Niemonjima. Have you heard of it? If you're not a history buff, then perhaps you haven't. Located off the coast of southwest Chiba, this tiny landmass was the secret hideaway of one of the greatest generals in Japanese history. Minamoto-no-Yoritomo was one of the founders of the Kamakura Shogunate, and after a battle with a rivaling faction, he fled for safety behind the shoreline rocks of Niemonjima.

Not far from Tokyo, Shizuoka prefecture has a lot of natural beauty to explore and unique food experiences to offer. If you are traveling to Japan, make sure to seek experiences beyond what is available in the major cities. We at runAway Japan did just that! Early on in our 50-day adventure through Japan, we traveled to Shizuoka prefecture and found a beautiful waterfall and tasted a flavor of ice cream unlike anything we had tried before!

Japan’s capital is safe, clean, and full of family oriented fun. Join us as we look at some of the best things to do in Tokyo for those visiting with kids.

As the release date for the hotly anticipated Final Fantasy VII Remake draws closer (April 10, 2020!) excitement is certainly building, especially in Japan. As a result, Square-Enix is holding a special event at their cafes in Tokyo (Akihabara and Shinjuku) and Osaka as well. With a unique menu, merchandise, and décor (wall to ceiling posters of your favorite characters) inspired by this fan-favorite game, it shouldn’t be missed.

Gifu City is a fantastic place to see cherry blossoms on display, and one of the best perks is that you can visit a wide range of gorgeous, easy-to-reach sites for cherry blossom viewing in a single day.

So why is it that Japan continues to progress in so many sports whilst other nations like Scotland seemingly backpedal?

To be able to absorb the wholeness of the Japanese spirit, experiencing a brief moment of Zazen meditation can be quite bracing and uplifting. At the Shorinji Temple in Kyoto, regarded as the oldest Buddhist temple in Kyoto built in 712, visitors are allowed to engage in Zazen meditation sessions by reservation.

Here we present 15 things to do in the rural area above Tokyo known as Chiba. From spectacular mountains, beautiful temples, Disneyland and more. Chiba has a magic to it, few other prefectures have.

Motosu City is in the countryside of Gifu, and the main attraction is the Usuzumi cherry blossoms. At the park, there is one very large, old tree on display. The explanation next to the tree, in all Japanese, explains that Usuzumi is over 1500 years old and is considered one of three great cherry blossom trees in Japan.

Tomogashima Island in Wakayama Prefecture is a natural and historical treasure that combines the allure of crumbling architecture with lush natural greenery and impressive rock formations.

You probably now have an image of the Heaven and Hell concepts surrounding this area, especially if you saw the mandaras in the museum. Well how about getting a hands-on, 3-D multi-sensory experience for yourself! Time to move on to Mandara Yuen for a modern and artistic representation of Tateyama’s Heaven and Hell! As it has indoor and outdoor experiences, going in fine weather is preferable.

So, what about those like me who choose to stay in Japan despite the seeming adversity? Why have we been here for so long and why will we continue here?