Jogjakarta

Jogjakarta — often called Jogja — is the cultural and royal heart of Java, known for its deep Javanese traditions, vibrant arts scene, and warm, youthful energy. It’s the only Indonesian region still governed by a monarchy, centred around the historic Kraton (Sultan’s Palace), and is celebrated for classical arts like batik, wayang puppetry, music, and dance.

On the Rock

On The Rock Jogja is one of Gunung kidul’s newest coastal attractions, quickly gaining attention for its dramatic setting and Bali‑like ambience. Perched directly atop the karst cliffs of Pantai Drini, the venue offers uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean — a rare vantage point that makes it feel both exclusive and breathtaking.

Its elevated platform allows visitors to enjoy the sea breeze, crashing waves, and sweeping panoramas without any visual obstruction, making it an ideal spot for slow mornings, golden‑hour sunsets, or simply unwinding with the sound of the ocean below.

Unlike typical beach cafés, On The Rock Jogja is built on a natural rock formation that juts out toward the open sea, creating a unique dining‑and‑viewing experience you won’t find elsewhere in Yogyakarta.

Pantai Drini

Pantai Drini is one of Gunungkidul’s most distinctive beaches, known for its clear waters, soft white sand, and the small coral island that divides the coastline into two contrasting sides. One side has calm, gentle waves ideal for families and casual swimmers, while the other showcases the dramatic, powerful surf typical of the southern coast.

Pantai Drini offers a variety of activities that make it a lively yet safe destination for all ages. Families can enjoy canoeing, one of the beach’s most popular attractions, with rentals available for around Rp50,000 and a clearly marked safe zone for paddling.

Nepal Van Java

Nepal Van Java is a vibrant hillside village located in Dusun Butuh, Kaliangkrik, Magelang, perched dramatically on the slopes of Mount Sumbing. Its terraced layout, steep roads, and brightly painted houses create a stunning visual effect that resembles the mountain settlements of Nepal — which is how it earned the nickname “Nepal Van Java.” Visitors are greeted with cool mountain air, sweeping views, and a peaceful rural atmosphere that feels worlds away from the bustle of Yogyakarta. Tours from Jogja often highlight the village’s scenic viewpoints and colorful homes, making it a favourite destination for photography lovers and nature seekers.

What makes Nepal Van Java special is the combination of authentic village life and breathtaking highland scenery. At an altitude of around 1,600 meters above sea level, the village offers panoramic views of terraced farms, misty valleys, and the towering peak of Mount Sumbing. Visitors can explore the narrow lanes by foot or hop on a local motorcycle taxi for a fun ride up to the best viewpoints. The area is known for its friendly locals, crisp mountain weather, and Instagram‑worthy photo spots that capture the dramatic slope of the village against the sky.

Candi Borobudur

Candi Borobudur stands as one of Indonesia’s most extraordinary cultural treasures and the world’s largest Buddhist monument. Built in the 8th–9th century during the Syailendra Dynasty.

One of the most intriguing chapters in Borobudur’s history is its centuries‑long disappearance. After flourishing as a major pilgrimage site, the temple was eventually abandoned—likely due to volcanic eruptions and the shift of the Javanese capital. Over time, the jungle swallowed the structure, leaving it hidden and forgotten until 1814, when British governor Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles received reports of a “lost monument” buried under layers of earth and vegetation.

Excavations revealed the magnificent temple beneath, astonishing archaeologists and historians alike. This rediscovery transformed Borobudur into a global icon of cultural heritage.

Visitors to Candi Borobudur however, remain vigilant as there are a lot of pick pocketing crimes hence best to keep their belonging close.

Gereja Ayam

Gereja Ayam, also known as the Chicken Church, is one of the most unique attractions near Borobudur. Perched on Bukit Rhema in the Menoreh Hills, this unfinished, bird‑shaped prayer house was built in the 1990s by Daniel Alamsyah, who envisioned it not as a chicken but as a dove symbolising peace and interfaith unity.

Although construction stopped around 2000, the structure’s unusual silhouette and serene hilltop setting have turned it into a beloved cultural landmark. Today, it serves as a space for reflection, tolerance, and quiet prayer, while also offering panoramic views over Magelang’s lush landscape.

Gereja Ayam is especially popular for its sunrise views, where the surrounding hills glow in soft morning light and Borobudur emerges through the mist. Visitors can climb to the “crown” at the top of the bird’s head for a 360‑degree lookout — a highlight for both photographers and families. Inside, you’ll find peaceful rooms, small exhibits, and even a café tucked into the lower level. Best of all, the site is very close to Borobudur, located just a few kilometres away in the same district, making it an easy add‑on before or after your temple visit.

Candi Prambanan

Candi Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia and one of Southeast Asia’s most impressive ancient monuments. Built around 850 CE during the reign of the Hindu Sanjaya Dynasty.

Prambanan is also famously linked to the Javanese legend of Rara Jonggrang, a story that adds a layer of romance and tragedy to the site. According to the tale, Prince Bandung Bondowoso fell in love with Princess Rara Jonggrang, who wished to avoid marriage. She challenged him to build 1,000 temples in a single night. With the help of spirits, the prince nearly succeeded, but the princess tricked him by creating a false sunrise. Enraged, he cursed her into stone—transforming her into the final, thousandth statue. This myth is so intertwined with the temple’s identity that Prambanan is still known locally as Candi Rara Jonggrang.

Malioboro

Jalan Malioboro is Yogyakarta’s most iconic street — a vibrant 2–2.5 km stretch that runs from Tugu Yogyakarta to the Keraton (Sultan’s Palace). Often described as the city’s “living corridor,” Malioboro blends history, culture, and everyday life in a way that feels uniquely Jogja. Established in the 18th century during the colonial era, the street was designed along the Javanese cosmic axis connecting Mount Merapi, the Keraton, and the Southern Sea, symbolising harmony between nature, humanity, and the divine Indonesiana.

Today, it remains the city’s most dynamic public space, where tradition and modernity coexist effortlessly. It is known for:

Endless shopping — from batik boutiques to street stalls selling handicrafts, leather goods, silver, and souvenirs.
Street food and angkringan culture — where travellers can enjoy gudeg, sate, kopi joss, and other local favourites.
Street performances and art — buskers, painters, and dancers bring the street to life, especially at night.
Historical landmarks — colonial buildings, museums, and the proximity to the Keraton make it a walk through living history

Keraton Jogja

Keraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat, widely known as Keraton Jogja, is the cultural and political centre of the Yogyakarta Sultanate and one of Indonesia’s most important royal landmarks. Built between 1755–1756 by Sultan Hamengkubuwono I, the palace was established shortly after the Giyanti Agreement, which divided the Mataram Kingdom and created the Yogyakarta Sultanate.

Designed by the Sultan himself, the Keraton is a masterpiece of traditional Javanese architecture, aligned along Yogyakarta’s sacred cosmological axis that symbolises harmony between the divine, nature, and humanity.

Today, the Keraton remains a living palace — not a relic. It continues to function as the official residence of the reigning Sultan and his family, while also serving as a cultural centre and museum showcasing royal heirlooms, ancient manuscripts, ceremonial attire, and traditional arts. Visitors can witness daily cultural performances, royal guards in traditional attire, and rituals that have been preserved for centuries.

A visit to Keraton Jogja offers travellers a rare opportunity to step inside an active royal court. The palace grounds feature elegant pavilions, ornate gates, and symbolic architecture that reflects centuries of Javanese philosophy. With its blend of living culture, royal history, and architectural beauty, the Keraton provides one of the most immersive cultural experiences in Yogyakarta.

Kanawa Island

Taman Sari, often called the Water Castle, is one of Yogyakarta’s most enchanting historical sites. Built in the mid‑18th century under Sultan Hamengkubuwono I, it served as the royal family’s garden retreat, bathing complex, meditation space, and defensive hideaway.

The architecture blends Javanese design with subtle European influences, creating a dreamy network of pools, pavilions, and hidden passageways. Although only the central bathing complex remains fully intact today, the site still exudes the elegance and mystique of the old Yogyakarta Sultanate.

Taman Sari is a place where history, beauty, and imagination meet. Visitors can wander through the iconic Umbul Pasiraman bathing pools, explore atmospheric ruins, and admire the ornate gates and arches that once formed the Sultan’s private paradise. The complex is compact and easy to explore, making it ideal for families and travellers who prefer light walking. Its photogenic corners — turquoise pools, stone staircases, and sunlit courtyard.

