Japan Activity journal
Page 96 of 243 · Continue browsing practical advice and destination inspiration from across Japan.
Discover Goshono-yu, the most photogenic of Kinosaki Onsen's seven public bathhouses — modelled on the Kyoto Imperial Palace, blessed for beauty and marriage, and home to a stunning open-air waterfall rotenburo.
Ichino-yu — Kinosaki Onsen's 'number-one bath' — draws visitors with its grand Edo-style kabuki-theatre facade, alkaline spring waters, and a remarkable cave bath (dokutsu-buro) carved into natural rock.
Arrive at Kinosaki Onsen Station on the JR San'in Main Line and step straight into one of Japan's finest spa towns — willow-lined streets, seven public bathhouses, and a free foot-bath right on the station forecourt.
Ride the Kinosaki Onsen Ropeway to Onsenji Temple and the Mt Daishi summit — sweeping views over the willow-lined spa town, the Maruyama River plain, and the Sea of Japan.
Discover Kono-yu — Kinosaki Onsen's oldest and most secluded public bath, born from a stork's legend and blessed with luck in love, with a garden rotenburo beside the ropeway.
Satono-yu is the largest and most modern of Kinosaki Onsen's seven public sotoyu, standing right beside the station — with a rooftop open-air bath, themed indoor pools, steam sauna, and free entry for ryokan guests.
Season-by-season guide to Uji's cherry blossom, wisteria, 10,000 hydrangeas, cormorant fishing, and autumn maples — with a month-by-month crowd table for 2026 planning.
Everything you need to visit Byodo-in Temple and the Phoenix Hall in Uji — admission, timed interior tickets, the Hoshokan museum, and how to pair it with a matcha stop and a Kyoto day trip.
Two train lines connect Kyoto and Osaka to Uji — this guide covers every route, fare, station choice, and IC card tips for a smooth 2026 day trip.
Discover Mimurotoji Temple — Uji's celebrated hana no tera with 10,000 hydrangeas, a rare heart-shaped bloom, weekend evening light-ups, and lucky statues to touch for fortune. Full 2026 guide.
Walk the Tale of Genji Trail in Uji: chapter monument stones along Sawarabi-no-michi, the Genji Museum, and the Murasaki Shikibu statue at Uji Bridge. A gentle 1–2 hour east-bank literary walk.
Discover the 9 best things to do in Uji in 2026, from Byodo-in's Phoenix Hall and matcha tea houses to Ujigami Shrine and the Uji River, with prices, hours, and transit tips.
