Johnson Town in Iruma, Saitama, is a picture-perfect recreation of a small American town straight out of the 1950s. Neatly trimmed lawns separate period-style wooden houses, vintage cars are parked at the most scenic spots, and restaurants sell homemade burgers. 

Although Johnson Town feels American, all the residents and shopkeepers are Japanese. It’s an American dreamland made by Japanese for Japanese, which is further part of the town’s charm. 

Things to see and do

MiMi Mom, a store that sells American sundries, and the American diner East Contents Cafe.

Johnson Town is an easy day trip from Tokyo, offering scenery that feels like walking through the sets of Leave it to Beaver while offering a large variety of contemporary delights. They range from hearty American-style food, closely adhering to original recipes to the latest in western-inspired health food. 

Try the huge burgers at a cafe called Blue Corn, or the rice flour bread (米粉パン) at Koigakubo Bakery. The bakery also sells the famous Johnson Town ice cream, a delicious gelato using locally grown Sayama tea as a key ingredient. 

If you are in a shopping mood, there are plenty of designer stores scattered across Johnson Town, selling locally made fashion. You might also want to check out the vintage clothing stores and the antique shops specializing in vintage Americana. 

Photo by: Johannes Schonherr Shops in Johnson Town sell vintage American wares.

Feel free to take your pets out there. Most shops and restaurants pride themselves as pet-friendly, some going as far as to advertise themselves as “shops for dogs and their owners.” 

Adjacent to Johnson Town is two large parks. They make for a leisurely stroll through the woods with your dog after consuming that large hamburger. 

Johnson Town history

Photo by: Joji Morita (Isono Corporation) A town rich with Japanese and American history.

Johnson Town is rooted in an American Airforce settlement dating from the same period whose image Johnson Town today tries to preserve.  

In 1937, the Irumagawa Airfield was opened and soon became one of Japan’s largest military airfields. The airfield played an important part in World War II, including the deployment of kamikaze missions.

After the war, the American Airforce took over the Japanese airfield and renamed it Johnson Airbase. 

Photo by: Joji Morita (Isono Corporation) You don’t see too many lawns in Japan.

Several residences were built to accommodate the American officers. Those residences offered the latest in American comforts, which the officers were accustomed to back home. Houses were spacious and had what many consider a staple of American life, a lawn. 

Today, Johnson Town sports more than 50 businesses. They range from wellness clinics to cafes, and a great variety of quirky shops. Parts of the town are purely residential. You can walk those streets, but please respect the privacy of the citizens. 

For more information visit the Johnson Town official website.

• Shiroi Koibito Park has announced a partial opening period for their outdoor gardens from Thu, June 4. Indoor reopening dates will be announced on their website at a later date. For updates on the COVID-19 situation in Japan check GaijinPot Blog: https://blog.gaijinpot.com/is-it-safe-to-visit-japan-as-the-coronavirus-cases-increase/

See the snow sparkle along with the colorful lights at the park’s yearly winter illumination.

Nestled between Tudor-inspired buildings and a beautiful rose garden whose flowers are tailored to the seasons, there’s way more to do than just buy cookies. Of course, cookies may well be all that you’re interested in, let’s be honest here.

Snow Festival!

There are several different styles of cookie to make from giant, heart-shaped ones to ones that look like Hokkaido. Customize them by writing your own messages on them. It’s the perfect present for that special someone!

These cookies are the No.1 go-to souvenir from Hokkaido and they taste soooo good.

On-site are five different food shops. The Chocolate Lounge on the fourth floor has an impressive range of parfaits, complete with real English antique furniture. How’s that for a fancy afternoon tea? You can also keep it classy by visiting the Old Style Children’s Toy Box, an exhibition that focuses on children’s toys from the Meiji period.

There’s also a ridiculously cute, mini-locomotive ride for just ¥300 that will you take you on a 10-minute picturesque journey around Shiroi Koibito Park.

The park is a beautiful world where British and Hokkaido cultures merge.

We highly recommend the park for those traveling to Sapporo during February as it makes a fantastic detour from the Snow Festival or an added touch of romance over Valentine’s Day!

Hamamatsu in the western part of Shizuoka Prefecture is the most populated city in the entire prefecture, yet it’s often bypassed by travelers whose eyes remain fixed on the snow-capped peak of Mount Fuji in its eastern half.