Semarang

Semarang is the capital city of Central Java, known for its blend of Dutch colonial heritage, vibrant Chinatown, and modern coastal development. It sits on the north coast of Java and serves as an important port and commercial hub.

Semarang is located roughly 310–350 km from Surabaya, with an estimated driving time of about 4–4.5 hours

Culinaries

Semarang is a city celebrated for its rich blend of Javanese and Chinese culinary heritage. Lumpia Semarang, which originates from the fusion of Chinese popiah and Javanese flavours, is one of its signature dish. It is filled with bamboo shoots, chicken, shrimp, and egg, wrapped in a thin skin that can be served fried or steamed.

Beyond lumpia, Semarang is also famous for hearty, flavour‑packed local dishes such as Nasi Goreng Babat, a fried rice dish cooked with tender tripe and bold spices, widely recognised as one of the city’s viral favourites.

Sego Ayam is another traditional Javanese rice dish commonly found in Semarang. It’s a simple, comforting meal consisting of steamed rice topped with shredded chicken, savoury opor‑style gravy, sambal, and often lentho (fried cassava cake) or krecek (spicy cow-skin stew). It’s typically served on a banana leaf, giving it a warm, home‑style flavour.

Sam Po Kong Temple

Sam Po Kong Temple, also known as Gedung Batu, is the oldest Chinese temple in Semarang and one of the city’s most iconic cultural landmarks. The complex blends traditional Chinese and Javanese architectural styles, featuring striking red pavilions, pagoda‑style roofs, and spacious courtyards used for worship and cultural events.

While it originated as a prayer site used by Admiral Zheng He, a Chinese Muslim explorer, during his voyages in the early 1400s, it is now a Chinese temple complex that functions as a multi‑faith place of worship, used by Buddhists, Taoists, Muslims, and Javanese communities.

Saloka Theme Park

Saloka Theme Park is Central Java’s largest integrated amusement park, offering a blend of folklore‑inspired attractions and modern family entertainment. The park is divided into five themed zones—Pesisir, Balalantar, Segara Prada, Ararya, and Kamayayi—each designed around the local legend of Baru Klinting. This storytelling approach gives the park a distinctive cultural character, setting it apart from traditional amusement parks.

Across these zones, visitors can enjoy 25 rides and attractions, ranging from gentle, family‑friendly activities to adrenaline‑pumping experiences. Popular rides include Semprat‑Semprot, Cakrawala, and a variety of classic amusement options such as a Ferris wheel and roller coaster Traveloka +1. For thrill‑seekers, the park also features the Adu Nyali haunted house, while younger children can explore softer attractions within the Kamayayi zone. With its mix of recreation, culture, and culinary spots, Saloka Theme Park offers a full‑day experience suitable for all ages.

Dusun Semilir Eco Park

Dusun Semilir Eco Park is one of Central Java’s most iconic family‑friendly destinations, located in Bawen, Semarang. Designed as a one‑stop leisure park, it blends striking architecture, cultural experiences, culinary attractions, and recreational activities in one expansive complex.

Its most distinctive landmark is the large stupa‑inspired dome, constructed from glass and wood, which creates an impressive architectural focal point upon arrival. Inside the domes, visitors can explore a curated selection of shops offering local snacks, souvenirs, batik, handicrafts, and a variety of Nusantara products.

Dusun Semilir offers a wide range of recreational activities, including the signature Rainbow Slide, various interactive themed houses, and leisurely tram and gondola rides. The complex also features a dedicated Pet Village, where visitors can enjoy rabbit feeding, fish feeding, and explore the rabbit park, making it an engaging experience for families and children.

Eling Bening

Eling Bening is a contemporary hilltop leisure destination in Bawen, Semarang Regency, offering a blend of modern resort ambience and breathtaking natural scenery. The site features expansive terraces overlooking the majestic mountains surrounding Ambarawa and the wide stretch of Rawa Pening Lake, creating a panoramic backdrop that feels almost cinematic.

Visitors can enjoy Instagram‑worthy vantage points, a relaxing café and restaurant serving local cuisine, and family‑friendly facilities such as a swimming pool, and children’s playground.

Labuan Bajo

Labuan Bajo, a coastal town in Indonesia’s Flores Island, is a once‑quiet fishing town that offers dramatic sunsets, limestone caves, a welcoming local culture and also the gateway to Komodo National Park. It’s worth visiting because it offers a rare blend of natural wonder, island serenity, a perfect mix of adventure and relaxation.

Bukit Sylvia

Bukit Sylvia is a scenic hill in Labuan Bajo located just 10–15 minutes by car from the Labuan Bajo town centre. It is known for its sweeping panoramic views of the Flores Sea, scattered islands, and spectacular sunrise and sunset colours. It’s a popular viewpoint thanks to its gentle ascent and stunning golden‑hour scenery, often described as one of Labuan Bajo’s most beautiful lookout spots.

Labuan Bajo Marina

Labuan Bajo Marina is the stylish waterfront heart of Flores, where modern boardwalks, luxury yachts, and traditional phinisi boats meet sweeping views of the Komodo archipelago. It’s a vibrant seaside hub lined with cafés, open‑air promenades, and calm ocean scenery — the perfect place to stroll, relax, or begin your adventure into Komodo National Park.

Mirror Cave

Mirror Cave (Batu Cermin) is a compact limestone cave located approximately 10–15 minutes from Labuan Bajo. It is renowned for its distinctive light phenomenon, where sunlight enters through a narrow opening and reflects off calcite‑coated rock surfaces, producing a striking “mirror” effect.

Inside the cave, visitors can observe fossilised shells and remnants of ancient marine life embedded in the walls, along with stalactites and textured limestone formations. Access to the cave is via a short forest walkway leading to the main entrance.

The optimal time to visit is late morning to early afternoon (around 12:30 PM–2:00 PM), when the cave is less crowded and the light reflection is at its peak. Public toilets and a cafeteria are available at the nearby tourist information centre.

Loccal Collection Hotel

Loccal Collection Hotel is a striking, cliffside property in Labuan Bajo, celebrated for its Santorini‑inspired architecture featuring white‑washed walls, curved lines, and tiered terraces overlooking the harbour. Its design evokes the charm of coastal Greece, creating a bright, Mediterranean atmosphere right in the heart of Flores. The hotel offers an infinity pool, sea‑view lounges, a spa, and a stylish restaurant, making it a popular spot for both overnight guests and day visitors.

Non‑guests may also enjoy the resort’s views and pool facilities by booking a meal at the on‑site restaurant or café. Please note that a minimum spend of approximately IDR 200,000 per person applies, as the area is primarily accessed for its scenic appeal and overall experience.

Island Hopping

Island hopping in Komodo National Park offers a perfect blend of scenic viewpoints, wildlife encounters, and vibrant marine life, with a route that includes Kelor Island, Padar Island, Komodo Island, and Kanawa Island.

Kelor Island

Kelor Island is a tranquil, compact island located just 10–15 minutes by boat from Labuan Bajo. Renowned for its calm, turquoise waters and soft white‑sand shoreline, it offers an ideal setting for swimming, snorkelling, or simply unwinding by the beach.

Snorkelling at Kelor Island offers a gentle, family‑friendly experience in calm, clear waters ideal for beginners and children. The shoreline has a soft, shallow sandy entry, allowing non‑swimmers to paddle safely while still spotting small fish close to the beach. Just a little farther out, the water deepens gradually into vibrant coral patches where confident snorkellers can enjoy colourful marine life without strong currents. With its peaceful setting and easy conditions, Kelor Island is a perfect warm‑up snorkelling spot before exploring the deeper reefs elsewhere in Komodo National Park.

The island also features a scenic hill with a short yet rewarding 15–20 minute ascent. Although the trail is steep, it is manageable for most visitors and leads to a panoramic 360‑degree viewpoint overlooking the surrounding islands, vivid blue waters, and the Flores coastline. This vantage point provides exceptional photo opportunities and serves as a memorable introduction to the Komodo archipelago.

As Kelor Island is a small, uninhabited island used only for short day stops, there is no resort/restaurant/public toilet. So bring your own snacks & drinks and plan your bathroom breaks before leaving Labuan Bajo/your tour boat.

