Mount Shinobu (???) and offers a decent place to take a look down at the city.
3. Hanamiyama Park (???) is the place to go in spring for cherry blossom viewing. It is quickly becoming a place famous throughout Japan, be prepared for crowds. You can take a short trail up a hill and see some amazing panoramas as well as enjoy walking underneath gorgeous light-pink canopies. There are regular buses leaving for Hanamiyama from the train station. Ask the people at the tourist office for more details.
4. Fukushima Small Bird Sanctuary (?????) It’s a steep walk up a small mountain. The trails at the top are short and quiet. It is very peaceful but not so special.
5. Prefectural Art Museum Small museum mostly with local art, though it does have some national and internal exhibits as well. price varies.
6. Prefectural Culture Center Has different performances year-round.
7. Fukushima Museum. Fukushima Museum
8. Fukushima Racetrack If you feel like betting on horses then this is the place to go in Fukushima. Live races only happen during certain times of the year, but video races are available year-round. It costs 100 to get in.100.
9. Izaka hot springs
10. Takayu hot springs
11. Tsuchiyu hot springs
12. Shin-Noji hot springs
Fukushima Festival
1. WARAJI MATSURI(Straw Sandal Festival)
This festival on first Friday and first Saturday of August celebrates a huge straw sandal that is dedicated to the Haguro Shrine on February 10.
2. MIZUKAKE MATSURI (Water Throwing Festival)
Starting at Kashima Shrine, this event occurs at the end of the festivities on October 19.
3. SANBIKI SHISHI-MAI (Dance of the Three Lions)
This dance, handed down over generations in the Oonami district, occurs during the Sumiyoshi Shrine festival, October 11-12.
4. AKATSUKI-MAIRI (Visit to the Shrine in the Dawn)
This event occurs on February 10-11. People pray for protection against disasters and for a good harvest. An immense straw sandal is carried up Mt. Shinobu to the Haguro Shrine. The sandal is 12 meters long, weighs 2 tons and 80people carry it.
5. IIZAKA KENKA MATSURI (Fighting Feastival of Iizaka)
During the main festival on October 5, six floats parade through the street and on to the shrine with a portable shrine in the lead.
6. JUUNI KAGURA(The Twelve Sacred Arts)
This annual festival is held at Kuronuma Shinto Shrine in spring. The dancer wears Kari-ginu(hunting clothes),Hakama(an apron-like skirt), and Tabi(socks).
Fukushima Bars and Nightlife
Namazu-tei (????), also known as “Catfish” is a cozy blues bar in Fukushima, which features live music most weekends. Cover charges range from 400-500 for the house band “Blues Cruiser” (highly recommended, with a fantastic harmonica player) through to 4,000 for more famous acts. Namazu sometimes has a DJ playing, with more of a focus on bossanova and jazz. Johnny the barman speaks passable English, and knows pretty well all there is to know about the Blues, having in his past run “Gangster,” a major blues venue in Tokyo.
Neo is the other club in Fukushima. Expect to pay a 2000 cover charge and then 500 for each drink and to be in a small very smokey room. The music is okay, the crowd is small at best. Expect to feel elderly if you’re over 25.
Fukushima Photos and Pictures :
Fukushima city looking east over the Fukushima city train station.
Aizu Tsuruga Castle, Fukushima’s best known tourist attraction.
Fukushima Prefectural Museum stands just outside the outer moats of Tsuruga Castle Park. The closest stop of the Aizu Loop Bus is “Tsurugajo Sannomaru” (20 minutes from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station) just outside the museum.
Goshiki-numa or Five Coloured Lake. Goshiki-numa has five marshes, namely Ao-numa, Ruri-numa, Benten-numa, Midoro-numa and Bishamon-numa, each having a water color of its own.
Fukushima View Hotel. Located in front of West Exit of Fukushima Station and surrounded by nature. Japanese restaurant, Chinese restaurant, and French restaurant is available.
Train Station from Sendai to Fukushima
Watch ??Tsuchiyu Tunnel (R115, Fukushima City / Inawashiro Town, Fukushima Pref., 3360m) Video here
Saitama (?????) is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan. Saitama is the capital of Saitama prefecture in the Kanto region of Japan.It dose not have a coast. It merged from four cities few years ago. Therefore it’s the biggest city in Saitama. In addition,it’s a the tenth most populous city in Japan.
