The Sagano Romantic Train is one of Kyoto’s most beautiful railway experiences, carrying passengers through a wooded river gorge just beyond the famous bamboo forests of Arashiyama. Instead of travelling through the city on a modern commuter train, you ride in a nostalgic sightseeing carriage along the Hozugawa River, passing steep mountainsides, forested valleys and … Read more
A visit to Nikka’s Yoichi Distillery is one of the best day trips from Niseko for anyone interested in Japanese whisky. Located in the coastal town of Yoichi, the distillery is where Masataka Taketsuru established Nikka’s original whisky-making operation in 1934. Almost a century later, its stone buildings, traditional copper pot stills and historic warehouses … Read more
Travelling from Shanghai to Niseko is easier than many first-time visitors expect. With nonstop flights to Hokkaido taking around three and a half hours, Japan’s famous powder-snow destination is within reach for a short winter break or a full ski holiday. Niseko is located in western Hokkaido, around two and a half to three hours … Read more
Travelling from Manila to Niseko is easier than many first-time visitors expect. You can fly directly from the Philippines to Hokkaido, then continue by road to one of Japan’s most famous ski destinations. Niseko is known for its powder snow, four major ski areas, luxury chalets, international restaurants and traditional Japanese onsens. For travellers from … Read more
Flying from Taipei to Niseko is surprisingly straightforward. You can leave Taiwan in the morning and arrive in Hokkaido with enough time to reach your ski accommodation that evening. Unlike travellers coming from Australia, Europe or North America, visitors from Taipei can fly directly to Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport. The flight takes approximately four hours, … Read more
Niseko is one of the easiest major Japanese ski destinations to reach from Seoul, particularly if you want deep powder snow without spending an entire day travelling. Unlike visitors flying from Australia, Europe or North America, travellers departing from Seoul can fly nonstop to Hokkaido. The flight from Incheon International Airport to New Chitose Airport … Read more
Travelling from Adelaide to Niseko takes planning, but getting to Japan’s famous powder-snow destination is easier than it might initially appear. Niseko is located in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island. It is known for deep winter snowfall, four interconnected ski areas, mountain scenery and a lively international ski community. For South Australians, the attraction is … Read more
There are two very different ways to enjoy a train journey around Kamakura and Enoshima. One follows the coastline in traditional green-and-cream carriages, passing beaches, narrow streets and historic neighbourhoods. The other hangs beneath an elevated track, sweeping around curves and through the hills above the suburbs. Both are attractions in their own right, but … Read more
Getting from Tokyo to Kamakura is much easier than the Tokyo rail map can make it look. You do not need a Shinkansen. You do not need to reserve a seat. And if you already have Suica or PASMO, you usually do not need to buy a ticket before boarding. For most travellers, the only … Read more
There is a moment on the Enoden when Kamakura seems to fall away. The train has already slipped past temples and low houses. The tracks feel impossibly close to garden walls. Stations arrive before you’ve quite finished looking at the last one. Then the buildings open. The sea appears beside the train. For many travellers, … Read more