Most standard Komodo day‑tour boats have basic but reasonably clean toilets. They’re not luxury‑level, but they are generally functional, maintained throughout the day, and kept tidy enough for regular use. However, as cleanliness & supplies like toilet paper and soap may decline later in the day (depending on passenger numbers), bring a small “comfort kit” which include hand soap, toilet seat cover, tissue, hand sanitiser & wipes.

Padar Island

Padar Island, the third‑largest island within Komodo National Park, is renowned for its striking volcanic landscapes and panoramic views overlooking three distinctively coloured crescent‑shaped bays—white, black, and pink. The White Bay derives its bright hue from finely ground coral and shell fragments, while the Black Bay’s darker tone is the result of volcanic minerals present in the sand. The Pink Bay, much like the famous Pink Beach on Komodo Island, owes its rosy colour to microscopic red marine organisms known as foraminifera, which mix with the pale sand to create its unique tint.

Located roughly 30 kilometres from Labuan Bajo, the island is accessible only by boat and is a popular stop on full‑day or liveaboard tours departing from the mainland.

The island’s main activity is the Padar Island viewpoint hike, a well‑maintained trail that takes visitors from the beach landing point up to the summit. The walk typically takes 30–40 minutes, following a series of stone steps and dirt paths that gradually ascend the hillside. While the trail includes some steep sections, it is widely considered moderate and achievable for most visitors with regular fitness, thanks to rest stops and handrails along the way.

Similar to Kelor island, there is also no resort/restaurant/public toilet at Padar island. So bring your own snacks & drinks and plan your bathroom breaks before leaving Labuan Bajo/your tour boat.

View of the three coloured bays from Padar Island viewpoint

Komodo Island

Komodo Island is the largest and most visited island within Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is best known as the natural habitat of the iconic Komodo dragons. Visitors typically explore the island through guided walking routes, where rangers lead groups to observe dragons, deer, birds, and the island’s dry forest landscape. Activities include wildlife viewing, short nature walks, and scenic hill viewpoints, all conducted with trained guides for safety.

September to October is widely regarded as the ideal period to visit the island, particularly for underwater enthusiasts. During these months, the sea is calm, visibility is excellent, and it coincides with manta season, offering a strong likelihood of encountering manta rays while diving or snorkelling. Komodo dragons also tend to be more active at this time, enhancing the trekking experience. As it is considered off‑peak, visitor numbers are lower, providing a more tranquil and enjoyable environment.

Komodo Island offers three walking routes designed to accommodate varying fitness levels. The short track, approximately one hour in duration, is graded as easy and follows predominantly flat terrain with gentle slopes. It is the most suitable option for older travellers seeking a comfortable experience while still having the opportunity to encounter Komodo dragons.

The medium track takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete and includes several short climbs and steep descents. Along the route, you will pass through the waterhole and may encounter Komodo dragons as well as other native wildlife, including Timor deer and wild boar.

The long track, which takes approximately 2.5 hours to complete, is recommended for visitors in good physical condition. It features higher elevations, challenging climbs and rugged terrain.

Another key attraction on Komodo Island is Pink Beach, one of the world’s few naturally occurring pink‑sand beaches, situated along the island’s southwest coast.

Unlike Australia’s pink lake, where the colour is influenced by salt concentration and seasonal changes in sunlight and weather, the distinctive rose‑hued sand at Komodo’s Pink Beach is formed by a natural blend of white sand and finely crushed red coral fragments from foraminifera. This unique composition gives the shoreline its soft blush colour and makes it one of Indonesia’s most striking coastal features.

While the island does offer restaurant and restroom facilities, these amenities are not located near Pink Beach or other key tourist spots. Visitors should be prepared for limited access to services in these areas and plan accordingly, particularly for food, water, and bathroom breaks before commencing their activities.

Kanawa Island

Kanawa Island is a tranquil tropical island located approximately 30–40 minutes by boat from Labuan Bajo. Similar to Kelor island, Kanawa island is also renowned for its crystal‑clear turquoise waters, vibrant coral reefs, and abundant marine life, making it an excellent spot for swimming and snorkelling.

Snorkelling at Kanawa Island is often described as one of the most rewarding underwater experiences in Komodo National Park. The island is surrounded by crystal‑clear turquoise water and healthy coral reefs that begin just a few metres from the shore, making it easy to explore without needing a boat. Travel guides highlight Kanawa as a snorkeller’s paradise, thanks to its vibrant coral gardens, colourful reef fish, and calm lagoon‑like conditions

The island’s calm, shallow shoreline is ideal for families, while a gentle walk up its small hill also offers a beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding seascape.

Just like Kelor, Padar, and Komodo islands, there is no public toilet in Kanawa Island. However, it has one restaurants located within Kanawa Beach Resort’s facility (which is the only resort in the island). However the restaurant only offers limited menu such as fried rice, noodles, grilled fish and the kitchen often closes early. So if you are planning to visit the island in late afternoon, best to bring your own foods & drinks.

Kanawa Beach Resort provides fully operational bathroom facilities for its guests. As the restaurant forms part of the resort complex, restroom access is limited to patrons dining at the venue.

Arashiyama

Arashiyama is another most popular sightseeing district in Kyoto. It is about 1 hour train ride from Osaka or 30 minutes from Kyoto. You can explore Arashiyama either by foot or rickshaw.

Kimono Forest

The Kimono Forest is an artificial landscape made of about six hundred poles cladded in Japanese kimono fabric and set along a paved road from train station terminus Randen in Arashiyama. Visitors can visit the Kimono Forest during daytime or night time, when the LED lights embedded in the tubes enlighten the colorful patterns of kimono fabric.

Togetsukyo Bridge

The timeless Togetsukyo Bridge – which literally translates to “Moon-Crossing Bridge” is one of Arashiyama’s scenic landmark with its backdrop of lush trees. It is located a short walk from Kimono Forest and it is along the route towards Arashiyama Monkey park.

Arashiyama Monkey Park

Arashiyama Monkey park is located about 7 minutes walk from Arashiyama station or 10 minutes walk from Kimono Forest. Ticket to the Monkey park costs ¥800 for adults (16 years +) or ¥400 for children under 16 years. It will take around 20 minutes walk from the entrance to get to the areas where the monkey are (about 120 stairs in the beginning). Arashiyama Monkey park is open from 9 AM to 4 PM.

Tenryu-Ji Temple

Tenryu-ji was established in 1339 by the shogun Ashikaga Takauji (1305-1358) in memory of Emperor Go-Daigo (1288-1339). Since its founding, Tenryu-ji has been ravaged by eight major fires, in 1358, 1367, 1373, 1380, 1447, 1468, 1815, and 1864. Of the early fires those of 1447 and 1468 were particularly severe, and it was not until the shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi provided financial support in 1585 that the temple was able to be rebuild. Tenryu-Ji is open from 8:30 AM to 5 PM and costs ¥800/adult or ¥600 for Elementary & middle school children.

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Visitors can access the Bamboo forest either directly from the main street of Arashiyama, or through the north of the entrance to Tenryu-ji temple. It will take roughly around 40 minutes to walk through the length of the bamboo alley.

Sagano Scenic Railway

Sagano Scenic Railway is dubbed Sagano Romatic Train. Its charming, old-fashioned trains make their way through the mountains at a slow pace, taking about 25 minutes to make the seven kilometer journey and giving passengers pleasant views of the scenery as they travel from Arashiyama through the forested ravine and into rural Kameoka.

Sightseeing trains depart from Torokko Saga Station which lies just next to JR Saga-Arashiyama Station or from Torokko Arashiyama Station.

Once you have reached Torokko Kameoka Station, you have several options to head back. You can either take the sightseeing train back to Arashiyama or walk five minutes to nearby Umahori Station from where you can catch a JR train back to Arashiyama or Kyoto/Osaka. Alternatively, you can opt to return by booking Hozugawa River Boat Ride.

Sagano Scenic Railway operates hourly from 9 AM to 4 PM (except on Wednesday). Ticket can be purchased from https://www.klook.com/activity/17066-sagano-romantic-train-ticket-kyoto/.

Hozugawa River Boat Ride

For a unique and memorable way to explore more wonders of Kyoto, take a Hozugawa River Boat Ride. The two-hour, 16-kilometre long adventure lets you explore the incredible scenery of the Tanba-Kameoka/Arashiyama area.

Visitors who wants take the Hozugawa River Boat Ride can either take a short bus ride from Torokko Kameoka Station (or 10-minute walk) to the River Boat Ride boarding site.

