Here at Heartland Japan, we strive to introduce rural communities and off-the-beaten-track locations to our customers, but more often than not our tours will actually start and end in Tokyo. While in the Metropolitan area, our customers are eager to visit not only the major highlights and tourist-friendly locations of the city, but also to...
COVID-19 has had a severe impact on the tourism industry, with international travel at almost a complete standstill thanks to a series of movement restrictions and bans in place across the world. With the number of inbound tourists visiting Japan at a record-low, tour operators and tourism service providers such as Heartland Japan are facing...
COVID-19 Overview When the first few cases of COVID-19 occurred within China’s Wuhan region in December 2019, nobody could have predicted the devastating impact it would go on to wreck upon the world. As of April 20, 2020, more than 2.4 million people worldwide have contracted the virus and of them, over 165,000 people have...
Cutting its way through the beautiful coastal countryside of Tokyo’s neighboring Chiba Prefecture, the Choshi Electric (Dentetsu) Railway serves around 20,000 local residents and is the only service that can be used to access the Kanto Region’s most eastern location, Inubozaki Point. Dating back over a century to 1913, the railway is far quieter than...
Updated: 3 April 2020 – 13:00 JST The situation regarding COVID-19 and its spread is rapidly changing, and Heartland Japan is closely monitoring the advice given by governments, medical experts and the travel industry across the world. COVID-19 has had an intense and negative impact not just on the tourism industry, but on the lives...
The city of Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is well known as the host of the Ube Biennale, an international sculpture contest and exhibition that has taken place every two years since its conception in 1961. However, there’s a lot more to Ube than just its Biennale; from discovering its traditional, artistic side to the area’s rich...
There is no denying that Ube is a city of art that pulses through its veins. Playing host to the internationally-renowned ‘Ube Biennale’ sculpture competition every two years, the city’s links to the art world date back of 1961, when local residents sought to beautify their heavily industrialized, war-torn area with sculptures carved by artists...
Following the end of World War II, the war-torn and ruined Yamaguchi prefecture turned to industry as a way of rebuilding; within a few years, it had developed into one of the most industrialized prefectures in Japan. The increased rate of industrialization lead to more jobs for citizens and a boost to the local economy,...
A unique location in the Boso Peninsula, Mount Nokogiriyama stands proud and imposing above the rich green blanket of forestry that cloaks rural Chiba. Despite the mountain’s intimidating title (鋸山 ‘Nokogiriyama’ means ‘Sawtooth Mountain’) and its curiously-named Jigoku Nozoki (地獄覗き, View of Hell) Viewpoint, the mountain is actually a relatively simple hike, with the extra...
Chichibu The Chichibu region, situated in Saitama Prefecture, comprises Chichibu City and the towns of Yokoze, Minano, Nagatoro and Ogano. Located around 80 kilometers from the centre of Tokyo, Chichibu can easily be reached by car or train within just two hours. Despite the close proximity to Tokyo, Chichibu’s stunning rural, mountainous beauty and rich historical...
Bakumatsu Bakumatsu is the Japanese phrase used to categorize the pivotal years at the end of the Edo era (1603-1868). The Chinese characters for Bakumatsu signify “the end of the Bakufu”. This was the end of Tokugawa Shogunate, who ruled Japan from 1600 to 1868. What partially resulted in the decline of the Tokugawa Shogunate...
A land of mystery, spirituality and tradition awaits you in Chichibu, the Kanto region’s hidden gem. Join pilgrims past and present as you weave your way across Chichibu’s beautiful rural landscape, delving deep into the rich history and culture that makes this such a unique and unforgettable location. Chichibu is home to 34 temples, included...