But if you just scratch the surface, there’s enough in this central Japan city to keep you occupied all weekend. Hamamatsu can satisfy almost any traveler — the discerning foodie, the matsuri (festival) diehard, the nature seeker, the amateur gambler, and the castle photographer. What exactly does the city have to offer? Let’s dig in!

Food and drink in Hamamatsu

Hamamatsu holds its own when it comes to delicious local food. In fact, Hamamatsu’s gyozas (dumplings) rank as one of the five famous foods you’ll find in Shizuoka. The city is the nation’s capital for the highest consumption of gyozas per person.

Hamamatsu is also home to Hananomai Sake Brewery. Founded in 1864, the brewery uses pure groundwater from the Southern Alps and Shizuoka-grown rice to make its quality sake. Tour the facility to learn about sake production firsthand, taste the good stuff, and receive a complimentary bottle of sake. Even if your Japanese isn’t great, guided tours, complete with a bottle of sake to take home, are available in English, Chinese, Indonesian and Portuguese.

Go behind the scenes of Japan’s national drink with a tour of the Hananomai Sake Brewery.

The city is also well known for unagi (eels) which live in Lake Hamana. The eel served here is not only fresh but also a fraction of the price you’re likely to pay in Tokyo and other metropolitan areas in Japan. Even if you’re not that keen on unagi, you can take your taste buds on a mini adventure with the unagi pie. Although it sounds strange, this eel pie is not what you would expect. First off, it’s a cookie rather than a pie and the eel extract is virtually undetectable. Unagi pies make the perfect omiyage (souvenir) and you can even tour the Shunkado Unagi Pie Factory for free.

Or how about learning the secrets of shoyu (soy sauce)? Meijiya Shoyu has been in the soy sauce brewing business in Hamamatsu since 1875 and allows behind-the-scenes tours for interested travelers. At this family-run business, you can even experience pressing and tasting your own soy sauce.

See exactly how the stuff you always eat with sushi is actually made.

Sightseeing in Hamamatsu

Hamamatsu Castle should not be missed. The original castle was built by Ieyasu Tokugawa, founder of the Tokugawa shogunate (military government). Here, you’ll find a museum and observation deck for clear views of the city. Although the current structure is a reconstruction, the grounds are quite stunning during sakura (cherry blossom) season and are a popular spot with locals for hanami (flower-viewing) parties.

Photo by: ©JNTO A sakura success!

Nakatajima Sand Dunes is also a great place to check out nature and one of the city’s most famous festivals — Hamamatsu Festival takes place here every year during Golden Week, from May 3-5. Locals hold a friendly kite-fighting competition to celebrate a tradition that started over four centuries ago. The festival culminates in a night parade of floats in the city.

Another major festival in Hamamatsu is the Enshu Hamakita Hiryu (Flying Dragon) Festival. It celebrates the Tenryu River’s ruling dragon god, Ryujin. One of the festival highlights is a massive dragon kite that flutters by day and sparkles by night.

After the summer festival fun, between August and October on the dunes, don’t miss the release of loggerhead turtle hatchlings into the ocean.

If you have a need for speed, Hamamatsu is also the place for powerboat racing, one of the few sports you can legally bet on in Japan. Experience Japanese speedboat racing at Boat Race Hamanako stadium where you can take a tour of the facilities, learn how to place bets, watch four thrilling races, and maybe, just maybe, make some extra cash!

I feel the need…

Because Hamamatsu is the capital of musical instrument production in Japan, boasting of big brands like Kawai, Yamaha, and Tokai, it’s no surprise that the city also has plenty to entice music lovers. Every three years, Hamamatsu hosts an international piano festival. There’s also the well-stocked Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments where you can get hands-on with many instruments, including the Japanese reed organ, djembe drums and the steelpan from Trinidad and Tobago.

Hamamatsu might not be the first place you think of journeying to in Japan, but there is truly more than meets the eye here to make for an authentic Japan experience.

Immerse yourself in untamed nature and experience a completely different side of Okinawa with a guided night hike through a tropical jungle.

The trek is organized by Okinawa World, a popular theme park just south of the capital city of Naha. It takes place in the Uwaga Jungle, a wild expanse of limestone hills, secluded valleys, hidden caves and flowing creeks. And as you might expect, it’s inhabited by equally wild and interesting creatures, including bats, flying foxes, tree lizards, snakes, turtles and land snails.