Tickets can be purchased at the https://travel.japanrailpass.com.au/en-AU/activity/74947-kyoto-arashiyama-hozugawa-river-boat-ride/?aid=35192. A regular boat ticket costs 4,100 yen for adults and 2,700 yen for children between the ages of 4 and 12. However, if your party has 10 or more people, you need to make a reservation.

Kyoto

Kyoto is a popular destination for daytrip from Osaka. It was the imperial capital of Japan for over 1000 years (until 1868) and it is now the heart of traditional Japanese culture.

Fushimi Inari Shrine

Fushimi Inari Shrine is an important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto, dedicated to the god of rice. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings.

Fushimi Inari Shrine is open 24 hours. If you want to avoid the crowds, best to go around sunrise (6 am is best) but 7 am the latest or as late at night as possible (after 8 pm).

Southern Higashiyama

Southern Higashiyama, which includes Gion, is one of the places in Kyoto that is popular with visitors as it offers some of the most picturesque and best-preserved streets in the city.

Yasaka-dori which leads to Yasaka Pagoda (Hōkanji Temple), Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, Nene-no-michi, and Ishibei-koji lane are the preserved streets that you should explore as it you’ll find wooden houses on narrow lanes, with paved stone pathways and paper lanterns lighting the way. This area is perfect to leisurely explore either early morning or late at night to beat the crowds.

Yasaka Dori, a street leading to the pagoda before 9 AM

Kiyomizu-dera

Kiyomizu-dera was built in 778 AD and has a dramatic hillside location in Southern Higashiyama with views across the city. Kiyomizu-dera opens earlier than other temples, and as it is one of the popular temple attractions in Kyoto, it’s well worth visiting either early in the morning or night time avoid the tour groups.

Kinkakuji Temple

Kinkakuji Temple is a zen buddhist temple which had been recognize as one of the world’s heritage site. Kinkakuji is an impressive structure built overlooking a large pond, and is the only building left of Yoshimitsu’s former retirement complex. It has burned down numerous times throughout its history including twice during the Onin war, a civil war that destroyed much of Kyoto. It was again destroyed in 1950 during the arson attack by a fanactic monk and was rebuilt in 1955.

The golden pavilion is a three-story building on the grounds of the Rokuon-ji temple complex where the top two stories of the pavilion are covered with pure gold leaf.

Kinkakuji is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and cost ¥500 to enter.

Nishiki Market

Nishiki Market dubbed Kyoto’s kitchen, is located at the historical arcade on Nishikikoji Street. It has an astonishing number of over 100 vendors packed into a narrow passageway that is approximately 400 meters long and 3.9 meters wide selling everything from kitchenware, powdered matcha, to puffer fish sashimi and seaweeds. Nishiki market opens at 10 AM to 6 PM (though selected stalls will stay open as late as 10 PM). The market is a tourist hot spot, so if you want to beat the crowds and can stomach raw fish, beef skewers, tempura, sweet bean paste, and beancurd skin for breakfast, then get down for opening time.

Kyoto Railway Museum

The Kyoto Railway Museum which was opened in 2016 is one of Japan’s three great railway museums alongside JR East’s Railway Museum in Saitama & JR Central’s SCMAGLEV and railway park in Nagoya. It is located about 20 minutes walk from Kyoto station open-7 days a week from 10 AM to 5 PM. Admission fee to the museum is ¥1,500/adult or ¥1,300 for high schooler/university/professional students, or ¥500 for Elementary & Junior High students, or ¥200 for pre-schoolers. To purchase your admission ticket please go to https://www.asoview.com/purchase/scheduled-ticket/input?form.

The museum has 3 floors, exhibiting over 50 retired trains, from steam locomotives to more recent electric trains and shinkansen. Visitors can also walk underneath and observe the inner workings of a retired freight locomotive.

There are also a variety of interactive exhibitions where visitors can perform the duties of a train conductor or drive a train simulator.

Toei Kyoto Studio Park

Toei Kyoto studio park is the only theme park where you can observed the filming of period dramas (Jidaigeki films). The theme park is open from 9 AM to 5 PM and the admission fees costs ¥2,800/Adult or ¥1,800 for children over 3 years old up to primary school age. Alternatively, visitors can opt to get the admission + attractions pass which costs ¥4,200/Adult or ¥3,000 for children over 3 years old up to primary school age which allows you to allows you to enter (multiple times during your day of visit) the haunted house, 3D Ninja fort, Ninja mystery house, and Ninja Training dojo.

The park is also the only theme park which allows you to go on board the Evangelion. There is an additional fee of ¥1,000 for visitors who wants to board the Evangelion.

Osaka

Osaka is Japan’s second largest metropolitan area after Tokyo. Osaka was formerly known as Naniwa which was once Japan’s capital city, the first one ever known.

Osaka is located about 3 hours train ride from Tokyo, 30 minutes train ride from Kyoto, about an hour train ride from Nagoya, and 1.5 hours train ride from Hiroshima.

Universal Studio Japan (USJ)

Universal studio is located about 11 minutes train ride from Osaka, or about 16 minutes train ride from Shin Osaka station. It opens daily, typically from 9 AM to 9 PM around month of September. However it is best to check Universal website at closer date as it may change.

Weekends at USJ is very crowded. If you can, try to schedule the trip to USJ during Midweek (Wed-Thu) for lesser crowd. Refer to USJ crowd predictor, which gives you an estimate of what wait times might be at a theme park for each day of the year, to plan your visit. There is typically less crowd at photo points around USJ closer to showtimes and in the evening.

USJ is currently divided into 10 main sections: Hollywood, New York, San Francisco, Jurassic Park, Amity Village, Waterworld, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Super Nintendo World, Minion Park, and Universal Wonderland.

Popular rides you should prioritise:

Harry Potter & The Forbidden Journey:
An immersive 4D experience that takes you through Hogwarts Castle and the wizarding world
Flight of the Hippogriff: A family-friendly roller coaster set in the world of Harry Potter
Mario Kart – Koopa’s Challenge: A thrilling augmented reality ride that brings the iconic Mario Kart game to life
Yoshi’s Adventure: A gentle ride through the colorful world of Super Nintendo
The Flying Dinosaur: A high speed roller coaster that gives you the sensation of flying like a pteranodon
Jurassic Park – The Ride: A water-based ride that takes you through the world of Jurassic Park, complete with dinosaurs
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem: A fun 3D ride that takes you on an adventure with the mischievous Minions
Hollywood Dream – The Ride – Backdrop:
A roller coaster that lets you ride backwards for an extra thrill
Jaws: A boat ride that recreates the suspenseful scenes from the classic movie “Jaws”

Osaka 2025 Expo

Osaka 2025 Expo located at on the waterfront location of Yumeshima, which is about 38 minutes by train from Dontonburi & Hozenji Yokocho. The expo centred topics around the theme of “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, with sub-themes of “Saving Lives”, “Empowering Lives” and “Connecting Lives”, will takes place from April 13 to October 13 2025, showcasing ideas and enhancements shaping the global society.

It consists of pavilions of over 150 countries who participated, as well as four of Japan’s domestic pavilions. The US, UK, Australia, China, France, German, Saudi Arabia, and Canada are dome of the notable countries pavilions participating in the expo.

The USA pavilion which showcases themes like sustainability, space exploration, education, and entrepreneurship

The Saudi Arabia pavilion which
draws inspiration from the natural shapes found in traditional Saudi Arabian villages. It shows the country’s culture and technology while creating an immersive visitor experience

The Australian pavilion which focuses on music as a metaphor for the harmony between humanity, nature, and technology

Germany pavilion which emphasise circularity, sustainability, and the balance between technology and nature

Singapore pavilion which
showcase Singapore’s innovation, sustainability, and collective spirit

Japan pavilion which emphasises the cycles of life and transformation, and its design showcases a circular concept

The Switzerland pavilion which
features a cluster of spheres surrounded by plants. This design blends elements of nature and culture, symbolising Switzerland’s commitment to ecological responsibility and its spirit of innovation

France pavilion which
celebrates the interconnections between human creativity, culture, and the natural environment, encouraging visitors to contemplate humankind’s bond with nature

The Chinese pavilion, one of the largest pavilion in the expo, which is designed to look like ancient Chinese bamboo slips, representing the communication of knowledge and culture through time

The Expo also includes pavilions for private sector including Gundam Next Future Pavilion is one of them.

