Category: Japan Travel

Takachiho Gorge(高千穂峡) is a famous tourist spot in Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan, located within Takachiho Town, near the border of Miyazaki, Kumamoto, and Oita prefectures. Because it is situated in the mountains, the terrain around Takachiho Gorge is quite rugged with little flat land, and parking space is limited. Hence, parking is one of the concerns for those driving to visit Takachiho Gorge. So, what parking lots are available around Takachiho Gorge? Where is the best and most convenient place to park with the least walking distance? This article aims to discuss this issue. Additionally, information on highway buses from

» Read more

To control the number of vehicles entering Shirakawago during the Shirakawago Light-Up event, reduce traffic congestion, and prevent traffic accidents, the Shirakawago Tourism Association implements traffic control measures every year during the light-up event. During the Shirakawago light-up event, only vehicles with a pre-booked parking space are permitted to enter and park in the designated Shirakawago parking lots. This article will introduce the method for reserving a parking space at the Shirakawago Gassho Village parking lots during the 2026 light-up period, serving as a supplementary article to the comprehensive guide: “Complete Guide to the Shirakawago Light-Up: Dates, Transportation, Tickets, Accommodation,

» Read more

Tenjin is Fukuoka’s most popular shopping area, home to all the major department stores, most of which are linked by the Tenjin Chikagai. Whether it’s raining or scorching hot, you can comfortably shop here in any weather. For those who love shopping and bustling surroundings, staying in Tenjin is ideal. However, most hotels in Tenjin are located farther from the underground mall, making their locations less convenient. The only exception is the Fukuoka Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel, which sits right in the heart of Tenjin and is directly connected to Tenjin Chikagai.   The Only Hotel Connected to Tenjin Chikagai: A

» Read more

Hakata Station serves as the main transportation hub for Fukuoka, offering access to the Shinkansen, JR lines, and highway buses, all from the same station. The Airport Subway Line also passes through Hakata Station, making it convenient for travel to and from Fukuoka Airport or to areas like Tenjin and Nakasu. This is why the area around Hakata Station is the most concentrated with hotels in Fukuoka, and many travelers prefer to stay here. During our first trip to Fukuoka in 2011, we stayed at Hotel Sunroute Hakata near Hakata Station. For our second trip in 2016, we chose Hotel

» Read more

Japanese car rental companies are numerous, and when renting a car in Japan, it can sometimes feel overwhelming to choose the right one or decide where to rent. Here, we’ll introduce the landscape of Japanese car rental companies to give you a basic understanding when renting a car in Japan, as well as compare some of the major rental companies to help you make an informed choice. Additionally, for the major Japanese car rental companies, this blog also has corresponding rental guide articles for reference if needed.   Table of Contents I. Car Rental in Japan: Number and Types of

» Read more

Rakuten Car Rental is a Japanese car rental reservation service provided by Rakuten Travel. Through Rakuten Car Rental, you can make reservations with any car rental company in Japan, compare prices across different providers, and check vehicle availability all at once. Rakuten frequently offers various promotional car rental deals and continuously releases discount coupons, making it cheaper to rent through Rakuten than directly with car rental companies.   Table of Contents I. Latest Rakuten Car Rental Coupons II. Promotional Car Rental Plans III. Rakuten Car Rental Tutorial 1. Rental Process 2. Canceling a Reservation     Latest Rakuten Car Rental

» Read more

Tohoku Expressway Pass is a highway pass launched in November 2015 by East Nippon Expressway Company Limited (NEXCO East Japan), targeting foreign tourists traveling in Japan by rental car. It covers expressways in six prefectures of the Tohoku region: Aomori, Akita, Iwate, Yamagata, Miyagi, and Fukushima.     Target Audience and Coverage   The Tohoku Expressway Pass is exclusively sold to foreign tourists renting cars in Japan and allows unlimited use of most expressways managed by NEXCO East Japan in the Tohoku region. The coverage includes expressways in the six prefectures mentioned above. For the full coverage map, please refer

» Read more

The “San’in-Setouchi-Shikoku Expressway Pass” (abbreviated as SEP Pass) is the second highway pass introduced by NEXCO West Japan (NEXCO West Japan) for foreign self-driving tourists, following the KEP in Kyushu. It covers highways operated by NEXCO West Japan in the western Chugoku region (San’in, Sanyo) and Shikoku, including ten prefectures: Hyogo, Okayama, Hiroshima, Tottori, Shimane, Yamaguchi, Kagawa, Tokushima, Ehime, and Kochi.   With airlines now offering flights to Hiroshima, Okayama, Yonago, and Takamatsu, the San’in, Sanyo, and Shikoku regions in western Japan have become increasingly popular tourist destinations. Due to the scattered attractions, many visitors prefer self-driving tours in these

» Read more

Kyushu is the region in Japan where autumn foliage appears the latest, usually around mid-November. During the major holiday in mid-November 2011, we chose to embark on a self-drive trip to Kyushu. Kyushu is not small, and it’s impossible to explore the entire region in just eight to ten days, so we focused on the northern part of Kyushu, starting our self-drive journey from Fukuoka. The itinerary included Fukuoka, Beppu, Yufuin, Mount Aso, Kumamoto, and Nagasaki.   This North Kyushu self-drive trip lasted eight days, with Fukuoka as the entry and exit point. On the first day, we arrived in

» Read more

Hokkaido Expressway Pass (abbreviated as HEP) is a highway pass introduced in June 2012 by East Nippon Expressway Company Limited (referred to as NEXCO East Japan). It is specifically designed for foreign tourists driving in Japan, allowing unlimited use of Hokkaido expressways for a fixed fee when renting a car in Hokkaido.   Table of Contents Coverage Pricing and Validity How to Purchase     Coverage of Hokkaido Expressway Pass   The Hokkaido Expressway Pass can be used on all expressways in Hokkaido operated by NEXCO East Japan, including the Doo Expressway, Sasson Expressway, Doto Expressway, Fukagawa-Rumoi Expressway, and Hidaka

» Read more