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Must-Visit in Japan
The Double Life of “Fireflies”: From Closing Time Signal to Magical Night in Hokkaido
Why does the Scottish folk song "Auld Lang Syne" make Japanese people instantly flee? I explore the Pavlovian closing signal ("Hotaru no Hikari"), only to pivot to the actual fireflies in Hokkaido. From a surreal night in the JSDF to Asahikawa’s successful community effort to reclaim natural beauty, I argue that the magic of a cool summer night is the best reason to avoid the heat of mainland Japan. -
Hokkaido Shreds
Hidden gems in Hokkaido : Hell Valley in Noboribetsu Onsen
There are so many hidden gems in Hokkaido. You can see beautiful scenery e.g.; lakes, mountains, forest, sea and so on. I would like to share some gems in Hokkaido. 【Hell Valley in Hokkaido】 Hokkaido is like a heaven but there is the H... -
Hokkaido Shreds
Hidden gems in Hokkaido : Pink! Pink! Pink! Moss phlox
There are so many hidden gems in Hokkaido. You can see beautiful scenery e.g.; lakes, mountains, forest, sea and so on. I would like to share some gems in Hokkaido. 【Pink! Pink! Pink!】 Takinoue Town is the small town, located in the th... -
Hokkaido Shreds
Hidden gem in Hokkaido: One of the clearest lake “Lake Kuttara”
There are so many hidden gems in Hokkaido. You can see beautiful sceneries, like lakes, mountains, forests, sea, and so on. I would like to share some of them. 【Unique characteristics】 Lake Kuttara is a crater lake located near the fam... -
Japanese Culture and Traditions
Tips for Enjoying Cherry Blossoms Like a Local in Japan in Spring
In the popular places for cherry blossoms in the peak season, you can see many blue ground sheets spreading all over under cherry trees. Even though a good spot is secured somehow, most people just enjoy drinking and eating, and only few people look up cherry blossoms. This is the reality of cherry blossom viewing parties in contemporary Japan. -
Japan Travel in the Know
The Unwritten Script in the Snow: Why Hokkaido’s Deer Problem is Your Dinner Ticket
What are the unwritten scripts in the snow? I decode the footprints of deer and foxes in Hokkaido, only to uncover a philosophical problem: The deer population boom is destroying our forests. I admit this fear is purely human ego. This leads to my ultimate, self-serving conclusion: We should solve the ecological problem—and the chicken-or-egg venison dilemma—by dining at one of Hokkaido's many excellent deer meat restaurants. Come and eat some of the problem. -
Hokkaido Shreds
Hokkaido adventures: Exploring the skiing gems of northern Japan #3
【Ski in Pippu: Enjoy the Unbeatable View of Daisetsu Mountain Range】 Pippu's ski area is a hidden gem in northern Hokkaido, that offers skiers and snowboarders a truly unique experience. One of its main draws is the breathtaking views ... -
Hokkaido Shreds
Hokkaido adventures: Exploring the skiing gems of northern Japan #2
【Discover the Simple Pleasures of Skiing at Tohma Town' Tiny Ski Area】 While large ski resorts offer an array of amenities and facilities, sometimes it's nice to take a step back and enjoy the simpler things in life. Tucked away in the... -
Hokkaido Shreds
Hokkaido adventures: Exploring the skiing gems of northern Japan #1
【Kamui Ski Links: A Biggest Powdery Paradise in Northern Hokkaido】 Kamui Ski Links, located in Fukagawa city in Hokkaido, is a skier's dream come true. With its early December opening, Kamui Ski Links is one of the first ski resorts in... -
Japanese Culture and Traditions
Why Nature Loves Hexagons: Snowflakes, Hexagonal Flowers Blooming in Hokkaido
Why do bees and hornets build hexagons? If we try to fill a plane surface with a single kind of polygons, there are three options: equilateral triangles, squares, and regular hexagons. Bees and hornets go with regular hexagons because regular hexagons are best in space-efficiency and second best in strength. This is the core point of the theory. What do you think?
