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Metro
27-05-2025
- Metro
I fell in love with Japan's fourth biggest city – and its lesser-known neighbour
'Don't worry about swimwear, you have to be naked for the Onsen hot spring'. And with that, my 'off the beaten track' tour around central Japan with a group of strangers began, a little more intimately than I had anticipated. All horrified, our tour guide explained that in Japan, body positivity is strongly encouraged, the aging body is celebrated, and we should all view ourselves as equal and beautiful. Who can argue with that? Off came the clothes. And so the tone was set for InsideJapan's curated tour that intentionally veers off the beaten track. Exploring one of the most beautiful countries in the world, from the pristine streets of overpopulated cities, to the shacks hidden amongst the mountains that make up 80% of Japan's landmass, we were met with modesty and humility that made you fall in love with the place and its people over and over again. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. We start in Nagoya, Japan's lesser-known fourth-largest city. Often overlooked by tourists, it is easy to reach from the UK with just a single connection in Helsinki, and a great base from which to explore. After a late night arrival and a comfortable night on the 32nd floor of Hotel Prince Sky Tower, we woke early to enjoy the sweeping views of the city and a hotel breakfast served by robots, before boarding the first of many trains to head thirty minutes North to Inuyama. Home to the oldest castle in Japan, a place where 3,000 castles once stood, most were dismantled in the 19th century when Samurai rule came to an end; nearly all the rest were destroyed during World War II. Now only 12 remain. Standing proud atop a hill overlooking the Kiso River, your reward for the steep climb to the summit is the spectacular view. Back to Nagoya and the chance to check out the Osu Shopping District, 1,700 metres of arcades hosting more than 1,200 businesses that sell almost anything you can imagine. My attention is grabbed by vintage kimonos and decadent street food, from miso-glazed pork sticks to matcha custard donuts. I stumble upon a shop bursting with beautiful ceramics, think Zara home for a fraction of the price. Japanese homewares are big business on Instagram, with videos of delicate plates and coffee cups racking up hundreds of thousands of views. Time once again to escape the big city, this time on a longer train to Hida Furukawa, two and a half hours of winding journey along the Nagara River. Endless shades of green roll by, mountainous peaks fading into mist as paddy fields glisten in the sun. I gaze out the window and adjust my seat for a better view (because of course, train seats swivel in Japan). This doesn't feel like getting from A to B, which is the kind of travel I'm used to in the UK. This feels like a highlight of the trip. Disembarking at Hida Furukawa feels like stepping back in time. A stark contrast to the bustling city we'd left behind, here there are canal-lined streets filled with koi carp, dappled in sunlight by thick rows of cherry trees. An occasional car hums along the almost deserted streets, but a horse and cart wouldn't look out of place. This is a place famed for its timber and talented carpenters, whose workshops line the alleyways. We pass an elderly candle maker who beams at us through his open shopfront; I imagine he's sat in that very spot for the past seventy years, perfecting his craft. Lunch at Fukuzenji Soba is handmade soba noodles with locally brewed beer. Steam rises from our soups into sunbeams floating through the open windows, and as I perch on my tiny wooden chair, I once again feel as though I've walked straight into the Samurai equivalent of the Wild West. Another day, another train ride, this time the one I've been waiting for. The bullet train, 80 miles in half an hour and barely enough time to eat my carefully selected Japanese train snacks, with ears freshly popped we arrive in Kyoto. Japan's third largest city, and arguably the most beautiful, my expectations are high. Whether it's culture and history or a late night fuelled by sake and Karaoke,Kyoto's got you covered. We kick things off with what our guide describes as 'a hidden gem'. Eikan-Do Temple, a gift from a court noble to a Buddhist priest built more than one thousand years ago. Most popular with visitors in autumn when the maple trees put on their finest display, our visit falls in early summer, in the midst of a tropical downpour. And still, we are all blown away. Nestled high, almost hidden among a thicket of trees, it feels like the kind of construction that inspired a Grand Designs house: indoor-outdoor living, endless curves and beautifully carved wood. If tranquillity was a place, we found it. Flying from London to Nagoya via Helsinki sounded intimidating at first. Connecting flights, fifteen hours in the air. I've done similar before and found myself exhausted with a suspected neck strain from resting my head on… absolutely nothing. Not this time. Finnair Business Class was an enjoyable experience from start to finish. A glass of Champagne in the lounge and a private pod to myself. A varied menu of delicious food to be paired with a curated selection of wines. The only 'problem' was that I was so comfortable, fed and watered, I couldn't stay awake long enough to make my way through more than one of the many films on offer. Flights with Finnair from London Heathrow to Nagoya with a connection in Helsinki start from £800 in economy, £1,561 in premium economy and £2,827 in business. Our base is The Thousand Kyoto, a minimalist hotel that prides itself on sustainability. Bee hives adorn the roof, and art installations the lobby. Almost too modern for me, it takes an