Iwakuni is worth exploring and deserves minimum one day to see all the attractions and sites throughout the city. For others, like me that have lived or currently live in Iwakuni or for visitors that are spending multiple days in Iwakuni there is so much more to do and see outside of Iwakuni. Whether you have a car and love taking road trips or want to hop on a train and explore something new, here are some of the best day trips from Iwakuni. 🇯🇵  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! 10 Day Trips From Iwakuni We lived in Iwakuni for over a year and explored both Iwakuni and the surrounding area extensively. The list below includes everything from cities, small towns, cruising around islands, and scenic nature destinations. The order below is based on day trips by distance from Iwakuni from shortest to farthest away.  1. Suooshima 30 Kilometers just south of Iwakuni is Suo Oshima also known as Oshima Island. Oshima Island is a beautiful island known for its mikans (mandarin oranges) 🍊. But Oshima Island isn’t just famous for mikans, it also the sister island of Kauai in Hawaii, because the islands share similarities. In the late 19th century, many islanders from Oshima Island migrated to Hawaii to work on sugar plantations.  There is a road that loops around the island that can be traveled by car or bike 🚲. Along the way there are beautiful beaches to stop at, shrines, and amazing overlooks. There are several delicious cafes and restaurants on the island but make sure to check times before coming because they are on island time.  For more information on Oshima Island I have a post dedicated to Cycling Around Suo Oshima outlining the route I took, stops made, and places/restaurants visited.  Suo Oshima is an island full of beauty and deserves at least a half day if not a full day to visit.  2. Yanai Just passed Oshima Island is the cute town of Yanai, known for their fish lanterns and soy sauce. Yanai is about 31-34 kilometers from Iwakuni depending on the route driven and takes about 45 minutes to get there by car or train. There is a JR Line that goes to Yanai from Iwakuni Station or you can drive straight down Hwy 188 until you reach Yanai.  Although a small town, Yanai does not have its shortages of attractions and things to do. About 1 Kilometer from the train station is Shirakabe No Machi, which is the historic district of Yanai dating back to the Edo Period. Here you can find cute shops, small restaurants, and museums. It is highly recommended to visit the Sagawa Soy Sauce Factory. Here, you can view the traditional ways in which soy sauce is made. The methods used here today haven’t changed since the 1830’s. Visitors can walk the factory, learn about the process and history of the factory, and see how it is being made. Of course, there is a shop here and you can buy the various soy sauce products sold here.  No trip to Yanai is complete without making your own Kingyo Chouchin. Kingyo Chouchin is the famous paper goldfish lanterns hung throughout town. You can buy premade goldfish lanterns in various shops around town, but at Yanai-Nishigura right across from the Sagawa Soy Sauce Factory you can make your own gold fish lantern. The people working at Yanai-Nishigura are always very friendly and show you how to make the goldfish lanterns. You can then sit down and make your own from scratch. It’s a fun experience and the gold fish lanterns make for great gifts and souvenirs.  For more information on Yanai and tourist attractions here, check out the Yanai City Website. 3. Miyajima About half way between Iwakuni and Hiroshima is Miyajima. Officially names Itsukushima but everyone calls this island Miyajima. Miyajima is an island only accessible by ferry. Once on the island, traveling on foot is the easiest way to get around and see all the sites. Miyajima is considered one of Japan’s most popular destinations and is listed as one of Japan’s Top 3 scenic sites. The famous Floating Torii Gate and Itsukushima Shrine are a UNESCO World Heritage Site ⛩. Unfortunately, the entire time I was in Iwakuni and even today (2022) the floating gate has been under scaffolding due to renovations.  It is recommended if coming to the island to go to the peak of Mt. Disen. There are several ways to get to the top, there are various hiking paths that lead to the top but for some that do not wish to hike, there is a beautiful ropeway. Once at the top, there are a few shrines and temples, but for me the views of Hiroshima Bay and the surrounding area make a hike to the top worth every step!  