Japanese Culture in New York - Chopsticks NY

Forget about Japan’s highest technology and zipping, smooth transportation system. To experience Japan’s deep nature and hidden landmarks, extra trips through less convenient and winding paths turns your trip priceless. Japan’s nature still welcomes visitors who conquer the challenging geography with unforgettable and literally breath taking panoramas. This once in a life time experience will give you a great feeling of a accomplishment.

Remote Beach House in the Ocean Breeze
The UNESCO’s world natural heritage site Yakushima offers simple ocean air that heals visitors from today’s fast pace life. Just expose yourself to the calm ocean wind blowing at Soyo-tei (http://soyote.ftw.jp Japanese only), a classic, small local B&B located on the tip of a quiet beach habitat of sea turtles. This relocated, 80-year-old, former residential house takes advantage of the 360 degree ocean view and sea breeze from the terrace and outside bath that soft ocean waves endlessly hit from the calm yet open southern ocean. The bath becomes a natural planetarium after dark, and a star-filled sky wraps around you. Soyo-tei has plenty of rich and fresh seafood and minimalist beach resorts in Japan’s simplicity and nature-oriented style, that opens everybody’s minds to the retrospective human life. This relaxation is available only after the two hour ferry ride from Kagoshima Port at the southern tip of Kyushu Island.

Natural Infinity Onsen Pool
Some of Japan’s mountains are serious: Steep, high elevation and occasional harsh weather. But if you reach the hot springs on the volcanic Hakuba mountains that hosted the alpine ski events in the 1998 Winter Olympics, all pains turn to unforgettable satisfaction. Hakuba Yari Onsen is by a chalet that operates only during the summer, serving a semi-alpinists enjoying an adventure vacation. In spite of popularity among high-level alpinists, the path to the chalet is regularly secured by rangers for any level of adventure lovers. About a 4-hour hike takes you to the elevation of 6900 feet, and the hot springs by the chalet produces 200 gallons of natural hot water per second. Dip yourself in the natural rock tubs of hot water at the cliff, and view the nearby mountain tops and clouds below, and the infinite starry night sky. The chalet is a frugal accommodation with a shared bathroom and bunk beds, but the view from this infinity hot springs is nothing that any luxury travel can compete with.

Life on the Hillside
Known as one of Japan’s deepest valleys and most secluded place, Iya Valley is located at an over 5,000 foot drop, making the steep hillside location of the Hotel Iya Onsen (http://www.iyaonsen.co.jp/english/index.html) such a treasure that only the locals would know. Your long trip to this hidden valley turns worthwhile at the moment you find the panorama from a tram ride that descends 1,800 feet down to the valley: The tram shuttles from the hillside hotel to natural hot springs location at the bottom of the valley, and this is such a special location to soak yourself in the hot mineral water. The surrounding air spontaneously heals you with the valley’s view of green forests, clear air, singing birds and lovely sound of streams right by the bamboo built bath tubs. The valley’s panorama starts riding the hotel’s gondola on the 45 degree hillside to the hot springs spots in the valley. Untouched forests and steep hillside change their colors and appearance seasonally.

The Best View of Mt. Fuji in Hakone
Everybody knows that Hakone is a popular stop just off Tokyo for the picturesque seasonal views, panoramic Mt. Fuji, traditional ryokan (Japanese style bed & breakfast) and natural hot springs. A surprising hidden place for the magnificent view of Mt. Fuji is at the Hotel Green Plaza Hakone, one of the many charming and hospitable hotels in this historic town. Like many other ryokans and hotels, this hotel also is located in the hot springs area, and their outside bath is set up at just the right location for a breathtaking panorama of Mt. Fuji. The hotel’s flower garden also offers a photo opportunity of the iconic mountain, surprisingly close and magnificent. Unlike other rather extreme locations, this hotel is in accessible Hakone, just 1.5 hour train ride from Tokyo station, and several other places to visit for a day trip or a relaxing weekend.
http://www.hgp.co.jp/inf/Z11/hgp/ (Japanese only)

Face the Wild Ocean
Aomori Prefecture is north most of Honshu Island, and people usually think of calm northern country. But one of the quiet small towns along the western coast of Aomori has an astonishing and unusual beach experience: An almost half-day long train trip from Tokyo, the remote ocean side town faces the wild Sea of Japan and rugged beaches. Instead of lying on the sand, you dip yourself into natural hot springs in the rocky bathtub right by the ocean. Facing the wild northern waves, the bathtub is so close to the ocean that the wave comes in the bathtub when the weather becomes stormy. But the natural geothermal water is never defeated by the furious ocean tides, and sitting in this hot spring, you witness all faces of the wild ocean; the calm sunset and angry tidal surges. The bathing facilities are operated by Furo-fushi Onsen Hotel (http://www.furofushi.com/index_e.html)

Hot Spring on Ice
It is not new to go to Hokkaido for superior powder snow any more, but the best and the most unique hot springs are by Lake Shikaribestu in Taisetsu-zan National Park. During the Siberian cold winter in Hokkaido, the entire lake freezes up, and the thick ice on the lake becomes a large, open recreational space where some local recreational organizations set up various winter activities. When the lake becomes a small winter village on the solid frozen surface with ice bars, ice theatres, an ice wedding chapel and snow mobile paths, the most astonishing experience is a make-shift round pool filled with natural hot water on ice. Not to mention the hot mineral water warms up and relaxes your body in the subzero air, you will be surrounded by the open frozen lake and deep forest and mountain ranges in a distance of the National Park. Try the outdoor hot springs pool in the subzero weather on the frozen lake.
http://www.nature-center.jp/nc-winter-menu-top.htm

——– Nori Akashi : Public Relations Manager at the New York Office of JNTO

Japan National Tourism Organization New York Office
11 West 42nd Street, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10036
TEL: 212-757-5640
www.japantravelinfo.com