embarrassingly long time to work out the blind is drawn via the in-room iPad. I wake on the final morning in true Japanese style, to a frantic phone alarm warning an earthquake is imminent. It tells me to stay calm. As I definitely do not stay calm and panic about what to do, the shaking starts. Luckily though, it doesn't last long, and to regain the zen that until that point had followed us everywhere, we head to the world-famous Bamboo Forest, truly a sight to behold. I've seen my fair share of nature's finest displays, trailing through forests and into the depths of far-flung jungles. But the feeling of meandering along a path of bamboo shoots up to 50 metres high, slowly swaying in the wind, will stay with me forever. More Trending Japan has always been on my bucket list, and it remains on my bucket list. I barely scratched the surface and yet every expectation I had was exceeded. A country full of beauty, history and humility. I fell deeply in love and plan to return again and again and again. Late March through May, for cherry blossom season (but expect huge crowds). June and July, for Tokyo's famous fireworks (during rainy season, it's also one of the cheapest periods to travel). September, for hiking through forests that burst into a kaleidoscope of colour in autumn. Ella Millward was a guest of InsideJapan. She stayed at Nagoya Prince Sky Tower, Tokyu Stay Hida-Takayama and The Thousand Kyoto. This article was originally published February 2, 2025 . Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Chasing waterfalls and a Great Blue Hole, I fell hard for 'The Jewel' MORE: Forget the Med — I swapped the sun for a spectacular Scandinavian train ride MORE: A weekend in Brighton through the eyes of a child
Sydney Morning Herald
11-05-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Japan's next big thing is already popular, but many miss its highlights
In Kanazawa it's clear the city is no stranger to visitors. Several hours north of Kyoto and touted as Japan's 'next big thing' it's been nicknamed 'little Kyoto' for its Edo-period architecture and rich tradition of arts and crafts. It's here that my guide has come to meet me at my hotel and take me on a tour of Kanazawa's greatest hits. Despite heavy rain, the city's beautiful gardens are full of visitors. The Higashi-chaya teahouse district is bustling, but the Geisha Museum is surprisingly empty when we visit. We slip out into the surrounding streets of this old town and encounter peaceful cafes and narrow lanes where the only sets of eyes belong to curious cats that peer out of windows, following you. It's the start of a tour with a difference. Swept into a carefully curated adventure that uncovers the secret side of this country with Inside Japan on their Hidden Zen itinerary, I'm seeing what many tourists miss. What's more I'm travelling solo for full immersion. Still in Kanazawa, Omicho Market is another highlight and a much more relaxed experience compared to Kyoto's Nishiki Market. Here, I take my time exploring without being rushed by crowds. Oden Miyuki is a cozy eatery serving Kanazawa's best oden – a hotpot of umami-rich dashi broth, simmering vegetables, kurumafu (a wheat ball which soaks up the flavour) and tofu. It's possibly one of the most deliciously ugly meals I've had in Japan, accompanied by creamy potato salad, savoury miso, and a refreshing yuzu-flavoured beer. On this wintry day, locals line outside the restaurant at 4pm, signalling just how beloved this place is. A 15-minute train ride south of Kanazawa is Kaga Onsen, the 1300-year-old town famous for its healing springs and I'm staying at KAI Kaga, a ryokan housed in a 400-year-old former tofu shop. The converted building with its red facade is filled with Japanese art and has a particular focus on Kutani porcelain.
The Age
11-05-2025
- The Age
Japan's next big thing is already popular, but many miss its highlights
In Kanazawa it's clear the city is no stranger to visitors. Several hours north of Kyoto and touted as Japan's 'next big thing' it's been nicknamed 'little Kyoto' for its Edo-period architecture and rich tradition of arts and crafts. It's here that my guide has come to meet me at my hotel and take me on a tour of Kanazawa's greatest hits. Despite heavy rain, the city's beautiful gardens are full of visitors. The Higashi-chaya teahouse district is bustling, but the Geisha Museum is surprisingly empty when we visit. We slip out into the surrounding streets of this old town and encounter peaceful cafes and narrow lanes where the only sets of eyes belong to curious cats that peer out of windows, following you. It's the start of a tour with a difference. Swept into a carefully curated adventure that uncovers the secret side of this country with Inside Japan on their Hidden Zen itinerary, I'm seeing what many tourists miss. What's more I'm travelling solo for full immersion. Still in Kanazawa, Omicho Market is another highlight and a much more relaxed experience compared to Kyoto's Nishiki Market. Here, I take my time exploring without being rushed by crowds. Oden Miyuki is a cozy eatery serving Kanazawa's best oden – a hotpot of umami-rich dashi broth, simmering vegetables, kurumafu (a wheat ball which soaks up the flavour) and tofu. It's possibly one of the most deliciously ugly meals I've had in Japan, accompanied by creamy potato salad, savoury miso, and a refreshing yuzu-flavoured beer. On this wintry day, locals line outside the restaurant at 4pm, signalling just how beloved this place is. A 15-minute train ride south of Kanazawa is Kaga Onsen, the 1300-year-old town famous for its healing springs and I'm staying at KAI Kaga, a ryokan housed in a 400-year-old former tofu shop. The converted building with its red facade is filled with Japanese art and has a particular focus on Kutani porcelain.
