amberjapantravels

I’m occasionally asked if constantly traveling solo around countryside areas of Japan ever gets lonely, and to be honest, it really doesn’t. Somewhere along the way, I’m always meeting someone new, sharing stories and experiences. The most memorable parts of my travel haven’t only been the places, but the people I’ve met. It’s one of the biggest reasons I’ve been consistently motivated to improve my Japanese language skills. Being able to connect, even just a little more deeply, has made my my travels here feel a lot more meaningful. Follow me at @amberjapantravels for more Japan travel things~ 🍵 #japantravel

If Hokkaido is the dream destination for many in Japan, Hakodate is where that dream first opened to the world.
️ One of the first Japanese ports to open to international trade in 1859, Hakodate quickly became a gateway between Japan and the West, and you can still feel it today. Western style buildings sit alongside traditional Japanese architecture, red-brick warehouses line the harbor, and the city’s skyline tells stories of the Meiji era’s rapid change. On this trip I visited the Old Soma Residence, once home to one of Hakodate’s most influential Meiji-era merchants. During the late 1800s, as Hakodate flourished through trade, powerful merchant families helped shape the city’s future. This residence is being carefully preserved and recently officially celebrated its grand opening on March 1st as a hotel called ‘Old Soma Residence: Kazeno Heritage, so you can actually stay inside! It’s limited to just three groups per day to preserve the peaceful atmosphere. Here you can enjoy a luxury stay with a private view of Hakodate Port in this Important Cultural Property! Check out their instagram: @kazenoheritage.soma There’s so much to do in Hakodate beyond sightseeing: a private winery visit overlooking the landscape, a fresh seafood breakfast inside a local fish market, and stories that made the city feel personal rather than just historic. Hakodate is just one part of Hokkaido, I can’t wait to explore more! For more Hokkaido things follow @Hokkaidolove.Asia and follow me at @AmberJapanTravels for more slow travel in Japan!~ #japantravel #hokkaido #hakodate #somaresidence #japan

If Hokkaido is the dream destination for many in Japan, Hakodate is where that dream first opened to the world.
️ One of the first Japanese ports to open to international trade in 1859, Hakodate quickly became a gateway between Japan and the West, and you can still feel it today. Western style buildings sit alongside traditional Japanese architecture, red-brick warehouses line the harbor, and the city’s skyline tells stories of the Meiji era’s rapid change. On this trip I visited the Old Soma Residence, once home to one of Hakodate’s most influential Meiji-era merchants. During the late 1800s, as Hakodate flourished through trade, powerful merchant families helped shape the city’s future. This residence is being carefully preserved and recently officially celebrated its grand opening on March 1st as a hotel called ‘Old Soma Residence: Kazeno Heritage, so you can actually stay inside! It’s limited to just three groups per day to preserve the peaceful atmosphere. Here you can enjoy a luxury stay with a private view of Hakodate Port in this Important Cultural Property! Check out their instagram: @kazenoheritage.soma There’s so much to do in Hakodate beyond sightseeing: a private winery visit overlooking the landscape, a fresh seafood breakfast inside a local fish market, and stories that made the city feel personal rather than just historic. Hakodate is just one part of Hokkaido, I can’t wait to explore more! For more Hokkaido things follow @Hokkaidolove.Asia and follow me at @AmberJapanTravels for more slow travel in Japan!~ #japantravel #hokkaido #hakodate #somaresidence #japan

Out of 47 prefectures, Hokkaido has been voted the place local Japanese people most want to visit in Japan… and this year, I finally got to experience it for myself! ❄️ I’ve always wanted to visit Hokkaido and you guys know by now that I’m always trying to look for the countryside towns, especially ones with onsen. This time I found myself in a small coastal town called Iwanai. Snow-covered streets. Steam curling into the winter air. The sea is always somewhere in the background. Days here feel slower in the best way, wandering between onsen in a yukata, lingering too long in retro cafes, stumbling upon quiet temples that make time soften around you. I stayed at Iwanai Onsen, where the baths overlook the ocean at dusk, and discovered locally brewed craft beer made right in town (yes, including a watermelon beer 🍉). We visited Kiko-in Temple, home to the largest wooden Buddha in Eastern Japan, browsed handmade bags at Muramoto Tent, and even caught the calm before ski season at Iwanai Resort. Places featured in this video: 📍Iwanai Onsen — Onsen hotel I stayed in 📍Iwanai Brewery — Craft beer brewery at the hotel 📍Kiko-in Temple — Home to the largest wooden Buddha in Eastern Japan 📍Iwanai Resort — Ski resort 📍Iwanai Shrine ー Snowy tori gate Follow @Hokkaidolove.Asia for more Hokkaido things and follow me at @AmberJapanTravels for more countryside Japan travel 🇯🇵✨ #japantravel #hokkaido #iwanai #japan #winterjapan

