Update: On Tuesday, June 18, Tsuruoka was affected by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake. However, damage to Tsuruoka was minimal with only 7 people slightly injured during a successful evacuation. Sadly, because of the news of the earthquake, many tourists have canceled their plans to visit the area. Tsuruoka City’s Tourism Department would like to reassure travelers that the area is completely safe to travel and that they are looking forward to welcoming visitors once again.

Nestled in the northeastern mountains of Yamagata, Tsuruoka is a sometimes overlooked city with unusual gems and sacred grounds. It’s home to Dewa Sanzan (The Three Mountains of Dewa), a truly mystical place and the biggest draw to the expansive city that includes coastline along the Sea of Japan. Tsuruoka was also deemed a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy back in 2014 for its abundance of unique mountainous vegetables. Yet, even more rarities are in store.

The Three Mountains of Dewa

Photo by: Crown of Lenten rose Mount Haguro’s pagoda.

Mount Haguro, Mount Yudono and Mount Gassan (the tallest of the three) symbolize the present, past, and future and are considered sacred by Shugendo monks who practice a strict brand of mountain worship. The mountains’ hiking trail leads you through a dense forest of cedar trees and shrines to the five-storied pagoda Goju-to, the oldest wooden pagoda in the Tohoku region built in 937.

Stay at a traditional temple lodge and try your hand at yamabushi-do (mountain ascetic training), doing rituals like meditating under the cold mountain waterfalls and eating shojin ryori, traditional vegan cuisine made from mountainous vegetables. First, experience “death and rebirth” by ascending and descending the almost 2,500 stairs on Mount Haguro. The ancient pilgrimage route then leads practitioners to the spirit realm, represented by Mount Gassan (1984 meters). To complete the experience, purify yourself in the hot springs of Mount Yudono. The yamabushi (mountain monks’) yearly rituals take place in late August, mid-September and at the end of the year.

Mummies of Tsuruoka

A photo of the mummy at Ryusuiji Dainichibo.

Imagine starving yourself to skin and bones and then being buried alive underground until you were mummified, this is how the sokushinbutsu (self-mummified monks) became living relics. These “living Buddhas” are said to bring good fortune and protection to us mere mortals and can be visited at these Yamagata temples.

Tsuruoka Park and Kamo Aquarium

Jellyfish light up the Kamo Aquarium.

Tsuruoka Park is one of Japan’s “Top 100 most beautiful cherry blossom spots” with 730 sakura trees from late to mid-April. In mid-August catch the Shonai Taisai festival which sees a parade of samurai armor-clad men and women in kimonos celebrating the area’s Edo period history.

You might be surprised to find that Tsuruoka is home to the largest jellyfish collection in the world. This aquarium has over 50 different species, a Guinness World Record, with its crown jewel being a five-meter-wide tank with 5,000 moon jellyfish.

Other highlights

From April through the end of June you can ski on Mount Gassan — yes, there’s snow. The mountain is actually closed in winter because there is too much snow and the temperatures are dangerous for skiers, so summer is best. While it’s not a famous ski resort in Japan, it certainly is a rare “summer skiing” experience. Last, drop by the Chido Museum for local history, interesting residences with Japanese gardens and a few national treasures.

A perfect alternative to Japan’s crowded cityscapes, escape to the countryside in Tsuruoka.

2019 top destination

Tsuruoka is one of GaijinPot Travel’s Top 10 Japan Travel Destinations to check out in 2019. Discover Tsuruoka and the other destinations in our video.

Beneath Okinawa’s paradisal surface creeps an infamous and deadly resident: the habu snake. Aggressive and lethally venomous, they are most commonly seen submerged in bottles of awamori (island sake) lining the walls of tourist shops along the main street of Kokusai Dori. However, one attraction offers visitors the chance to come face-to-face with these sinister serpents while they are still very much alive.

Habu snakes in jars of Okinawa’s potent local liquor, awamori.

Habu Museum Park

Located inside the popular Okinawa World theme park, just south of the prefecture’s capital city of Naha, lies the Habu Museum Park. Part museum and part zoo, it aims to educate visitors about habu as well as entertain, in the hope that learning more about these animals will enable people to better coexist with them.

Inside you can explore numerous snake-themed exhibits – most of which are in both English and Japanese – and learn more about the ecology and history of several of Okinawa’s local species of snakes and reptiles. They also hold daily events for visitors, which feature cobras and mongooses alongside the habu. And for those brave souls who would like a closer look, you can try the daily Habu Encounter program.

At the Habu Museum Park in Okinawa World, get to know Okinawa’s most deadly resident.