The Gundam Next Future pavilion is designed to let visitors experience “a world where life in space has become commonplace” with people casually taking the orbital elevator to the space station and mobile suits and people coexisting together. The participants will enjoy the experience of traveling from the Space Port located at Yumeshima, Osaka to the “Star Jaburo” station via the orbital elevator under the setting of the new Universal Century. In the world where humanity and mobile suits coexist together shown in the video, various mobile suits like the GUNDAM equipped with the G.L.R.S.S Feather UNIT and HARO with a new design make an appearance.

Outside Gundam Next Future Pavillion, the RX-78F00/E Gundam model is standing approximately 17 meters tall and weighing about 49 tons which you can see without necessarily going to the full expo.

The expo also displays the future model of flying cars.

Tickets to Osaka 2025 expo cost ¥4,000/adults and ¥2,200 for teen age 12-17 years, and ¥1,000 for children age 4-11 years old. Similar to Nintendo museum, the expo also uses lottery system for buying admission tickets. For information on how to purchase the ticket, refer to https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/tickets-index/information/.

Dontonburi

The origins of the Dotonbori area date back to the early 1600s, when a local businessman widened the banks of the Dotonbori River in the hopes of increasing commercial opportunities. Some 400 years later, this area is still an entertainment hub, attracting locals and travelers alike.

Dotonbori is filled with towering neon signs, clubs, bars, and restaurants serving up local specialties. Come here for a stimulating and essential slice of Osaka nightlife.

The unofficial mascot of Dotonbori is the Glico Man, a large neon sign featuring a man running on a blue race track positioned directly above the Dotonbori bridge. The billboard was first erected in 1935 as an advertisement for Glico, the Japanese food company that produces Pocky and Pretz. It is a popular photo spot for tourists and locals alike.

Most people take pictures of the Glico Man at the Ebisu bridge that is just below the sign. But this area is becoming super crowded and most often than not, you even have to queue to take a nice picture. Refer to the direction in Martin Linder’s TikTok for another photo spot with the Glico sign.

While in the area, you may also want to do river cruise at Dontonburi. Osaka Bus Wonder Cruise operates from 5 PM to 9:30 PM on 30 minutes interval. The cruise lasted 20 minutes and it will give you the opportunity to enjoy Dontonburi night lights, including photo opportunity at the famous Glico sign. Booking for the cruise is open 3 months prior and you can book.

The cruise costs ¥1,500/Adult ($16) and ¥800 ($9) for children in Primary school age. Online reservation can be made either from their website or Klook.

The boarding reception for the cruise is located near the Glico sign which is at the Tonbori river walk path opposite Don Quijote shop (or use this map link)

Shinsaibashisuji (Shinsaibashi Shopping Street)

Shinsaibashi is one of the main shopping street in Osaka. It is located about 10 minutes walk from Dotonburi & Hozenji Yokocho area. This shopping district welcomes around 60,000 visitors on weekdays, a number that swells to a staggering 120,000 on weekends which made crossing from one side to another can be challenging at times. If you have small children, please make sure you have them within your sights all the time.

Aside from Daimaru and its large number of fashion shops (including Gu, which is a branch of Uniqlo. Gu offers a trendier streetwear at cheaper price than Uniqlo), drug stores selling various health & beauty products.

Hozenji Yokocho

Hozenji Yokocho is located around 1-2 minutes walk from Dotonburi area and is one of the most beautiful alleyways in Osaka as it offers visitors a magical Edo period atmosphere. The stone paved alley is lined up with more than 60 traditional & restored shops and restaurants. At night time, the alley looks even more special as it is softly lit by paper lanterns.

The street was named after Hozen-ji temple, which has the statue of Buddhist deity, Fudo Myoo, a statue covered jn a lush coat of moss. The statue is also nicknamed as Mizu-kake Fudo (“Water-splattered Fudo”) as there is a custom of splashing some water on it after praying. Locals as well as visitors happily give into this ritual, and consequently help maintaining the moss covering that smoothens the aspect of Fudo and also to wish for luck as it is believed that Fudo-Myoo will grant wishes and protect one from evil.

Kuromon Market

Kuromon market was established in the Nipponbashi area of Osaka in 1902. It’s said to have been an area that serviced fishermen and merchant traders at the start of the 19th century.

Today, Kuromon Market is home to a collection of local street foods and stalls, often known as Osaka’s Kitchen. Kuromon market offers range of fresh-caught seafood, Takoyaki, and Mochi. Kuromon market also has a selection of sit-down restaurants for you to choose from. While the opening times for each store varies, it is generallybopen from 9AM to 6PM. If you decided to go to Kuromon market it is best to go in the morning (9-10 AM).

At Kuromon market, you can also try some grilled scallops & grilled sea urchin (uni). They are grilled over charcoal, seasoned with butter & soy sauce. The sea urchin is cracked open upon orders made.

Nintendo Museum

Nintendo museum located in Uji (about 1.5 hour from Osaka) was opened in October 2024. The museum offers visitors to learn about its journey through interactive displays of its developments of game consoles. During the visit you can look forward meeting its famous characters such as Mario, Donkey Kong, and Links.

It also have interactive areas where you can play with a really big controller. Upon entering the museum, you will receive a card with 10 coins on it, which you can use it to try multiple games. Unfortunately, you can no longer buy or recharge the coins. For information about the interactive games you can play using your coins please refer to https://museum.nintendo.com/en/guide/service/index.html. It is recommended to do the large controller first before trying on the smaller games.

During your visit, you will also be able to see the concepts, sketches and prototypes that illustrate the development process of games like The Legend of Zelda or Animal Crossing.

Foods at the Nintendo Museum Cafe are said to be not the greatest so best to eat beforehand.

The museum is open from 10 AM to 7 PM and admission to the museum is only available for those who has tickets that you’ve ordered or won in a “lottery” three months before. Choose weekdays and the time slot 2 p.m as the competition for the lottery ticket is much smaller during these window. However, the downside is many items may already be out of stock in the shop. Admission ticket is ¥3,300/Adult or ¥2,200 for teen (12-17 years), or ¥1,100 for children 6-11 years old. Go to https://museum-tickets.nintendo.com/en/calendar to enter the draw to the lottery ticket to the museum. The results of the drawing will be sent to the email address registered to your Nintendo Account. You can start registering for the lottery on the 1st day of the 3 months from your intended month of visit. For example, if you are planning to visit the museum in Sep, you can register for the lottery on June 1st.

Drawing of lottery winner is done on the 1st day of 2 months before your intended month of visit. As an example, for Sep visit, drawing is done on July 1st. And you will have until mid July to purchase your ticket if your registration is being picked for the draw. Any unclaimed lottery ticket will be sold to public starting mid July.

Once you get closer to the fall, you may be overwhelmed by its impact and force. Maybe it is because of the splashing water that disperses when the water flows straight into the plunge pool, it feels slightly chilly even in summer.

At the bottom of the falls, you will also find Takimi Chaya, a small tea house with a view of the falls where they sell soft serve wasabi ice cream (a specialty given areas around Joren Falls are good for growing wasabi plants) and soft serve strawberry ice cream for those who are not a big fan of wasabi.

Byodin Temple

Byodin temple is a Pure Land Buddhist temple with some of Japan’s most eye-catching architecture. It has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a must-visit temple if you happened to be in Uji area. It is a great option to combine with your visit to Nintendo museum as it is only about 1/2 hour away from Nintendo museum.

Built in 998 as a countryside retreat palace for the politician Fujiwara no Michinaga, Byodoin was not initially viewed as a temple. It was converted to a temple by Yorimichi Fujiwara during the beginning of the Mappo “end of the world” period to enshrine the Buddha Amida. He also ordered the construction of Byodoin’s most striking building, the Phoenix Hall. Built in 1053 to enshrine a statue of Amitabha Tathagata, a National Treasure, the Phoenix Hall was originally known as Amidabha Hall.

Visitors to Byodoin can enter the Phoenix Hall, which houses the Amida Buddha. It is recommended to allocate about 60 minutes for Byodoin Temple, plus another 20 if you want to enter the Phoenix Hall.

Byodoin Temple are open daily from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., with last admission at 5:15 p.m. The Phoenix Hall and Museum both close earlier than the grounds, so you should ideally arrive no later than 3:45 p.m. Admission to the main grounds and museum of Byodoin Temple costs 600 yen.