Japan has a special cherry blossom Suica card that makes getting around SO much easier, and you can even take it home as a souvenir 🌸✨ If you’re visiting Japan, this is one of the first things I recommend getting. It can be used for 28 days on trains, buses, and even at convenience stores, so you don’t have to keep buying individual tickets. You can pick one up at the Eki Tabi Concierge (駅たびコンシェルジュ) and yes, they offer English support! 🙌 If you’re confused about routes, tickets, or what to buy, you can ask your questions in English and they’ll help you out. Just Search for “Eki Tabi Concierge”on Google maps, there are several around Japan. I went to the one in Shinjuku Station~ The cherry blossom Suica is also completely FREE, so you don’t have to pay the ¥500 yen deposit that’s required for the regular Suica cards. So no worries about waiting in long lines before your flight home to get the ¥500 refund. Don’t worry if there’s no Eki Tabi concierge near you, you can always download the super convenient Welcome Suica Mobile app for free on your phone! Save this for your Japan trip 🇯🇵 And if you have questions about trains or buying tickets, drop them below, I’m happy to help! 🚄✨ Follow @AmberJapanTravels and @oyadoo_jp for more Japan travel tips 🌸 ** Filmed as of February 19**

I’m literally still dreaming of the Kamakura burger 🍔 ✨ Tokyo’s Spring 2026 vegan food festival will take place April 19th at 📍Kiba Park~ Let me know if you’re going!!~ 🍔🌭🌮🌯🥙🍛🧁🥞🍦 #veganfoodfestival #veganjapan #vegantokyo #japantravel #vegantravel

You can join this traditional fox mask workshop too! It was in Niigata and can be found here: @agamachikankokyoukai They have other workshops too like paper lantern making, which was also a lot of fun~ @Niigatatourism 
#Niigata #VisitNiigata #Japantravel #helloniigata

If you love art and onsen towns, you’ll want to add Shima Onsen to your Japan itinerary  Located in Gunma Prefecture, this peaceful hot spring town is part of the Nakanojo Biennale, a contemporary art festival that began in 2007 to revitalize Japan’s countryside. Every two years, local and international artists transform abandoned schools and traditional houses into stunning art installations, the 2025 biennale is over BUT even outside the event period, Nakanojo remains an art-filled town worth visiting, with spaces like YAAP (Yokobori Art & Architecture Project) open year-round. 

Here you can see an old apartment building transformed into an art spaces filled with incredible works by local artists. Shima Onsen itself is a place of healing, officially recognized as Japan’s first “National Health Spa.” Its pure, mineral-rich waters are said to cure 40,000 ailments, and the town’s nostalgic streets, cozy inns, and scenic rivers make it the perfect retreat for art lovers and travelers alike. The next Nakanojo Biennale will be held in 2027, but you don’t have to wait, Shima Onsen and Nakanojo welcome visitors all year round! For more info check out @nakanojo_tourism_association !✨ For more Japan things make sure to follow me at @amberjapantravels !~ ^^ #ShimaOnsen #NakanojoBiennale #GunmaJapan #CountrysideJapan #ArtInJapan

I’m adopting a cat in Tokyo Japan~ 🇯🇵 I did not expect the process to be this intense but I’m glad they’re thorough and make sure the cat goes to a good home~ 🐱

Planning a trip to Japan?  Now’s a really good time to book your stay~ 🇯🇵 Rakuten Travel is having a big summer sale, with: 🏨 Up to 50% off selected hotels 💸 Extra flash coupons (up to 30% off!) you can stack for even more savings 📱Plus—a free 3GB eSIM for anyone booking a trip between July and September 2025 The sale runs from July 8, 2025 at 10am JST to August 26, 2025 at 9:59am JST—so don’t miss it! I’m genuinely excited to share this one because it’s such a great deal for anyone planning a trip soon 💖 @rakuten_global Check the link in my bio for more info! #JapanTravel #RakutenTravel #TravelDeals #JapanTripPlanning

This is the Great Buddha of Ushiku in Ibaraki Japan, just 2 hours away from Tokyo!~ #japantravel