Saitama City was born on May 1, 2001, with the merging of the three cities formerly known as Urawa, Omiya and Yono. On April 1, 2003, it became the 13th government designated city in Japan.
Saitama Prefecture is located right north of Tokyo. This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama’s southern area can be described as suburbs of Tokyo. Northern area of the prefecture is dedicated for agriculture. The prefecture is also known for richness of cultural craftsmanship. Hina-doll, Japanese paper, carp streamer, and daruma. Some of the famous spots in this area: Hikawa shrine, Chichibu sanja, Hitsujiyama park, and Seibuen park.
Saitama may be famous for its night festival named “The Chichibu-yomatsuri Night Festival”. The former castle town of Kawagoe and the mountainous Chichibu region, known for its night festival held in December, are some of the prefecture’s major tourist attractions.
Saitama City is not the tourist city. Therefore, not so many natural scenic to see and to do. But there are several park and museum can be the alternative.
Saitama City, which flourished as a post town on the Nakasendo (Nakasendo Road), a shrine town for the Hikawa Shrine and as a castle town with Iwatsuki Castle, has a variety of historical resources as well as unique cultural resources such as Omiya bonsai, Iwatsuki dolls and Urawa unagi eel. It is furthermore home to the Railway Museum, John Lennon Museum and other distinctive facilities found only in Japan and unique in the world.
Some of Visitor attractions in Saitama City :
1. Akigase Park
2. Besshonuma Park
3. Hikawa Shrine
4. John Lennon Museum. A museum located inside the Saitama Super Arena in Chuo-ku, Saitama City, Saitama, Japan. It was established to preserve knowledge of John Lennon’s life and musical career.
5. Minuma
6. Railway Museum. A must of rail buffs and great for kids, the museum features 36 engines on display (including Japan’s first steam loco), train cab simulators, Japan’s largest HO-gauge miniature railway and more.
7. Sonic City
8. Saitama Stadium 2002, a 2002 FIFA World Cup stadium
9. Saitama Super Arena. A multi-configuration arena that can seat up to 37,000 people. Numerous shops, restaurants and attractions can be found within. A pedestrian walkway links the Saitama Shintoshin train station with the Super Arena.It’s very big hall.
10. Omiya Bonsai Village. The Bonsai Village, the bonsai mecca, is also well known overseas
11. Iwatsuki Japanese dolls. Japanese dolls are produced in Iwatsuki, which boasts of the highest volume of doll shipments in Japan
How to access Saitama and around :
Terminal Station: Omiya Station(???)
Access from Tokyo:
-By Train
0.Shinkansen from Tokyo St. to Omiya St. (25 min.)
1.JR Shonanshinjuku Line from Shinjuku St. to Omiya St. (27 min.)
-By Car
Using Shuto Expressway to Shintoshin (1hr.)
This is the only official John Lennon museum in the world authorized by Yoko Ono.
Kawagoe , 40 km north of Tokyo is an historic castle town noted for its kurazukuri – two-storey wooden merchants’ houses some of which have been turned into interesting museums. These historic and pictuesque buildings are conveniently grouped to the north of Kawagoe station.
Musashi Ichi-no-miya Hikawa Shrine, is one of the most superb old shrines of Japan with a history that is said to go back more than 2,000 years and is also the origin of the name Omiya (literally, �large shrine�) as a grand Shinto shrine. As Musashi Ichi-no-miya (which means �top ranking shrine in the Land of Musashi�), it is a center of religious faith in the Kanto area
Saitama Iwatsuki Dolls can fe found at Togyoku Doll Museum. This doll museum developed based on the outstanding Togyoku collection. The collection is diverse and the exhibits include imperial court dolls, hina (Girls� Festival) dolls, hagoita (battledore) dolls, samurai (Boys� Festival) dolls, costume dolls,
Saitama celebrates the Chichibu-yomatsuri Night Festival where six floats mounted with a decorative halberd march with lively and soul-stirring Chichibu Yatai-Bayashi music. This is one of the three major float parades in Japan along with the famous Gion-matsuri Festival in Kyoto.
