Wendy Ng
What is this legendary Shimanami Kaido? It is a 74-kilometre bikeway that connects Japan’s main island of Honshu to the island of Shikoku. Passing over 6 bridges and 6 islands in the Seto Inland Sea, the picturesque Shimanami Kaido is every cyclist’s dream.
One of the “Three Famous Bridges of Japan”, Kintai Bridge is the pride of Iwakuni. With a length of 210 metres and width of 5 metres, the magnificent bridge stretches over Nishiki River, the longest river in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Uchiko is a small traditional town located southwest of Matsuyama in Ehime Prefecture. Surrounded by mountains and rice fields, the quiet, rural Uchiko was a thriving manufacturing hub of Japanese paper and wax from the end of the Edo period through the Meiji period.
Hokkaido’s Asahiyama Zoo is one of Japan’s most well-known zoos as it showcases animals in relatively natural surroundings which change according to the seasons. When I heard about the famous penguin parade, I knew I had to visit Asahiyama Zoo!
The spectacular visuals in Hayao Miyazaki’s widely acclaimed Princess Mononoke have inspired many travellers to trek all the way to Yakushima Island and search for the mystical mossy forest depicted in the animation.
A trip to a temple has never been so exciting till you step into Myoryuji Temple. Commonly known as “Ninja Temple”, Myoryuji Temple does not have direct connections to ninjas but has many deceptive defenses.
Every year from August 12 to 14, Takamatsu celebrates its biggest summer festival, the Sanuki Takamatsu Festival. “Sanuki” is the prefecture’s old name and is closely associated with Takamatsu’s famed noodles, “Sanuki Udon”.
Hidden in Kyushu’s Miyazaki Prefecture, Aya Teruha Suspension Bridge is a symbol of Aya Town. Spanning a length of 250 metres, the pedestrian bridge soars over one of the largest lucidophyllous forests in Japan.
Located in Shikoku’s Kagawa Prefecture, Konpirasan, formally known as Kotohira Shrine, is renowned for its challenging 1,368 step climb that tests pilgrims’ endurance and determination.
The whirlpools are a natural phenomenon occurring in the narrow strait between Naruto and Awaji Island. The strait, which connects the Seto Inland Sea and the Pacific Ocean, has the fastest currents in Japan.