Miyajima, like Nara is known for the deer that wander the island. For the most part, the deer do not fear nor do they bother the humans on the island. But they ill walk amongst crowds and try and eat street food whenever possible.  Other attractions around Miyajima that are worth visiting is Daishoin Buddhist Temple, Toyokuni Shrine and the five-storied Pagoda, and the Public Aquarium. It is also recommended to walk the downtown area, stop in some shops and try sample local food at the many street vendors. For a more in depth read on Miyajima, check out my post on  Miyajima Island 4. Mikawa Mu Valley Let your inner Indiana Jones out at the Mikawa Mu Valley. The adventure begins about a 40 minute drive west of Iwakuni. This old mine was repurposed into an adventurous attraction for people of all ages. There are various themes inside the cave all with various puzzles to solve before proceeding deeper into the cave. In reality, you can walk the mine without doing any of the puzzles and still exit, but it’s so much fun to act like a kid again and use your imagination. You might get wet inside the cave as there are waterfalls, ponds, and even small streams to cross.  The entrance price was a bit steep for what it was at ¥1980 for adults and ¥990 for children. But it’s worth doing at least once while in Iwakuni. There is also a restaurant across the street that makes really good curry. Before leaving, a quick drive from Mikawa Mu Valley is a tiny shrine with a Buddha Statue that turned to stone after becoming one with a stalactite. 5. Hiroshima Hiroshima City is just about 42 kilometers north of Iwakuni. It’s easily accessible by car or train. Personally, I prefer taking the train. It’s cheap, convenient, and you don’t have to worry about parking.  Hiroshima is a huge city, it deserves multiple days but you can see most of the main attractions in a single day. There is no avoiding the subject when it comes to Hiroshima, so let’s get it out the way. Yes, everyone needs to see the Atomic Bomb Dome and visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum. Although tragic, these sites are incredibly well done and informational.  Hiroshima is so much more then it’s WWII history. I highly recommend visiting Hiroshima Castle 🏯, strolling Hondori Street, going to Mitaki Temple, and going to Shukkien (Japanese Garden).  The food scene in Hiroshima is spectacular. You can find everything here from Turkish restaurants to German bakeries. But if I were to recommend one dish in Hiroshima, that would be to try Okonomiyaki. Okonomiyaki is a mixture of ingredients layered on top of each other and cooked right in front of you. It’s delicious and one of my favorite Japanese foods.  For more information on Hiroshima City and Okonomiyaki, check out my post on What to See and Do in Hiroshima. 6. Tsuwano About 85 Kilometers from Iwakuni is the picture perfect mountain town of Tsuwano located in Shimane Prefecture. This is one of the prettiest small towns I’ve been to throughout Japan and is well worth a trip from Iwakuni. The drive to Tsuwano through the mountains is gorgeous in itself.  Once at Tsuwano, much of the town can be explored by foot. But prior to going into town, I recommend visiting the castle ruins. There is a chair lift that goes up to the ruins or people of the more adventurous type can hike to the top. The ruins have been here since 1325 but like many other castles in Japan it was demolished but many of the original walls still stand. The views from the ruins are worth it, you get incredible views of Tsuwano and the surrounding mountains.  I’d also recommend making a stop at Taikodani Inari-jinja Shrine before spending the rest of the day in town. This shrine has several Torii gates leading to and from the shrine.  After a visit to the castle ruins and Taikodani Inari Shrine it is time to explore Tonomachi, the main district in Tsuwano. This cute street is lined with old samurai houses and canals full of carp. In town, you can find an abundance of restaurants and shops. 7. Yamaguchi City Yamaguchi City is located in central Yamaguchi Prefecture. Just under an hour and a half drive from Iwakuni, Yamaguchi City deserves a full day of exploration.  