The Omiya Bonsai Village is the general name for the area on the north side of Omiya Park enclosed within the Tobu Noda Line and JR Utsunomiya Line. Known as one of the most outstanding bonsai cultivating areas in Japan, visitors take delight in the bonsai in all seasons as they change from one season to the next.
Based on the concepts of railways, history and education, the museum is comprised primarily of the History Zone, which relates the role and influence of railways in Japan centered primarily in an exhibit of actual railway rolling stock and the Education Zone, where visitors can learn about railway principles and mechanisms as well as the most up-to-date railway technology through hands-on experience while using models, simulation, play equipment, etc.
Skyline of Saitama Shintoshin
Watch Horgal�ten at the music festival at Saitama city video here
Lake Kawaguchi (??? Kawaguchi-ko) is one of five Lakes that near Mount Fuji, located in Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi. Lake Kawaguchi (Kawaguchiko), is the most easily accessible of the five lakes, is located just next to Fuji-Yoshida in neighboring Fuji-Kawaguchiko Town. The other four lakes are Lake Motosu (???), West Lake (??), Lake Shoji (???), Lake Yamanaka(???) ~ The latter three are less developed than Lake Kawaguchi, but more difficult to access.
Lake Kawaguchi is the oldest of the five and it is at least 50-60 thousand years old. There are scores of underwater springs at the lake bottom. There is no discernible surface flow into or out of the lake. Major flows of water appear to take place underground.
Lake Kawaguchi is also a popular tourist destination. A tour to Mount Fuji usually packaged with visiting Lake Kawaguchi. The number of visitors to the five-lake area exceeds ten million annually. Lake Kawaguchi, directly linked to Tokyo Metropolitan urban districts through a major artery highway and closest to the terminal of the Fuji Subaru scenic route, is a centre of tourist attraction in this area.
Lake Kawaguchiko is the most famous of the five lakes for vacation. A large number of hotels line its banks, as do locals providing boat rides to the tourists. Also, there is one of the most famous amusement parks, Fujikyu Highland which is featuring one of the world’s highest roller coasters. Many local cultural events are run near this lake throughout the year. Especially, Kawaguchiko firework is the major even for the summer.
Last but not least, Kawaguchiko is home to the amusement park Fuji Q High Land, featuring one of the world’s tallest roller coasters and other thrilling attractions with Mount Fuji as backdrop.
How to access Lake Kawaguchi
Kawaguchiko Station is the terminal station of the Fuji Kyuko Railway Line from Otsuki. The bus terminal for local buses and highway buses to/from Tokyo, Kofu, Gotemba and other destinations is located just in front of the station.
From Kawaguchiko Station, two “Retro Bus” lines provide local transportation around Lake Kawaguchiko and Lake Sai: The shorter “Kawaguchiko Line” operates along Lake Kawaguchi’s eastern and northeastern shores (about 2 buses/hour), while the “Saiko-Aokigahara Line” operates along the Lake Kawaguchi’s southern shores and further connects to Lake Sai (about 1 bus/hour).
Access from Tokyo By Train :
1. From Tokyo station.
2. use Chuou (JR) line to Otuki station (2 hr.)
3. use Fuji Express to Kawaguchiko (53 min.)
Access from Tokyo By Car :
1. Use Chuo Expressway to Kawaguchiko (2 hr.)
Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Photos and infos :
Lake Kawaguchi (Kawaguchiko) is the most easily accessible of the Fuji Five Lakes. It is located in Kawaguchiko Town, a hot spring resort named after the lake, and well connected with central Tokyo by trains and direct buses.
Mt Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi in autumn, Kawaguchiko town, Yamanashi prefecture, Japan
Kawaguchi town and Fuji from the station Chris Moore, 2005
Kawaguchiko / Kawaguchi Lake view from the top
Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Sai and surroundings Map including the retro bus route
Among the local food specialties are Hoto Noodles, a rustic noodle soup dish garnished with vegetables.
We travelled to Kawaguchi lake from Kawaguchiko train station by Retrobus. My Kawaguchiko Saiko Free Kippu already included 2 days Retrobus, hence I only bought the boat and ropeway pass at 1200 yen.
