Food & Drink on the Nakasendo

The Nakasendo is an ancient road that stretches from Tokyo to Kyoto, through the mountains of Central Japan. With daimyo, samurai, and even members of the imperial family using the road, the food had to be top class. The post towns of the Nakasendo also served the masses and street vendors sold local delicacies to …

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Help us develop new unique tours mainly for Europeans, North Americans and Australians & New Zealanders in Yatsugatake

Warmest greetings from Japan!  Heartland Japan is a travel company and travel consultancy, devoted to bringing Japan’s lesser known secrets and hidden rural treasures to a global audience. We kindly request your participation in this questionnaire. This is a Japanese governmental project, initiated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT); to develop …

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Three Prefectures facing the Seto Inland Sea, offer precious experiences for you

The Seto Inland Sea is a body of calm water that lies between the Japanese main islands of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, stretching for 490 kilometers from Osaka to Kitakyushu.  The Seto Inland Sea includes about 3000 islands – many of which are inhabited – blessed by a mild climate and a relaxed atmosphere, often …

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A Quick & Quirky History of the Nakasendo: A Deep Dive into the History of Nakatsugawa

Here at Heartland Japan, we pride ourselves on going that little bit deeper than everyone else. This time we hone our focus on some of the quirkier histories of Nakatsugawa, home to several post towns of the Nakasendo. In particular, we will look into the Naegi Castle Ruins and local kabuki theatre, known as jikabuki. …

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6 Secrets of the Nakasendo – Hike from Nakatsugawa to Magome and Experience the Path Less Beaten

In southeast Gifu prefecture, the city of Nakatsugawa is a historical gem on the Nakasendo road. Too many travelers pass through without realizing what they are missing. Here are 6 little known reasons to hike from Nakatsugawa to Magome on the Nakasendo road. This hike passes through three old post towns. You can see rice …

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Japan’s Seasons

It’s often said that Japan is particularly noteworthy for its distinct and varied four seasons, each bringing a stark change in not only temperature and weather, but also in seasonal produce, flora and traditions as well. For this reason, the season during which you travel to Japan can have a considerable influence on what sort …

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Omotenashi – the Japanese concept for Hospitality, or something different?

Japanese people are very proud of many things that come from their country, and the concept of ‘omotenashi’ – identified as ‘hospitality – is most certainly one of them.  While ‘omotenashi’ may translate best as ‘hospitality’, its true meaning is far deeper and more detailed. Omotenashi is a way of life in Japan, focussed on …

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