Yamaguchi City has modern stores like Mont Bell and UNIQLO but also has ancient temples and historical districts. My #1 recommendation for visiting Yamaguchi City is to go straight to Rurikoji Temple and visit the Ruriko-ji Five Story Pagoda. The temple grounds here are magnificent and the mirrored image of the pagoda in the pond below is something out of a  fairy-tale. There are other shrines around the city I’d recommend visiting, but if you only have time for one, make sure it’s Rurikoji.  Yamaguchi City also has an arcade style street with fun shops and decent restaurants. If you so happen to be in Yamaguchi City on a Sunday, check out the Flea Market at Kameyama Park, it’s full of vendors selling everything imaginable.  8. Akiyoshidai Quasi National Park and Akiyoshido Cave In the mood for something other then visiting cities and small towns and need a nature escape? Then check out Akiyoshidai Quasi National Park and Akiyoshido Cave. This national park is in the city of Mine and is considered the largest karst area in Japan and Akiyoshido Cave is Japan’s biggest and longest cave.  Akiyoshidai Quasi National Park is above the cave and consists of numerous hiking trails through small forests and open meadows. There are grass burning ceremonies here that occur in February. I was unable to make any of the festivals but I am sure it’s a unique and exciting sight to see. Visiting Akiyoshido Cave can be done either before or after exploring Akiyoshidai Quasi National Park. There is an entrance fee to the cave of ¥1200. As of now, the cave is 9 kilometers long although visitors can only walk on a 1 kilometer designated path.  9. Hagi Hagi, one of my favorite towns in all of Japan is located in north-western Yamaguchi Prefecture. We’ve done both day trips and overnight trips to Hagi. There is so much to see in this town and the surrounding area.  I have a dedicated post for Visiting Hagi that lists out all my recommendations on what to do and see in and around Hagi.  I like to start my trip to Hagi on Mount Kasayama and then exploring the Camellia Groves at the base of the mountain. The Camellia Groves is a forest unlike anything I’ve seen, it’s so beautiful and unique.  Afterwards I recommend heading to town but make a side trip to Tokoji Temple. Tokoji Temple is definitely in my Top 5 Temples in all of Japan.

Iwakuni is a city in Yamaguchi Prefecture, just south of the city of Hiroshima. Iwakuni is most known for the Kintai Bridge and Iwakuni Castle. For Japan standards, Iwakuni is a relatively small city but it has everything any big city has. In Iwakuni you can find great restaurants, a lively nightlife, and world-class attractions. We lived in Iwakuni for 1.5 years and explored the area heavily. Whether you are visiting for a weekend, currently live in Iwakuni, or have plans to move here, below are 6 of my most recommended things to do in Iwakuni.  1. Explore Ichinotakiji Temple, A Hidden Gem Ichinotakiji Temple is definitely one of Iwakuni’s hidden gems. I have never heard of anyone mention this temple and can find little to no information regarding this temple on the internet. Ichinitakiji Temple is a Buddhist Temple tucked away in a small neighborhood in the foothills. There is a beautiful pagoda here on a small hill. Visitors have to walk up a few flights of stairs to get to the pagoda but the best views are across the valley from Ichinotakiji Temple.  I’ve explored many temples in Japan and this is one of my favorites. Outside of the Pagoda, there is a temple here, small waterfall, and several Buddha statues.  2. Hike to the Top of Shiroyama and Visit Iwakuni Castle Iwakuni Castle sits at the top of Shiroyama. There are two ways to get to the castle, visitors can take several trails to the top or take the ropeway. According to Iwakuni’s Official Tourism Website the hours of operation are 9:00 to 17:00 and the fee is ¥560 round-trip for adults and ¥260 for children. There are discount tickets that can be purchased at the Kintai Bridge, Castle, or Ropeway that include admission to the ridge, castle, and include the ropeway.  Iwakuni Castle was bult in 1601, but it didn’t last long before being taken down. During the Tokugawa Shogunate (military government during the Edo Period), the number of castles were to be limited. There were regulations for castles to include the number of castles per feudal domain. Because of this law, there was conflict with Hiroshima Castle and Iwakuni Castle had to be taken down unfortunately.  