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A 10-Hour Train Ride Across Japan

A 10-Hour Train Ride Across Japan

In early September, I traveled across Japan for a weekend in Niigata to experience the Echigo Tsumari Art Festival. For this long journey, I decided to use one of the final days of my summer Seishun 18 Kippu to take local trains from Niigata to Shizuoka. The route took me through the mountainous regions of Japan, passing through Gunma, Saitama, Tokyo, and Kanagawa Prefectures before reaching my home in Shizuoka. In total, the train ride was approximately 10 hours. This…

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Tea Picking in Japan’s #1 Tea Producing Prefecture

Tea Picking in Japan’s #1 Tea Producing Prefecture

It’s no secret that Japan is known for green tea. Aside from chado (tea ceremony), another way to experience this cultural aspect is to go tea picking. Tea picking teaches you about the cultivation process while also presenting a tangible experience of picking tea leaves in traditional attire. Where and When to Go Tea Picking Shizuoka Prefecture is the perfect place to experience tea picking while in Japan. It is widely known as the country’s leading tea producing prefecture due…

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Traveling Japan with the Seishun 18 Kippu

Traveling Japan with the Seishun 18 Kippu

The Seishun 18 Kippu is a special train ticket that can be used during certain times in Japan. It is a flat price of 11,850 JPY (~$115 USD) and allows travel for up to five, non-consecutive or consecutive 24-hour periods on the JR lines throughout the country. When using it, the stationmaster will stamp the ticket with a date stamp. You are free to use any JR lines throughout the day from then on with that stamp. Seishun 18 Kippu Perks The…

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A Vietnamese Hammock Cafe in Japan

A Vietnamese Hammock Cafe in Japan

Over the bridge we went to find Hoa Sua, an adorable yet unsuspecting hammock cafe nestled in the trees of Fujieda… The fabric lanterns were all dimly lit to compliment the hammocks hanging from nearly every beam in the little cottage. Small tables were strategically placed amongst the hammocks, where guests could enjoy their meals. There was a shopping corner, too. It was dedicated to Vietnamese knick knacks, baskets, bowls, and clothes if you so wished to take a piece…

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