We continue our Smart to Visit series by returning to the Tohoku region on one of our most eclectic trip reports yet! It’s time to introduce Aomori and Akita prefectures!

Hachinohe

-Niida-maru cruise

-Nanbu Senbei

Aomori City

-Nebuta Matsuri

-Nebuta Warasse 

Osorezan

Hirosaki

-Hirosaki Castle

-Apple pie

Thrift and second hand stores of Tohoku

-Yorozuya

-Mansaido

Resort Shirakami between Aomori and Akita City

Akita City

-Akita Inu

-Namahage at Oga

Omagari Fireworks Festival

Kakunodate

-Samurai Quarters

Nyuto Onsen

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Everyone screws up traveling in Japan. But especially me. Find out more on this episode.

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There's an entire world to see just past Sapporo. Get to know about Hokkaido's incredible national park areas on this entry of Japan Travel Smart!

New Chitose Airport, Asahikawa Airport , Memanbetsu Airport, Kushiro Airport

Daisetsuzan National Park

-Sounkyo Onsen

-Mount Kurodake

-Ohachidaira Caldera

Shiretoko National Park  

-Utoro

-Shiretoko Goko Lakes

-Kamuiwakka Hot Falls 

Akan Mashu National Park 

-Lake Akan 

-Ainu Kotan village 

-Iozan (Sulfur Mountain)

-Lake Mashu, Lake Kussharo

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Should you actually consider bike sharing services to get around for your Japan trip? What is important to know to get set up to use shared bicycles and what's some important riding advice to bike safely in Japan? Find out everything about bike sharing on this episode of Japan Travel Smart!

Bike share service (docomo)

https://docomo-cycle.jp/?lang=en

LUUP

https://luup.sc/en/

HELLO CYCLING

Google Play Store

Apple Store

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Boldly head out from the busy and crowded tourist areas of Tokyo to find a much more intimate version of the city in western Tokyo! Find out where you can go on this episode of the show!

Nakano (Nakano Broadway)

Koenji

Mitaka and Kichijoji (Inokashira Park, Ghibli Museum, Kichijoji Autumn Festival, Harmonica Yokocho)

Shimokitazawa (Ichibangai and Suzuran-dori)

Sangenjaya (Sangenjaya Fureai Square )

Tokyo Ramen Festa (Komazawa Olympic Park)

Fuchu (Suntory Musashino Brewery, Tokyo Racecourse)

Mount Takao

Tachikawa (Showa Kinen Park)

Tama (Sanrio Puroland)

Machida (Snoopy Museum)

Higashi-Kurume  (Spadium Japon)

Okutama

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What options de we have at our disposal to experience onsen culture in Japan? How to properly use a shared bathing space without committing faux paux or creating embarrassment for yourself? Find out all about hot springs in Japan in this episode of JTS!

-Onsen vs sento

-Staying at ryokan

-Onsen towns: Kusatsu Onsen, Kinosaki Onsen, Gero Onsen, Noboribetsu

-Super sento

-Ofuro, rotenburo, ashiyu

-Yukata

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Get to know Kyushu through its cities on this episode of Japan Travel Smart! We'll talk about what makes each of them unique and worth checking out on a visit to Kyushu.

Fukuoka

-Yatai food stalls

-Tenjin shopping

-Tonkotsu ramen

-JR Hakata City Rooftop Garden

Nagasaki

-Peace Park Nagasaki

-Atomic Bomb Museum

-Castella cake

Kumamoto

-Kumamoto Castle

-Kumamon Square

Kagoshima

-Senganen Garden

-Reimeikan Museum

-Sakurajima

Miyazaki

-Chicken Nanban

-Miyazaki Beef

-Aoshima Beach

Beppu and Oita

-Hot springs

-Jigoku Hells

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Flying to Japan is expensive, right? Right? Well, it certainly can be, but it doesn't have to be needlessly expensive on a budget. Find out more on this episode of Japan Travel Smart!

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Regional rail passes in Japan offer foreign visitors the chance to binge on exploration of a unique region in Japan, but what exactly is the trick to them? Can they hope to match the former glory of the JR Pass or is it truly over? In this episode we blow the lid off regional rail passes!

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Dare to head away from the well trodden path and go into coastal Iwate for a different Japan! Find out how we did it on this episode of Japan Travel Smart!

Entry points by rail: Ichinoseki, Hanamaki, Morioka, Hachinohe

JR East ‘Joyful Trains’ https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/joyful/

Hinabi excursion train

POKÉMON with YOU Train

Tono City, Tono Furusato Village

Kamaishi City

Sanriku Railway Rias Line

Miyako City

Jodogahama Beach

Miyako Umineko Maru Jodogahama Boat Cruise

Kitayamazaki Cape

Iwaizumi Town, Ryusendo Cave

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