The cats are called ‘sakura’ cats because the shape of their clipped ears looks like a sakura (cherry blossom) pedal 🌸 🐈Their ears are clipped to indicate that they are spayed and neutered. They’re super chill (probably from the warm ground) and they’re really friendly! The cats roam the town like they own the place (which, honestly, they kind of do). 🚉Unzen onsen is accessible by bus (about 1 hour and 45 minutes) or car (1 hour) from Nagasaki City. Also if you’re planning a visit 📍Mt. Resort Unzen Kyushu Hotel ( @kyushuhotel_1917_unzen ) is the best place to stay—it’s where the last clips in this video are from and it’s been in operation for over 100 years (even the emperor has stayed there!) The hotel is walking distance to all the cat action, has delicious food, anddd every room has a private onsen overlooking the park~ ^^ #onsentown #japantravel #unzenonsen #catsofjapan #unzencats #pr #oyadoo Thanks @oyadoo_jp !

Sumo is a traditional Japanese art that you should definitely experience if you come to Japan! The Osumoya Half-Day Tour in Osaka is a really cool way to experience sumo up close. It starts at 📍Sumo Hall Hirakuza Osaka, where we got a crash course on sumo rules, traditions, and the star wrestlers of the tournament. Knowing who to watch for made the matches way more exciting! Then came the fun part—trying sumo ourselves! We got to practice moves with a real sumo wrestler, which made me realize just how strong these guys are. 😳 Of course, we also took some fun photos before heading out. After that, we took a quick 5 minute walk over to 📍Edion Arena Osaka for the real deal—a live sumo match from the S-seats! Seeing the wrestlers I just learned about in action and rooting for them was super fun. The energy in the arena was unreal! Oh, and we even got some traditional snacks to eat while watching the show (which happened to be vegan) AND awesome sumo merch, including the purple happi coat you saw me wearing~ If you’ve ever been curious about sumo, this is a fun way to experience it! Would you try it? 🤔 @osumoya_halfdaytour More Info HERE!: osumoya.com　 #PR #osumoya #お相撲屋 #sumo #Osaka #JapanTravel #SumoExperience​

Places listed below ⬇️ I’ve been living in Japan for 4 years now but when I first visited as a tourist, I did what most first-time travelers do and stuck to the Golden Route: Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. Which are all amazing places BUT if you can, I highly recommend adding at least one lesser visited or countryside spot to your itinerary. You’ll find fewer crowds, more authentic experiences, incredible food, and meaningful local encounters—all while supporting communities that truly appreciate it. Here are the spots mentioned in the video:
📍 Kamikochi (Nagano)
📍 Sado Island (Niigata)
📍 Yamanaka Onsen Town (Ishikawa)
📍 Togakushi Shrine (Nagano)
📍 Sunset Fuji View Spot (I can’t remember the. details of the location for this one but you can find them on my YT!)
📍 White Dragon Lake- 白龍湖 (Kochi)
📍 Ashikaga Flower Park (Tochigi)
📍 Ushiku Great Buddha (Ibaraki)
📍 Nozoki Limited Metal Works (Niigata)
📍 Kanazawa (Ishikawa)
📍 Sahara Town (Chiba)
📍 Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival (Shizuoka)
📍 Shikoku Karst (Ehime) Have you been to any of these or know any others that I should check out? Let me know in the comments!~✨

This spot in Japan is NOT only for skiing. If you come here just for the slopes, you’re missing out on a whole bunch of experiences. Here are some of the things I enjoyed and highly recommend checking out in Niigata: 

📍Yahiko Shrine bike tour: @yahiko_pr 
 📍Kraft- Japanese knife worksop & bike tour: @Kraft_ts 
 📍Ghibli-esque Jewelry Workshop: @asakawamasako3 
 📍Igloo Dining Experience: @npoggg 
 📍 Niigata Gastronomy at a Historic Ryotei: @yamazyu_yamacafe 
 📍Cat Shopping Street- 沼垂テラス商店街: @nuttari_terrace
 📍Glass Making Workshop- @taruhiglassworks 
 📍 Traditional Fox Mask Workshop- @agamachikankokyoukai
 📍Metal Works Factory- @nozakilimited 
 📍 Retro car experience-（https://www.klook.com/activity/141182）
 📍 Za Zen Meditation & Buddhist cuisine- @skyrestaurantzen 

@Niigatatourism

#PR #Niigata #VisitNiigata #Japantravel #helloniigata

📍COLON Jewelry Workshop: @asakawamasako3 I thoroughly enjoyed this jewelry workshop in Niigata! The studio was so cute and in the most picturesque countryside location. The experience itself was really fun too and the ring I made came out beautifully. It’s a great personalized souvenir that I’ll treasure for a long time. The workshop is not only rings, there’s a lot of jewelry options to choose from. Next time I think I’ll make one of the bengals! If you go, here are some other fun things you can checkout while you’re in Niigata:

📍Yahiko Shrine bike tour: @yahiko_pr 
 📍Kraft- Japanese knife worksop & bike tour: @Kraft_ts 
 📍Igloo Dining Experience: @npoggg 
 📍 Niigata Gastronomy at a Historic Ryotei: @yamazyu_yamacafe 
 📍Cat Shopping Street- 沼垂テラス商店街: @nuttari_terrace
 📍Glass Making Workshop- @taruhiglassworks 
 📍 Traditional Fox Mask Workshop- @agamachikankokyoukai
 📍Metal Works Factory- @nozakilimited 
 📍 Retro car experience-（https://www.klook.com/activity/141182）
 📍 Za Zen Meditation & Buddhist cuisine- @skyrestaurantzen

@Niigatatourism

#PR #Niigata #VisitNiigata #Japantravel #helloniigata

Did you know you can actually drive a classic Japanese car? 📍 Located in Niigata, this spot is home to Japan’s retro car collection! 

There’s so much more to do in Niigata while you’re there. Here’s the car experience and some of the other things I would go back for: 
 📍Retro car experience-（https://www.klook.com/activity/141182）

📍Yahiko Shrine bike tour: @yahiko_pr 
 📍Kraft- Japanese knife worksop & bike tour: @Kraft_ts 
 📍Ghibli-esque Jewelry Workshop: @asakawamasako3 
 📍Igloo Dining Experience: @npoggg 
 📍 Niigata Gastronomy at a Historic Ryotei: @yamazyu_yamacafe 
 📍 Cat Shopping Street- 沼垂テラス商店街: @nuttari_terrace
 📍Glass Making Workshop- @taruhiglassworks 
 📍 Traditional Fox Mask Workshop- @agamachikankokyoukai
 📍Metal Works Factory- @nozakilimited 
 📍 Za Zen Meditation & Buddhist cuisine- @skyrestaurantzen

@Niigatatourism

#PR #helloniigata #RetroJapan #ShowaEra #NiigataJapan #ClassicCars #Japantravel #VisitNiigata

I’ve been living in Japan for 4 years now but when I first visited as a tourist, I did what most first-time travelers do and stuck to the Golden Route: Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. Which are all amazing places BUT if you can, I highly recommend adding at least one local place like Niigata to your itinerary. You’ll find fewer crowds, lots of craft workshops where you can make really special personalized souvenirs, more authentic experiences, incredible food, and meaningful local encounters—all while supporting communities that truly appreciate it.
Here are some of the places I visited and loved while I was in Niigata: 

📍Yahiko Shrine bike tour: @yahiko_pr 
 📍Kraft- Japanese knife worksop & bike tour: @Kraft_ts 
 📍Ghibli-esque Jewelry Workshop: @asakawamasako3 
 📍Igloo Dining Experience: @npoggg 
 📍 Niigata Gastronomy at a Historic Ryotei: @yamazyu_yamacafe 
 📍 Cat Shopping Street- 沼垂テラス商店街: @nuttari_terrace
 📍Glass Making Workshop- @taruhiglassworks 
 📍 Traditional Fox Mask Workshop- @agamachikankokyoukai
 📍Metal Works Factory- @nozakilimited 
 📍 Retro car experience-（https://www.klook.com/activity/141182）
 📍 Za Zen Meditation & Buddhist cuisine- @skyrestaurantzen 

@Niigatatourism

#PR #Niigata #VisitNiigata #Japantravel #helloniigata

Must try when you’re in Japan! 🍡 Daifuku a Japanese sweet made of soft, chewy mochi stuffed with sweet fillings like red bean paste, matcha cream, or, like this one, fresh fruit. It’s simple, but SO satisfying! 📍This one is from a shop in Kawagoe called 覚王山 フルーツ大福 弁才天 小江戸川越店 (Kakuozan Fruit Daifuku Benzaiten Koedo Kawagoe Branch) 🥝They have tons of seasonal fruits daifuku including the famed strawberry one. I tried the kiwi for the first time and 10/10 would eat again~ @benzaiten.daifuku #kawagoe #japantravel #daifuku #japansweets #kakuozan

🍶 The shop is called Kichijoji Pukupuku. 📍 It’s located in Kichijoji Tokyo. 🕰️ It’s open everyday from 11am to 7pm~ @kichijyouji.pukupuku #tokyoantique #antiquestokyo #japantravel #japanantique #pukupuku #kichijojipukupuku #tokyo #tokyoantiques