Iwakuni Castle was again reconstructed in the 1960’s. The original foundation of the castle is still there, but the new castle was built closer to the cliff simply for aesthetics. Today, the castle is open for visitors. There is a small museum here worthwhile. The hours of operation for Iwakuni Castle are from 9:00 to 16:30 and the admission is ¥260 but might have recently increased to ¥300.  3. Learn More About the White Snakes at Shirohebi Shrine The Shirohebi (White Snake) is sacred in Iwakuni. The shirohebi is a servant of the God Benzaiten (God of Water). Shirohebi Shrine is a shrine in Iwakuni that is dedicated to the white snakes of Iwakuni, not the band White Snake.  The white snakes of Iwakuni are actually common rat snakes but with albinism. In 1972, Iwakuni made the white snakes a national monument. Their populations have declined for obvious reasons, less mice, human interference, etc..  Shirohebi Shrine was constructed in 2012 in honor of the white snakes and the god Benzaiten. Around the shrine are cages housing live white snakes for viewing. Their enclosures are actually really spacious with lots of vegetation. Visitors can freely walk the grounds, look at the snakes, and don’t miss the Temizuya. Temizuya is a water fountain with ladles used to clean and purify the body before accessing a shrine. This particular temizuya has a shirohebi as the fountain.  4. Take in the Sites and Relax at Kikko Park One of the most popular things to do in Iwakuni is to spend time at Kikko Park. This vast park lies between the Kintai Bridge and Iwakuni Castle.  Kikko Park has vast green spaces, large water fountains, museums, temples, historic buildings, cafes, and shops. Kikko Park is also one of the best places to visit in Iwakuni during Sakura Season.  Some of my favorite highlights within the park are the Kikko Cormorant Training Facility and Kikko Shrine. There is a White Snake Museum in Kikko Park. The museum has great information on the white snakes but hardly had any snakes on display. The entrance is cheap ¥200, but I feel the exhibits at Shirohebi Shrine are better.  5. Try Delicious and Unusual Ice Cream Flavors No trip to the Kintai Bridge and Kikko Park is complete without stopping at one of the ice cream shops for a delicious or unusual soft serve ice cream!  After crossing the Kintai Bridge and right before Kikko Park are several ice cream shops. One shop here, Musashi, has 100 flavors of ice cream and they range in flavor from traditional vanilla and chocolate to ramen and soy sauce ice cream flavors.  Choosing a flavor can be overwhelming but there is an English menu available at the shops. I’ve tried ice cream at all the shops, my favorite shop was Sasakiyakojiroshoten. They even serve Cremia ice cream which is my all time favorite soft serve.  In reality all the ice cream shops serve delicious ice cream, so you can’t go wrong with whichever shop you choose.  6. Walk and Photograph the Kintai Bridge The Kintaikyo or simply Kintai Bridge is Iwakuni’s most prized attractions. The Kintai Bridge is what you see on post cards, travel magazines, advertisements, and so on. For good reason, the Kintai Bridge is absolutely beautiful at the base of Shiroyama surrounded by mountains crossing the Nishiki River.  The Kintai Bridge was built in 1673 and stood for hundreds of years before being destroyed by a typhoon in 1950. When originally completed, this bridge was only crossed by Samurai warriors crossing from town to the castle and Kikko Park area.  What makes the Kintai Bridge so remarkably famous is the five arches that span 200 meters across the Nishiki River. The Kintai is considered as one of Japan’s three most famous bridges along with the Megane Bridge in Nagasaki and Nihonbashi Bridge in Tokyo.  Today, the Kintai Bridge isn’t only for Samurai warriors to cross, but visitors can also walk on the bridge. Since it is a major tourist attraction, there is a fee of ¥310. **Tip – The Kintai Bridge is technically open 24/7 but there is a ticket booth on both ends open from 8:00 am to 17:00. If you come before these hours, the bridge is open and free to access.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store.  Plan Your Trip: Booking Accommodations For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator has a lot of great options.  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support!