Keep your eyes peeled for flying foxes, also known as the fruit bat, in the Uwaga Jungle.

In order to show people the beauty of the forest and educate visitors about its value, a portion of this ancient jungle has now been opened to the public for nighttime guided tours only. Experienced staff will lead you through the woodland by torchlight, highlighting the interesting features you pass and helping you to safely get the most out of your journey.

Due to variations in season and weather, no two trips are identical, and there’s always something new and exciting to discover. Beginners are welcome, and no experience is required – just remember to wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty!

The Uwaga Jungle trek

The trekking experience starts at a training area called Thiradaki Hill, where you can learn how to safely hike through the jungle in the dark without losing your footing. After that, the real adventure begins!

The trekking map.

Flashlight in hand, hikers enter the jungle and follow the route through the rugged Limestone Trail, before crossing a small wooden bridge over Shrimp Stream. In the depths of Uwaga Valley, you will eventually reach the Secret Cave, home to a colony of bats. From here the path swings back beneath the Sky Hole, which gives you a stunning view of the starry night sky – plus the chance to see some flying foxes, also known as the fruit bat, in the Uwaga Jungle.

After passing under a canopy of enormous leaves known as Tubers Tunnel, you’ll catch sight of the Cliff Tree. This giant banyan growing out of the rock face indicates that you’re on the home stretch, with just a short jeep ride between you and civilization!

Protecting the environment

Uwaga Jungle is home to many different animal and plant species. Visitors should keep to the designated trail and take care to be respectful during their visit.

For more information see the Uwaga Jungle Night Trekking official pamphlet and check out the video below!

This article was sponsored by Okinawa World.

Ever wondered how the iconic Mt.Fuji looks like covered in snow? This snow hiking tour to the summit of Mt. Fuji is a special chance to explore the mountain free from crowds, roped-off pathways or buzzing vending machines.

While Mount Fuji remains inaccessible to the public during the winter season, it is open for visitors and hikers during the spring. Certified climbing instructors will take you up the mountain as the snow is almost about to start melting, making it soft enough to ski or snowboard right from the summit.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore one of the world’s greatest mountains in relative isolation – it’ll be just you and an absolutely unforgettable view.

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• MariCar is in a legal battle with Nintendo Co. and has been ordered by a court to pay damages and stop the lending of Nintendo character costumes. However, for the foreseeable future, you can still wear costumes, etc. (Updated Oct. 9, 2018)

Tour time

When you arrive one of the more-than 10 MariCar locations, you’ll choose from an array of costumes from Goku to Donald Duck. For your safety, the guide will give you an explanation of the local traffic laws (no turtle shell throwing allowed) and how to be safe while driving (no drifting for boosts either). After you get the green light, off you go on a street tour of the city on your go-karts that have been modified for street racin’. (Seriously, it’s not a race, though!)

Photo by: maricarjp Nice view!

All you have to do is choose your route, and your guide will take you around the best sights the city has to offer.  Some travelers recommend it as an exhilaratingly efficient way to see famous landmarks like Odaiba’s Rainbow Bridge or Tokyo Skytree from a unique vantage point. The guide will also take photos of you (when it’s safe), ensuring you’ll have some proof of your time buzzing along the asphalt. (For you GoProers — you can even strap the camera to your head for some sweet footage.)

Availability and pricing

There are eight different locations in the Tokyo area to do “short, medium, or long” courses ranging in price from ¥6,000 to ¥15,000. Short courses are about one hour.  Medium and long courses are one and a half to two and two and a half to three hours, respectively.

However, each store has its own selection of courses so make sure to check MariCar’s website before you head out. If your travel itinerary doesn’t include Tokyo, then you can still check out MariCar if you visit Osaka, Kyoto or Okinawa.

The MariCar photo wall.

Requirements and safety

You will need a driver’s license that is valid in Japan in order to drive a go-kart. In some cases, this means securing an international driver’s license before you head to Japan. A list of approved licenses is available on MariCar’s website. According to data, from February 2017 to March 2018, there were 50 accidents involving go-karts in Tokyo including some that resulted in minor injuries. The karts are very low to the ground which means that it can be difficult for drivers of regular vehicles to see them. This is something to keep in mind before hitting the road.