Amanohashidate

Amanohashidate is one of Japan’s three scenic views. It is located about 3 hours drive/train ride from Osaka and about 1 hour 15 minutes train/35 minutes drive from Ine Funaya Fishing Village.

Amanohashidate Viewland

Amanohashidate Viewland is located on top of Mt. Monju, and can be reached via cable car or chair lift. The cable car chair lift is only a short walk from Amanohashidate Station, making it an easy way to catch panoramic views of Amanohashidate.

Amanohashidate viewland is located about 5 minutes walk from Amanohashidate station. You cannot drive into Amanohashidate station but there is a private paid parking lot in front of the mountain foothill ticket sales area (lift and monorail boarding area) which accomodate 17 private cars and 10 motorcycles (¥700 for all day parking). Alternatively, please use the nearby paid parking lot (there are various nearby within a 1 to 7-minute walk.)

Amanohashidate viewland is open from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM in Sep and from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM from Oct 1st – Nov 15th. General admission ticket which covers return trip with either Chair Lift/Monorail costs ¥1,000/Adult (12 years +) or ¥500 for children from 6-11 years old. Visitors typically spend 1-2 hours at the park.

The chair lift is a 1 person ride. There is no seatbelt installed on the chair lift. Elementary school students and older can ride the lift alone. Children under elementary school age can ride in the direction of travel on an adult’s lap. The chair lift ride takes around 6 minutes and you can board at anytime.

The monorail ride is a 7 minute ride one way. It fits up to 40 people and operates in 20 minute interval going uphill (starting from the 00 minutes of the hour) and downhill (starting from the 10 minutes of the hour).

At the top, visitors can enjoy the 360 degree panoramic view of Amanohashidate and the surrounding area by walking along the metal corridor pathway which twists and turns like a flying dragon.

Visitors can also ride on the two seater paddle cycle car which costs from ¥300 to ¥500/person where they can enjoy the view of different sceneries such as the Miyazu area, the Aso Sea, and the pine trees.

The park also has a small Ferris Wheel which offers the view of Kurita Peninsula, Miyazu City, and the end of the pine trees to Ine Town. The ferris wheel ride costs ¥300/person.

Other activities available in the park are coin cars (¥200/car session), and train ride to go around the park.

Kaisen Bridge

Kaisenkyo (rotating bridge) is located about 5 minutes walk from Amanohashidate station. The unusal bridge which rotates 90 Degree to allow ships to pas, was built in 1923 and was hand operated before it converted to electronically operated in 1960.

Amanohashidate Sandbar

Amanohashidate sandbar is pine covered sandbar which is the natural bridge links both sides of Miyazu Bay in northern Kyoto Prefecture. The sandbar is quite thin—just 20 meters wide at its narrowest point.

You’ll get wonderful views on either side of the bay, or you can walk along the scenic road that threads through the trees on the isthmus. This takes about 45 minutes on foot.

Kasamatsu Park

Kasamatau park is similar to Amanohashidate Viewland which offers visitors the opportunity to view Amanohashidate scenery from the other side of Amanohasidate sandbar. It opens from 8 AM to 5.30 PM during September – October and like Amanohasidate Viewland, it also offers visitors to go up to their viewing platform using a single chair lift/Cable Car. Cost for the chair lift/cable car is ¥400/adult (13 years +) one way or ¥800/adult return. For children (6 – 12 years), cost for the ride is ¥200 one way or ¥400 return.

If you are planning to do Amanohashidate sightseeing boat trip, you can opt to buy the combined Sightseeing boat & Kasamatsu Park (https://www.kkday.com/en-us/product/127967)

Amanohashidate Sightseeing Boat

You can opt to take the Amanohashidate sightseeing boat, from Ichinomiya Pier to Miyazu pier (or vice versa), where you can enjoy the landscape of Amanohasidate from the sea, passing the Kaisen bridge. In addition, you can also see many seabirds fly close. The sightseeing boat cost ¥800/Adult (13 years +) and ¥400/child (6-12 years old). Please refer to https://www.tankai.jp/en/cruise/amanohashidate-sightseeing-boat/ for timetable of the boat and https://www.tankai.jp/en/about-us/reservation/ for reservation.

Ine Funaya

Ine Funaya is a coastal town in northern Kyoto Prefecture which is often referred as the Venice of Japan. It is located about 35 minutes drive from Amanohashidate or about 1 hour by train.

For generations, the residents of Ine have made their livelihoods primarily from fishing. Nowadays, there are about 2,000 residents are remaining, making it one of the smallest populations in the prefecture. Ine offers a glimpse of traditional Japanese lifestyles with its many residential boat houses known as funaya. There are also ample opportunities to explore the beautiful natural landscape and experience local food and culture around town.

Over 200 funaya boat houses line the bay, including some that offer accommodations for overnight visitors. The bottom floor of a funaya typically consists of a boat docking area. The upper floor is sometimes residential, though traditionally, fishing families kept a separate physical home.

The best way to see Ine and its funaya houses is from the sea. There are two types of boat tours available. Large sightseeing boats take passengers on a 25 minute loop around the bay. The large sightseeing boats operates from 9 AM to 4 PM (running every 15-30 minutes interval) and cost ¥1,200/Adult (13 years +) or ¥600/Child (6-12 years). Please refer to https://www.tankai.jp/en/cruise/ine-bay-boat-tour/ for timetable and https://www.tankai.jp/en/about-us/reservation/ for reservation.

The smaller sea taxis operated by local fishermen offer a slightly more personalized experience. It costs ¥1,000/adults or ¥500/child. The smaller sea taxi operates from 9 AM to 5 PM and unlike the large sightseeing cruises, the small boat tours require reservations beforehand, which can be made at the tourism office at Funaya no Sato Park or through some of the sea taxi sites listed below.

Kameshimamaru (Capacity 12 people). Phone: +81-772-32-0585 (Staff: Yamada)
Marine (Capacity 11 people). Phone: +81-90-7360-9323 (Staff: Kura)
Re:INE (Capacity 12 people). Phone: +81-80-3100-8954 (Captain: Ryosuke Teratani)

Hiroshima

Hiroshima was the first military target of a nuclear weapon in history. This occurred on August 6, 1945, when the US Army dropped the atomic bomb on the city.

Hiroshima is about 1.5 hour by train from Osaka or 3 hours by train from Nagasaki. Aside from memorial places, there are plenty of day trip options that you can take from Hiroshima.

Hello Kitty Shinkansen

JR west debuted its Hello Kitty bullet train on its Sanyo Shinkansen Line in 2018. At the moment, like other special shinkansen trains before, it seems that this train will run for a limited time but they are yet to announce the end date (maybe announce in either Nov/Dec 24). The train runs a Kodama service between Shin-Osaka and Hakata (Fukuoka stations). The Kodama service is basically a Shinkansen that stops at every station. It is also possible to buy a normal ticket for the Hello Kitty Shinkansen in case you do not have a JR Pass. This can be done at any JR Ticket Window.

There are also different regional passes by JR West that cover the Hello Kitty Shinkansen. However keep in mind that this will only be for the validity area of the pass. For example the Sanyo-San in Northern Kyushu 7 days pass, which cost $270/12 years – Adult and $135/children age 6-11, covers en entire route from Shin-Osaka to Hakata. Whereas JR Kansai-Hiroshima 5 days pass, which cost $177/12 years – Adult and $90/child age 6-11, would only cover the route as far as Hiroshima.

The first two train cars have been changed into two Hello Kitty worlds. Train Car 1 is named Hello Kitty Plaza with a special souvenir store and cafe. There are 8 exclusive Hello Kitty design products on sale, each specific for 1 of the 8 regions that the train travel through. For instance, there’s a Strawberry Hello Kitty from Fukuoka and an Orange Hello Kitty from Tottori, symbolising their local products. The complete set of regions is Osaka, Hyogo, Okayama,Tottori, Hiroshima, Shimane, Yamaguchi and Fukuoka.

Train Car 2 is called the “Kawaii Room” or super cute room. It is completely covered with motifs from Hello Kitty and her Friends. There’s also a photo stand where you can take a picture together with Kitty-chan.

Go to JR Hello Kitty Shinkansen site to find out the Shinkansen operating days and timetable.

Atomic Bomb Dome

Atomic Bomb Dome was previously Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. During WWII on August 6, 1945 at 8:15 a.m., the first atomic bomb in human history was dropped on Hiroshima.