Kudaka Island is a small yet sacred island just off the coast of Okinawa’s main island. Kudaka Island can be reached by ferry and explored by either bicycle or walking. The views of the ocean from Kudaka Island are absolutely stunning with it’s turquoise water and abundant coral. When it comes to dining on the island, don’t forget to try the Irabu or sea snake soup! Kudaka Island is small but has plenty of sites to see and things to do, this is how we spent a day on Kudaka Island  About Kudaka Island Amamikiyo, is said to be the deity known to have created the Ryukyu Islands after descending on Kudaka Island. During the times of the Ryukyu Kingdom, high ranking priests and even the King of the Ryukyu Islands would take pilgrimages to Kudaka Island. Because of the history here, Kudaka Island is considered a very sacred island. There are many Utaki or sacred places scattered around the small island. in fact, Fubo Utaki, one of the sacred sites is considered so sacred that no one is allowed to enter or visit the site.  Kudaka Island is located in the city of Nanjo in Okinawa. Nanjo has my favorite Japanese mascot, Nanji or Nanjo Man, as I call him. He is a healthy grandpa who is curious with an adventurous lifestyle.  Kudaka Island is just off the coast of the main island of Okinawa and can be reached by ferry from Azama Port. Kudaka Island is very similar to Tsuken Island, aka Carrot Island just a few kilometers away. These islands are unspoiled by tourism and have some of the prettiest beaches in Okinawa. Taking the Ferry to Kudaka Island Daily, there are six ferries that travel between Azama Port to Kudaka Island. There are three regular ferries and three express ferries. Below are the timetables and fares according to the Kudaka website.  To Kudaka Island From Azama Port Ferry  – 8:00, 11:00, and 15:00 Express – 9:30, 13:00, and 17:00 To Azama Port From Kudaka Island Ferry – 10:00, 14:00, and 17:00 Express – 8:30, 12:00, and 16:00 **Due to Covid-19 ferry times may change, so it is always best to verify the times on the website. The day we went, only the Express Ferry was running.  Fares Ferry Adult, Roundtrip ¥1300 Chld, Roundtrip ¥650 Express  Adult, Round-Trip ¥1480 Child, Roundtrip ¥750 How we Spent our Day on Kudaka Island Getting around Kudaka Island is simple. You can explore the island by foot, like we did or rent a bicycle or scooter from one of the several shops near the ferry terminal. The island is about 3.5 km from the port to Habyan, the farthest beach. Because of the ferry times, we had more time then expected and decided just to walk.  If you prefer to rent a bike, they all appeared to be cruiser bikes. Kudaka Island was flat, so hills and rough terrain is not an issue. Most the roads were either paved or loose gravel. Bike rentals were ¥300 an hour.  We explored the small town first, I love walking the small alley ways and viewing the beautiful traditional homes in Okinawa, especially on the smaller islands. The town had a few restaurants, shops, and vending machines. Stock up, because once you get out of town, there isn’t even a vending machine in sight!  There are three roads from town that meet in the middle of the island before merging into two roads then just one toward Habyan. We started with the road on the far left, just to walk the stunning coastline. The beaches on the western side of the island are picture perfect!  While walking the western coast, we heard goats off in the distance. We followed their call and ended up near a few of the Okinawan tombs. To our surprise, we spotted the goats on top of one of the tombs.   We continued exploring Kudaka Island and found a beautiful overlook along a trail called the Romance Road. There was a newly built gazebo here. We were able to take a breather and enjoy the shade. The views from this gazebo were probably some of the best on the island.  We visited the island in August, this time of year the spiders are out in full force. The Banana Spiders or Wood Spiders, whatever they are, get huge this time of year! We literally saw hundreds of these spiders. Terrifying? Yes! But also fascinating.  The last stop on the island was a trail through the Billow Forest to Habyan. Habyan is the sacred site where Amamikiyo came to Kudaka Island from the heavens. The long walk through the Billow Forest was brutal since shade was limited and the sun was right above us.  Along the path, we did spot many of the large purple Hermit Crabs similar to the ones we saw and adored on Zamami Island. Habyan is the farthest point from the ferry terminal on Kudaka Island. Although we were glad we walked the entire length of the island the beaches at Habyan and the eastern side of the island were hardly worth it, especially since the beaches on the other side were some of the prettiest we’ve seen in Okinawa. The trees on the eastern side of the island were much taller and provided better shade then the western side. We did get lucky and spot several Ryukyu Flying Foxes hanging upside down in the trees and flying around.  The perfect day on Kudaka Island consisted of us taking our time strolling through the small town, getting fresh air, and marveling at the gorgeous ocean surrounding the island.  Dining Options and Irabu For a small island there were plenty of dining options. My love of Bizarre Foods led me to a restaurant called お食事処 とくじん, according to Google Maps. After exiting the ferry terminal, go up the hill and hang right there is a restaurant on the right hand side and this is お食事処 とくじん (coordinates: 26.1552968,127.8862991). This restaurant is known for their Irabu Soup. For those that don’t know. Irabu Soup is Sea Snake soup. The sea snakes are typically caught by elderly women bare handed, boiled, and then smoked. Apparently the soup is healthy and full of nutrients.  Sea snakes are highly venomous, so I was a bit nervous to try the soup. After taking that first bite of the snake, I was relieved and pleasantly surprised by the flavor. Did it taste like chicken? Not really, it was tougher and had its own distinct flavor. The soup also consisted of pork and seaweed. The set meal also came with sashimi, which was some of the best I’ve had. It’s been several weeks now since our visit and I’m still alive, so get out there and try Irabu Soup.  Kudaka Island makes for a great day of exploration. The ocean views alone are worth the ferry ride over. The food was incredible. For those feeling adventurous, try the Irabu Soup, I promise you won’t regret it!   Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store.  Plan Your Trip: Booking Accommodations For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator has a lot of great options.  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support!

