The nearest America from Japan

When it comes to Japan, Have a look at the world map, Japan is located on the Far East. We realized that Japan is very far away from western countries.

It is said that Japan is the land of the rising sun. but, actually Japan is 4 hours behind than New Zealand. I mean New Zealand is the first sunrise country in the world.

How long does it take to get to Japan from the western countries like America or England? From Europe like a Paris or London to Tokyo, it takes about approximately 12 hours. From New York to Tokyo, it takes about approximately 14 hours. Even the Seattle that the nearest American city in the mainland of America from Japan, it takes about approximately 9 hours. Japan is so far away from western countries. But wait a minute, There's a place where you can be reached American in 3 hours and a half, it's a Guam.

Guam is a territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean and is part of the subtropical region, you can swim all year round. Local people at there speaks English, some people speaks Japanese as well. And it is safe. To see the sunset from the beach is amazing. you will be in paradise.

Guam has rainy and dry seasons. Usually the rainy season begins from June to October, so you should better to avoid those months. I think January and February
are the best season because of the nice weather and cheaper traveling expenses. Please take a look for the travel agencies which offers reasonable travel like a HIS.

https://www.no1-travel.com/

I recommend you to purchase 1 day shuttle bus pass that cost $10 each for the hotel route. They also have 2 days($15) but $4 per ride. The hotel route goes from Micronesia Mall, K-Mart and Guam Premium Outlet stops in many hotels. So you don't have to Rent-a-Car.

Guam that isolated Island depends on imports for everything from U.S mainland. So prices are high in there. but you don't have to pay consumption tax when you
buy something.

Guam is accessible location. near, not so far from Japan. Time difference between
Guam and Japan are only 1 hour earlier than Japan. Usually, Japanese people plans on itinerary for 4 days. However I rarely seen the tourist from South America and Europe except Russian.

Guam, An Island of accessible and surrounded beautiful nature and beach. you might to consider to go there on you way to visit Japan.

<< PREVIOUS | NEXT >>

Kinugawa Onsen / Tochigi

When it comes to Hot Spring, I recommend you go to Kinugawa Onsen鬼怒川温泉.
Let's take a short trip from Tokyo to stay overnight at Kinugawa Onsen.

In Asakusa area, There are direct Express train to get to Kinugawa Onsen from Tobu Asakusa Station東武浅草駅. It takes about 2 hours to get there.
So when it comes to Hot Spring, Kinugawa Onsen is very familliar with the people who lives in Tokyo.

Tobu Asakusa Station

Kinugawa Onsen Station

I'm going to stay at Kinugawa Grand Hotel this time.

Front desk.

The season for Doll's Festival

Typical hotel room

It's impossible to take some pictures of Hot Spring, so please visit the web site below.

Kinugawa Grand Hotel:
http://www.kgh.co.jp/word/english/

Japanese style breakfast

By the time to check out the hotel, please relax at hotel lobby while watching large screen TV.

We got back to the Kinugawa Onsen Station.

Wait for the train while taking a foot bath in front of the train station. Foot bath for free of charge that available for anyone.

Here comes the train for Tobu Asakusa Station.
Get this train to go back to Tokyo.

Usually we take a Hot Spring trip, we visit the travel agency and applying for a package tour. The total cost which include round trip train tickets and hotel will be increases from 20,000 yen.

<< PREVIOUS | NEXT >>

Surf & Snow at the same time

Sand skiing:
Touji Sand Skiing Area, Shimoda Shizuoka is a nature made dune that slide of 70 meters long with 30 degrees steep angle and its width has 100 meters.

Get there:
Take the Odoriko Super express Train from Tokyo Station which directly take you to Izukyu-Shimoda Station. It takes approximately less than 3 hours. Then get on the bus from bus terminal in front of the train station. you can wait for the bus at No.2. However, the drawback of this plan, the bus running only once a day at 3:45 pm. It's gonna be struggle to get to Sand skiing Area as long as you have got the rent a car.

The best scenario:
You are taking a trip to Kisami Ohama Beach that is beautiful nature around with amazing blue ocean and white dune that is well known for westeners those who lives in Tokyo and you are staying at the accomodation there.
You are having fun to take a relax at the beach, tried to Surfing and take a hot spring and so on.
You are very active person, but you want to enjoy something aside from water activities. Why don't you ask for a manager at the hotel where you stay that you want to try Sand Skiing and ask for that "I wonder if you pick me up to Sand Skiing Area and want to borrow snow sledges if possible." I guess a manager would be happy to accept your offer because from Kisami Ohama Beach to Touji Sand Skiing Area is very close.

Tip:
I tried Snowboarding at there that was a good experience to me. However its feeling like a dump snow and going down 70 meters long is not good enough to me. Maybe you should better choose Snow sledges than Snowboard because when you sit on the Snow sledges, you feels its speed which is more exciting than Snowboarding because your face is more closer to the dune.

NEXT >>