At the moment of the explosion, the explosion applied a pressure of 35 tons per square meter, causing a violent wind speed of 440 meters per second. The building was engulfed in flames by a powerful explosion and absorbing heat. However, because the impact of the explosion came almost overhead, the outer wall and steel dome were not completely destroyed. Sadly though, the people inside at that time died immediately.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park was built in the center of Hiroshima city. Its location is near the hypocenter of the atomic bombing during. To get there, walk along Motoyasu Bridge and you will arrive at the park.

At Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, you will find the Flame of Peace located nearby. The Flame of Peace burns continuously as a symbol of the hope for a world without nuclear weapons and will only be extinguished when the last nuclear weapon on Earth has been abolished.

Itsukushima Shrine

Itukushima Shrine is one of the most visited scenic spots in Japan, famous for its floating shrine & torii gate of Itukushima (often known as Miyajima). It was recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2006. It is located about an hour from Hiroshima where you will need to take a 10 minutes ferry ride from Hiroshima’s Miyajimaguchi Station to Miyajima Ferry ferry terminal.

Go to JR Miyajima page to check on the ferry schedule for both to and from Miyajima. The page also has information on timetables for Great Torii ferry services which offers you front views of the Great Torii and Itsukushima Shrine from the sea as this ferry service takes you closest to the Great Torii gate. The ferry ride cost ¥400 yen/adult for a return trip & ¥200 yen for child age 6-12 round trip.

You don’t need to go to Nara to see the deers. As soon as you step on Miyajima Island, where as soon as you step off the dock, you will lots of deers. They are everywhere. They walk the streets like happy dogs, ignoring the throngs of tourists who surround them. There are more than 500 deer and by all accounts and records, they’ve been strolling this island for 800 years.

Itukushima Shrine is open daily from 6.30 AM to 6 PM. Entrance ticket to the shrine cost ¥300/Adult and ¥100 for children up to junior high or ¥500/Adult and ¥150 for children up to junior high if you buy a combine ticket that also covers entrace to their treasure hall.

Map of Itukushima shrine. The green shade shows the area that have been designated as National Treasures and the yellow shade are those that had been designated as Important Cultural properties.

You can visit Itukushima Shrine both during low and high tide. During low tide, you can walk towards the torri gate and get an up close look. During high tide, the shrine and torii gate will look like it is floating on water during high tide. You can check the tide schedule for Miyajima from tide time website.

After sunset, the shrine and the torii gate are illuminated daily until 23:00, providing a perfect backdrop even though visitors will not be able to enter the shrine after sunset, though. Alternatively, tourists can view the illuminated island from boat cruises. Cruises last thirty minutes, cost ¥1,600 and take passengers around the bay and to the torii gate. Reservation is required and can be made through the tourist information desk.

Mount Misen Observatory

Mount Misen has been a holy mountain for centuries. It is said that a Buddhist monk Kukai came here in the year of 806 after studying in China and practiced his religion on Mount Misen and established Daisho-in temple. Near the peak of Mount Misen is an ancient temple complex with multiple buildings.

The complex is part of Daisho-in temple. The Kiezo-no-Reikando Hall is used to keep a flame, which supposedly has been kept burning since Kukai first lit it 1200 years ago. It was also this flame which was used to light the eternal flame at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

Visitors can reach Mount Misen Observatory by taking a cables car ride from Miyajima Ropeway located at Momijidani Station, which is about 15 minutes walk from Itsukushima Shrine. The ropeway will take you to Kayatani Station, which is located closed to Shishiiwa Observatory.

There is a modern observatory at the very top of Mount Misen, which provides amazing views over Hiroshima bay and it’s many islands. Mount Misen Observatory is around 25 minutes walk from Shishiiwa Observatory.

The ropeway is open from 9AM to 4PM going up, and 9:20 AM to 4:30 PM going down. The ropeway ride costs ¥1,100/Adult ($12) for one way trip of ¥2,000/Adult ($22) for a return trip. For children 6-12 years it costs ¥550 ($6) for a one way trip or ¥1,000 ($11) for a return trip.

Motonomi Inari Shrine

Motonomi Inari Shrine is located along the coast of the Sea of Japan in Yamaguchi Prefecture, which is about 3 hours drive from Hiroshima. This Shinto sanctuary is one of the most photogenic spots in all of Japan given the striking contrast between the red gates and the cobalt blue of the Sea of Japan.

Exploring Motonomi Inari Shrine will not take you the whole day, so if you are visiting the shrine, you can combine it with driving through Tsunoshima Bridge and the island it connects to.

Tsunoshima Bridge

Tsunoshima Bridge is one of the most frequently shared sights in Yamaguchi. It is about 1/2 hour drive from Motonomi Inari Shrine. Cross the bridge by car to explore the island of Tsunoshima, including the resort there, Cobalt Blue Beach, and one of the oldest Western-style lighthouses in Japan.

Before driving through the bridge, stop by at Amagase Park, right beside the bridge on the mainland side, is a great place to take a memorable photo. The drive along the bridge towards Tsunoshima island takes around 5 minutes.

Tsunoshima Lighthouse

Tsunoshima Lighthouse is about 30 m high stone lighthouse that was completed by the British engineer, R.H. Brunton, who is known as “the father of Japanese lighthouses” before his return to the UK. It is located only a short drive Tsunoshima Bridge.

Kintaikyo Bridge

Kintaikyo Bridge (sometimes shortened as Kintai Bridge) was built in 1673, is a historic wooden arch bridge in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi. The elegant, wooden bridge makes five bold arches onto massive stone pillars as it crosses over the Nishiki River.

The plan for building Kintaikyo was first drawn up when strong currents had once again destroyed a bridge crossing the Nishiki River. Kikkawa Hiroyoshi, the third feudal lord of Iwakuni, whose statue stands at the entrance to nearby, was the one who commissioned the task to build more durable bridge.

After the bridge’s completion in 1673, it kept standing until 1950, when Iwakuni was struck by a violent typhoon. The bridge that had stood for almost 300 years, collapsed as desperate townspeople looked on and futilely tried to divert the ferocious current. Shortly after, the residents began constructing a precise reconstruction of their cherished bridge. It was completed in 1953.

Visitors must pay a fee to walk across at a toll booth. The booth is not manned during the night, and pedestrians crossing the bridge at night are asked to deposit the fee into a toll box. The bridge is lit up during most of the year until 22:00.

Iwakuni Castle

After crossing Kintaikyo bridge, visitors would arrive at Kikko park. Walk along the park to go to Iwakuni Castle.

Iwakuni Castle was built in 1608, at the beginning of the Edo period. Built over the course of five years, the castle was torn down by decree of the Shogun a mere seven years after its completion.

The present reconstruction dates from 1962, and has already outlasted the original castle by considerable length.

A ropeway provides access to Iwakuni Castle. The ropeway’s lower station can be reached in a five minute walk from the Kintaikyo bridge, while the castle is another five minute walk from the ropeway’s upper station.

The castle is open daily from 9 AM to 4.45 PM. Admission to the castle cost ¥270/person (castle only or ¥560/person for castle admission or ¥970/person (castle, ropeway and Kintaikyo bridge).

Nagasaki

Nagasaki was Japan’s early gateway to trade with the West, and this influence still shines through in its districts of stately European-style homes and a large Christian population.

It is an important port city on the island of Kyusu which is located about 4 hours train ride from Osaka, or 5 hours train ride from Kyoto, or 2.5 hours train ride from Hiroshima.

Alternatively you can fly out to Nagasaki either from Tokyo or Yokohama. It takes approximately 2 hours flight from Tokyo/Yokohama to Nagasaki.

If you are flying to Nagasaki, you can take a bus to Nagasaki CBD. To go to Nagasaki Station, it is faster to take the bus from Platform 5 as it has limited stop to Nagasaki Station. Bus ride costs ¥1,200/Adult ($13) and ¥600/Child. Refer to bus timetable for the route’s schedules.

Dejima Road (Limited Stops Bus route from platform 5)

Location of Nagasaki Bus Stops at Nagasaki Airport.

Huis Ten Bosch

Huis Ten Bosch is Japan’s largest theme park which recreates Netherlands by displaying lufe size copy of old Ducth building, along with canals, windmills and amusement rides where you can enjoy seasonal events & fireworks displays throughout the season.