Looking for something fun to do in Okinawa that doesn’t take a whole lot of time? Why not walk the Gusuku Route in Kitanakagusuku. Along this short 2.01 km route, there are castle ruins, historic houses, and plenty of Shisa sculptures.  About the Gusuku Route in Kitanakagusuku Prior to visiting the Nakamura House, I’ve never heard of the Gusuku Route. At the entrance of the Nakamura House was a large map of the route and all of the sites it crosses. The map even stated that the Gusuku Route is “One of the 500 best walks in Japan and Top 100 cultural walks.” The route is estimated to be 2.01 km and takes the average person 40 minutes to walk, although it took us longer since I had to stop every 20 feet to take a photo. If stopping at all the attractions it could very well take a half day or longer.  According to the map, the start of the trail is at the Tomb of Lord Gosamaru and ends at the Nakamura House.  Notable Stops along the Gusuku Route We followed the route suggested by the map and started at the Tomb of Lord Gosamaru. There is a fairly new parking area with ample parking, benches, and restrooms. We parked our car and began to walk the suggested Gusuku Route in Kitanakagusuku. From the parking lot, there was a board walk to the Tomb of Lord Gosamaru.  Lord Gosamaru was a Lord of the Ryukyu Kingdom in the 1400’s. Lord Gosamaru was the commander of the nearby Nakagusuku Castle.  After a brief stop at the tomb we made our way to the next stop, Nakagusuku Castle. I briefly mentioned this castle in my Okinawa World Heritage Sites post. Nakagusuku Castle lies in ruins and was originally built as a defense fortress against attacks from Katsuren Castle. After the defeat of Nakagusuku Castle, Lord Gosamaru, who was the commander of the castle, committed suicide in 1458. Admission and Hours Admission ¥400 for adults, ¥300 for Junior and High School, and ¥200 for Elementary Students Hours Daily from 8:30 until 17:00, May through September entrance is open until 18:00.    According to the map, the next stop along the Gusuku Route is the Monument to Seiho Oyama’s Birthplace. The monument was just a small monument alongside the road, not really worth spending to much time at.  From here the route goes to Agarinuka Park, but along the route there are several Shisa statues. The Shisa is a symbol of Okinawa. These are traditional artifacts from the Ryukyuan Kingdom. The Shisa are based on similar  artifacts from China that resemble Guardian Lions. The Shisa is a cross between a lion and a dog and are placed in pairs on gates and rooftops of homes and businesses to ward off evil spirits. The Shisa statues come in various sizes and today you can find some that are very serious to downright silly. There is a whole lot more to the history and what the Shisa represents but I will include this all in a future post.  The Gusuku Route continues along the main road and stops at other monuments, parks, and sculptures. Other then the castle, the main attraction is the Nakamura House, which marks the end of the Gusuku Route.  The Nakamura House is a perfectly preserved traditional Okinawan style house. This is what many houses looked like prior to WWII. Traditional architectural features include the red tiled roofs and high stone walls. The Nakamura House dates back to the 18th century. There are eight rooms in total throughout the house all preserved in the traditional style. The grounds also include a store house, barn, pig pens, a pond, and gardens.  Admission and Hours Admission ¥500 for adults, ¥300 for Junior and High School, and ¥200 for Elementary Students Hours Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9:00 until 17:00.  For more information, check out the Nakamura House Website **Hours might differ because of Covid – 19. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store.  Plan Your Trip: Booking Accommodations For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator has a lot of great options.  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support!