See below for a list of areas where you can do MariCar.

One of the best experiences you can have in Kyoto is dressing up in a traditional kimono and wandering (well, shuffling) through the atmospheric streets. It’s an immersive, unique and insightful way to explore the ancient capital — a real only-in-Japan activity.

Kimono Yumeyakata offer the complete transformation experience — from dressing up to tailor-made photo albums — at some of Kyoto’s most famous landmarks, as well as in hidden local spots.

You’ll start with the dressing process at either their main store on Gojo Street, within Kyoto’s former ceramics district, or their brand new location in a gorgeous Meiji-era traditional house in Nakagyo-ku. Take your pick from an extensive collection of original and popular kimono designs, and add in professional hairstyling and makeup either traditional, or something more modern.

A post shared by Kyoto Kimono Rental Yumeyakata (@yumeyakata_kyoto) on Aug 8, 2017 at 1:05am PDT

The friendly and knowledgeable staff at Kimono Yumeyakata will explain each part of the kimono as they layer the different pieces on. (A heads up: if you’re going for the full costume, there are A LOT of layers.) Once you’re ready, it’s photo time! Indoor or outdoor plans are available, for individuals or groups, men and women. You can even choose your photographer in advance. Wedding photo, family plans and combined city tours are all possible.

Kimono Yumeyakata has two stores in Kyoto: Gojo and their brand new location, Oike Bettei. For detailed information on plans, prices and how to reserve for both, visit the official Kimono Yumeyakata website and the new Oike Bettei page.

So you fancy yourself a Charlie but…you need a chocolate factory. Make your way to Glico Pia East’s factory in Saitama’s Kitamoto city. This magical factory of hope and wonder supplies Pocky and their savory counterparts, Pretz, to the Kanto region.

At the entrance you will be greeted by lots of beautiful ladies wearing Pocky-colored clothes. These will be your charismatic tour guides! Perfect.

Unfortunately (or fortunately) there aren’t any Oompa Loompas but there is a rather cute CGI mascot who’ll give you a quick virtual history lesson about the dude who started it all: Riichi Ezaki.

Want to know why everyone flocks to the flashy “Running Man” billboards in Osaka? He was on the original Pocky boxes, so yeah, he’s kind of a big deal. The cute CGI mascot also shows up on the exclusive range of stationery that they sell in the gift shop. Charlie and the Pocky factory is shaping up to be pretty damn great.

Let’s get down to business to explore the factory floor. As soon as you step out of the elevator, the smell of creamy-sweet Pocky or Italian-seasoned Pretz hits you like a bulldozer. This is it, your dreams are about to come true. Your tour guide will lead you through the basics of how their Pocky is made (think very elaborate robots and scorching hot ovens) but how does the chocolate actually get on the stick?! That, they say, is still a mystery…

You thought you’d seen it all but now it’s time for the QUIZ ROOM. Fitted out with top-of-the-range quiz equipment (fancy buzzers, huge cinematic screens), you can test your knowledge of all things Pocky, Pretz and Glico in this trippy room of wonder. Ever wanted to see a room of fully grown adults get seriously competitive over who presses the red button first? Well, your wishes are about to come true.

Don’t forget to visit the gift shop at the end of your tour to pick up some exclusive flavours and huge selection packs of your favourite snacks. Best. Day. Ever.

Whether you are new or old to Tokyo, the vibrant city never fails to surprise you in many different ways. If you’re looking for undiscovered pathways in the metropolis, Studio C offers cycling tours that allow you to explore the backstreets of Tokyo. On this daytime adventure, you can find hidden shrines, calming rivers, and quiet neighborhoods usually reserved for local eyes only.

Don’t own a bike? No problem. The studio provides high-quality Japanese bikes (think: beach cruiser for the city) along with helmets and gloves for the tour.

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From ancient Japanese cedar forests to beautiful, snow-carpeted mountains, this snowshoeing outdoor activity offers the ultimate winter wonderland experience. Trek through the mountainous terrain of Nagano where few people have visited before with your own private group. This is a great chance to explore the stunning landscape of the Japanese Alps in between skiing and snowboarding at one of the nearby resorts.

Hot drinks and snacks are provided during the hike -just in case you want to have a sip of tea as you look down on the majestic landscape from the snowy summit.

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