The theme park is located about 1.5 hour from JR Nagasaki Station. Upon arriving at JR Huis Ten Bosch station, visitors will need to do about 5 minutes walk to get to the entrace of Huis Ten Bosch theme park. The park generally opens daily from 9 AM to 10 PM but it is best to check their opening time from Huis Ten Bosch website as it will also give you indication on firework shows.

You can buy ticket to the park via Klook website. The one day passport for the park costs $73.70/Adult, $36.85/child age between 4-6, 47.80/child age between 7-11, and $63.75/youth age between 12-17.

Huis Ten Bosch is a huge park so you may want to consider hiring Fiets (bicycle in Dutch) from Rental Cycles Shop. There are two locations within the park where you can rent fiets: the entrance store in the Welcome area or the port store in Harbor Town. They have a wide selection of single, double and four-seater bicycles. For priced for the bike rental please refer to their pricing brochure.

At the park you can also get to ride a Classic Cruiser or Gondola. Classic cruiser slowly sails along the approximately 6km long canal. From the boat, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of beautiful Europe

Aside from the bike, classic cruiser & gondola ride, at Huis Ten Bosch, they also have various other activities and entertainment such VR World of Torrent Rafting, VR World of Ultra Reverse Bungee, Sky carousel, Count Chocolat’s Mansion, Super Trick Art, Labyrith, Carillon Fantasia where where sound and light are synchronized, Space Fantasia, Flower Fantasia, Aquarium Fantasia, Fantasia playground, Fishing adventure games, AR adventure with Jurassic theme, Sky Castle, Sky Rail Coaster, Mission Deep Sea 4D Motion Ride, Horizon Adventure 4D Motion Ride, and various museums and shows.

It also has a splash field for kids to have fun which host the spectacular fountain show that combines sound and light at night time. When the area is surrounded by dusk, Huis Ten Bosch transforms into a “Kingdom of Lights”
Illuminated European streets, seasonal illumination.

Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium

Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium is the home to 180 penguins from nine different species. Admission to the aquarium cost ¥260/Adult & ¥160/child (preschooler, elementry & high school). The aquarium opens daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. Visitors typically spend about 1-2 hours at the aquarium.

You can observe penguins swimming in the natural sea and resting on the beach. Held only on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays

Display area of penguins who live in warm areas

Every weekend and on national holidays, the aquarium offers “Feed the Penguins” and “Petting Zoo”activities for visitors. In addition, the “Experience Nature Zone” inside the facility lets you get a close up look on some of the marine creatures that live in the nearby waters.

Sea Kayaking is also available at the man-made beach just outside of the aquarium. Sea Kayaking is only offered on weekends and holidays from late April to late September. An instructor will be with you, so even beginners can enjoy it with peace of mind. 2 seater kayak hire costs ¥780/hour. Children under 14 must ride with an accompanying adult. Your feet and other parts of your body will get wet during the kayaking experience. Please bring clothes that you don’t mind getting wet with splashes (seawater) or a change of clothes.

Autumn Travel to Japan

Autumn in Japan typically starts in September and lasted until December. If you are travelling to Japan during Autumn season, depending on which month and which area, you can bask on the beautiful autumn sceneries in Japan. Autumn foliage peaked at different months for different region in Japan.

In Osaka & Kyoto area, the autumn foliage started on Mid October up to mid December. In Shirakawa Go area, the autumn foliage can be observed from Early to Mid October. In Yokohama area, the autumn foliage started mid November up to Mid December. And in Tokyo area, it started Mid October to Mid December.

While it offers beautiful sceneries of colourful autumn leaves, autumn in Japan is also known as the Typhoon season. Typhoon in Japan often brings torrential rain, strong winds, and damaging high tides.

Typhoon season in Japan typically starts from May all the way through October, with most activities happening between July to September but it is largely over by end of September. Extra preparations is required for travelling to Japan during Autumn.

Weather Warning Information

Typhoon warnings, flood warnings, Earthquake warnings and other weather advisories can found in Japan Meteorology Agency (JMA) https://www.data.jma.go.jp/multi/warn/kinki_osaka.html?warning=all&lang=en.

In addition, you will most likely will also receive the warning message on your phone.

Sample warning received on tourist phone during the New Year Earthquake

Understanding Region, Prefecture & Ward

Knowing the region, prefecture & ward details of the city that you are visiting will help you in being able to check the weather warning from JMA website as well as in finding out the evacuation route/shelter where necessary.

Osaka & Kyoto

Both Osaka & Kyoto ate located within Kansai Region, which is often known as Kinki Region. Kansai/Kinki region comprises of five prefectures: Hyogo prefecture, Nara prefecture, Mie prefecture, Shiga prefecture, and Wakayama prefecture. It also has two urban prefecture which are Osaka prefecture & Kyoto prefecture.

You can use google map to find out the ward for your location.

Example result from google map that shows the ward details for Universal Studio

Alternatively, ward information are also included in the address for the location you are in.

Sample of address shown in Google Search

Nagoya

Nagoya is located in Chubu region, or sometimes known as the Central region. It is also the capital of Aichi prefecture.

Shirakawa Go

Just like Nagoya, Shirakawa Go is located within Chubu Region that is often known as Central Region. It is part of Gifu prefecture

Tokyo

Tokyo is part of Kanto Region. It is part of Tokyo Metropolis, which is a metropolitan prefecture comprising administrative entities comprising of special wards and municipalities.

Yokohama

Just like Tokyo, Yokohama is also part of Kanto region and is within Kanagawa prefecture.

What to Prepare

Typhoon will have little impact to your travel plan to Japan, if you are well prepared.

Rainy Days Preparation

Consider bringing proper rain jacket (with wind breaker function) which are suitable for autumn weather as typhoon often involves strong winds. Wearing cheap disposable poncho may be troublesome as the material is easily effected by the wind. Pack enough umbrealla for your party to use in the event of heavier rain. Months during autumn season can also include hot days. So having umbrellas with UV protections is handy too.

As typhoon may also imvolve some level of flooded surface, it will be handy to wear waterproof shoes. Alternatively, you can look at bringing a waterproof shoe cover however they are not as comfortable to wear as it may not perfectly fit the way shoes are.

During typhoon season, it may not hurt to put bring along a waterproof pouch bag. It’s handy for you to put your travel document (which you most likely will bring with you on daily basis to be able to shop tax free/phone for easy access while having good protection against water damage.

While travelling in Japan, you are most likely will be bringing your travel document with you all the time as you’ll need your passport for duty free purchases or to purchase Shinkansen tickets.

Unless you are carrying a waterproof backpack, it’s probably worth to put your travel document in waterproof pouch to ensure they are not damaged if you are caught in heavy rain.

Slim style water proof pouch with waist strap

Or you can opt for this bigger style which offers a bit more room

Have a small torchlight with you, or one of those mini LED light similar to the picture below which is rechargeable, can be easily attached to your backpack, has magnetic part & has emergency flashing light. It may come handy even if you are not in emergency situation due to the typhoon.

Look for something mini in size but can be easily attached to various things & waterproof

Hot Days Preparation

Depending on the month of your visit, you may still experience the tail end of the hot season. In addition to carrying UV‑protective umbrellas, a few items that proved particularly helpful for managing the heat during our trip were cooling towels and cooling wipes. Cooling towels are widely available in convenience stores and drugstores across Japan, and the cooling wipes—often infused with a minty formula—provide immediate relief after being out in the sun.

A handheld fan, which can be easily purchased from Don Quijote (Donki), is also extremely effective for keeping cool while on the go.

Prepare Non-Perishable Foods

In each of your accommodation, it’s always good to prepare some non perishable foods & water for emergency. During severe typhoon, you may be confined to your accomodation, and restaurants will be closed. Similarly, a lot of the convenience store will be closed too.

Japan has a wide range of non perishable foods you can choose from.

Be Flexible with Your Itinerary

For each city/area you are visiting, always prepare both outdoor & indoor itineraries. Having indoor itineraries will allow your group in being able to have activities in wet weather. In cities such as Tokyo, you will find that most businesses remain open.

However, do make sure you prioritise your safety. Apply general common sense. Do not travel into areas affected by flooding, and don’t enter the ocean. If a typhoon is predicted to make landfall in your area, ask about the location of shelters. When the weather gets bad, stay indoors and close all windows. Use common sense. If you are unsure as to whether you should go out, ask your hosts/hotel staff for their opinion.