Kawasaki, everyone’s heard the name. Right up there with Honda and Yamaha. That’s right, Kawasaki is a popular brand of motorcycle. But did you know there is a town in Japan with the same name? In fact, Kawasaki is Japan’s eighth most populous city. Being so close to Tokyo and just south of Haneda Airport, there are many tourist attractions in Kawasaki that are worth checking out. So whether you have a long layover or looking for a quick get away, Kawasaki is a great place to visit!  Getting to Kawasaki from Haneda Airport I highly recommend downloading the Japan Travel App, you can read about it more in my Japan Travel Recommendations post. From Haneda Airport, take the Airport Express on the Keikyu Line to Kawasaki Station. It can take anywhere from 15 to 40 minutes depending on the terminal.  Recommended Tourist Attractions in Kawasaki Being Japan’s eighth most populous city, Kawasaki is a huge city and there is quite a bit going on. In reality, we could have stayed in Kawasaki over night and spent at least two solid days exploring this city. Being somewhat tired after flying from Hawaii and needing to catch a later flight back to Okinawa, we only had a half day to wander around Kawasaki. Even though time was limited, we managed to see a lot of what this city had to offer. If you have a layover in Haneda or need to kill some time, below are a few of the tourist attractions in Kawasaki that we sought out and really enjoyed!  Visit the unique Wamiya Hachimangu Shrine I am a fan of finding weird and unusual attractions wherever I go. Like in the town Inuyama while visiting Nagoya, we found another fertility shrine while on the way to Kawasaki Daishi. Wamiya Hachimangu Shrine was much smaller but we still got a kick out of it. There were a few penis statues on the grounds, most notable was the iron phallus. I like to share and talk about everything we see and do, so below are two photos of the penis statues we saw on the grounds of the shrine.  Don’t Miss Kawasaki Daishi, a Buddhist Temple founded in 1128 The main reason for our visit to Kawasaki was a stop at Kawasaki Daishi. Like the Wamiya Hachimangu Shrine, this temple can be reached by taking he Keikyudaishi Line from Keikyu-Kawasaki to Kawasaki daishi. This train ride was very brief, about 5 minutes.  Kawasaki Daishi is a huge temple complex with large buildings and a beautiful five storied pagoda that has eight sides.  This Temple complex was founded in 1128 and is the headquarters for the Chizan School of Shingon Buddhism.  Prior to visiting the Temple complex, there is a street called Kawasaki Daishi Nakamise-Dori leading up to the main gate that is full of souvenir shops. Daruma Dolls were a very popular items amongst the shops. These are traditional good luck dolls used to set goals. The doll is kind of a weird shape, but are traditionally red with a white face. The eyes are unpainted. You paint in the eyes once a goal has been met.  Take a Stroll through Daishi Park and Visit Shinshuen Garden A short walk from Kawasaki Daishi is Daishi Park and Shinshuen Garden. Daishi Park is a large neighborhood park with open spaces, playgrounds, and sport fields. The real tourist attraction with the park is the Shinshuen Garden.  Shinshuen Garden is a Chinese themed garden and the best aspect of the garden is that it is a free attraction. The gardens are open from 9:00 to 16:00 every day except Monday’s.  Ride the Tiny Escalator at More’s Department Store That wraps up the attractions near Kawasaki Daishi. We took the train back to Keikyu-Kawasaki Station with a goal in mind to find the world’s shortest escalator.  Just outside of Kawasaki Station is a department store names More’s. The escalator can be found on the bottom floor of the department store. The escalator is in fact, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the shortest escalator. It’s only 5 steps and nobody really knows or even understands its purpose. If you do get lazy and decide to take the short escalator instead of the stairs, it takes a whopping 3-5 seconds. https://zimminaroundtheworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_7243.mp4 Now I can say I’ve been on the world’s shortest escalator in Kawasaki, Japan and have taken the world’s longest outdoor escalator system in Hong Kong. Be a Kid Again at the Toshiba Science Museum and Learn about the Company’s History Another Free tourist attraction in Kawasaki was the Toshiba Science Museum. The day we went, reservations were required. Thankfully for us, it wasn’t busy so the staff let us in. I don’t know if reservations are required because of Covid or if reservations are always required, but it’s worth looking in to. I must say, this museum is not a must do, it was on one floor, pretty small, and mainly for children. But there was a large room with exhibits showing the history of Toshiba and their technology as it progressed. Otherwise, the museum was full of interactive exhibits geared toward kids.  Enjoy Endless Shopping at the Many yet well Connected Shopping Malls Most cities in Japan have well connected shopping malls. These shopping malls are usually found around train stations and the downtown areas. Kawasaki had a very impressive mall. It was connected by bridges crossing over roads, with hundreds of shops and restaurants. I’m not much of a shopper, but I could imagine someone who is could potentially spend an entire day shopping around the many connect malls near Kawasaki Station.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store.  Plan Your Trip: Booking Accommodations For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator has a lot of great options.  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support!

On a previous trip to Nagoya, we were headed back to Central Japan International Airport. At the last stop before the airport at Tokoname, we noticed a giant Maneki Neko (Beckoning Cat) head off in the distance. Quickly, we marked the spot and knew we had to visit in the near future. We didn’t know this was part of the famous pottery footpath in Tokoname.  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support!  History of Tokoname’s Pottery Footpath The pottery footpath in Tokoname started in 1972. But Tokoname has been famous for making pottery since the Heian Period around 794 – 1185. In fact, Tokoname is considered one of the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan. The other Ancient Kilns of Japan include Bizen, Echizen, Seto, Shigaraki, and Tanba. Kilns in these towns have made pottery for hundreds if not thousands of years. In 2017, the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan were listed as a Heritage Site in Japan.   In Tokoname, the kilns, pottery merchants, and other attractions were all in a specific area, so for tourism in 1972, the path was created so visitors could have a chance to view all of the points of interests related to Tokoname and the ancient kiln.  Manekineko Street and Tokonyan The Pottery Footpath is a short walk from the Tokoname Station. Before getting to the actual start of the foot path, visitors will need to walk Manekineko Street. This street is lined with nearly 40 beckoning cats created by artists.  Tokoname is the hometown of the Manekineko or lucky beckoning cat.  Jill and I began our adventure on Manekineko Street. There were several silly manekineko statues on small pedestals.  After taking photos of the fun manekineko’s on the pedestals we walked down the famous Manekineko Street. This street had several beckoning cats alongside the wall. Each statue was different and brought good luck in various ways, for instance, Prayer for families or safe travels.  Tokonyan Tokonyan is a gigantic Beckoning Cat above Manekineko Street. This is the Beckoning  Cat we originally saw from the Tokoname train station. Tokonyan is 3.8 meters tall and 6.3 meters wide.  Walking the Pottery Footpath in Tokoname After walking through and taking pictures of Manekineko Street, we started the actual Pottery Footpath. I had no idea what to expect, but I didn’t think the path would be very long and there would be little to see. Like most attractions in Japan, I was wrong.  The Pottery Footpath consists of two trails, Course A and Course B. Course A is the more popular route and was 1.6 km long while Course B was a longer trail at 4.0 km.  We arrived here in the early evening and took the Course A Footpath which starts and ends near Tokonyan. Although, you can enter the path wherever you want, we found the starting point near Tokonyan to make the most sense.  Highlights along Course A included many local pottery shops, the climbing kilns, workshops, and other fun art displays.  The footpath was well marked and winded through narrow alley ways with historic homes and shops on either side. One of the more popular locations along the footpath was Dokanzaka. Dokanzaka is a short section of the trail and the sides of the trail were lined with sake barrels, pipes, and broken ceramics.  Since it was later in the day when we explored the Tokoname Footpath, there were hardly any people on the trail. Unfortunately, most shops were closed, but there were a few shops that we managed to pop in before closing.  Course A was only 1.6 km, but we took a solid 1.5 – 2 hours to walk it because there was so much to see and photograph. A lot of random works of pottery were displayed out in the open especially in front of some of the shops. Below are some of the cute pottery figures we spotted while walking Tokoname’s footpath.  Conclusion If you ever find yourself flying into Nagoya. Take the train a couple of stops to Tokoname and walk the pottery footpath. This attraction blew our expectations. Both Jill and I were surprised by how long the footpath was and with all the attractions and cute pottery statues everywhere. Next time we visit Tokoname, we plan on doing the 4.0 km Course B footpath and maybe attend a workshop class to make our very own pottery.  There are cheap hotels nearby, after all it’s close to the airport, so maybe plan for a half day here if interested. We stayed at the Hotel Route Inn which was within walking distance to both the train station and footpath.  Jill loved Manekineko Street and all the random cat sculptures around the path, of course she had to take Manekineko photos.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇯🇵  Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖️🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars. Train Travel 🚂🚊  For the JR Pass, tickets can be purchased on the JR Pass site.