Habu Encounter

This unique attraction, now available in English as well as Japanese, enables visitors to get closer to habu than ever before through four separate habu-related activities. First, you can try holding a Habu Dome, which is a transparent container with a live habu inside. This enables you to safely see the snake up close from all angles, from where you can admire its distinctive black and yellow markings and peer into its red and gold eyes.

After getting acquainted with the viper you will have the chance to feed one of them, and then try catching one with a special tool known as a snake hook. Finally, you can meet and touch a live habu outside of its enclosure, and have your photo taken with it for posterity – and as proof!

For more information visit the Habu Park Museum’s official website and check out its cute PR video below:

This article is sponsored by Okinawa World.

Located on Tokyo’s western outskirts, the city of Tama is one of the suburbs you will pass through on your way to Mount Takao. Local spots like Sanrio Puroland (aka Hello Kitty Land) and the sprawling Tama Zoo make this a worthwhile destination in and of itself.

Sanrio Puroland

The indoor theme park of Sanrio Puroland is Tama’s biggest draw. Inside, Sanrio characters like Hello Kitty and My Melody star in their own attractions, including a boat ride reminiscent of It’s a Small World at Tokyo DisneyLand.

Photo by: Tomohiro Ohtake

While it’s mostly in Japanese and understandably caters to kids, Sanrio Puroland is a mecca for those who want to immerse themselves in the culture of kawaii (cuteness) in Japan. If you’re bound for its rainbow entrance, you’ll know you’re on the right track when you see the stained-glass Hello Kitty ceiling in Tama-Center station.

Tama Center

The Parthenon Tama.

A short walk from the station is the tree-lined and red-brick promenade of Parthenon Avenue, which is known for its beautiful lights illuminations. Follow the avenue and go up some steep steps which will reveal the Parthenon Tama within Tama Central Park. The structure along with a hilltop pond that gives off reflections of the pillars encircling it gives a commanding view of the whole avenue, making you feel a bit like you’re at the real Parthenon in Greece. Behind the pond lies the greenery of the park. While in the area, shop for English books at Maruzen or catch a movie at Aeon Cinema Tama Center.

Tama Zoo

Spread out over 130 acres, Tama Zoo (technically located in neighboring Hino), is almost four times as big as the Ueno Zoo. That means the zoo (also known as Tama Zoological Park) involves more walking for visitors, but the animals have a more open habitat to roam around in.

Photo by: urasimaru A rare cheetah at Tama Zoo.

The zoo is divided into an African, Australian and Asian Zone, the latter of which contains an orangutan skywalk. There is also an insectarium and koala house. This is the only zoo in Japan — and one of the only zoos in the world — with king cheetahs, a rare genetic mutation of the African cheetah with blotchy, striped spots on its fur.

Photo by: Joshua Meyer The Whisper of the Heart map and mailbox near Seiseki-Sakuragaoka station.

Last, if you’re a fan of Studio Ghibli movies — and your feet aren’t too tired after leaving the zoo — don’t miss out on visiting the nearby town Seiseki Sakuragaoka. The scenery may seem familiar if you’ve ever seen the Hayao Miyazaki film Whisper of the Heart because the anime was modeled after this town. Relive scenes from the movie as you walk down the winding roads and hills, and be sure to stop by Seiseki Sakuragaoka station first to get a map of local spots that were used as animation models.

If you head to the bottom tip of Japan’s main island of Honshu, you’ll find the unique and, frankly, underrated prefecture of Yamaguchi. This area is filled with sightseeing and a whole lot of beauty, especially in the quirky little city of Ube.

Photo by: Wiki Around 90 art installations in the park!

Ube is known for its strong connection to nature showcased by Tokiwa Park, situated along the scenic Lake Tokiwa. The lake has a shrine that’s easily reachable by walking even though it is located on a small island. Just go through the torii gate and walk across the bridge. Plus, there is a whole range of activities around the shore: a zoo, amusement rides, swan boat rides, local history museums and art installations.

Photo by: そらみみ Shinkyo Bridge of Tokiwa Shrine.

Gardens and more

Tokiwa Park stretches across 2 kilometers of coastline. The botanical gardens, full of plants from all over the world, is one of the park’s biggest draws, as well as the 3,500 sakura (cherry blossom) trees along the lake side that enchant visitors in spring. This beautiful selection of plants has named Tokiwa park one of the “Top 100 Cherry Blossom” spots in Japan.

Photo by: isado Enjoy the park in spring with cherry blossoms.

While at the park, you might see unusual art sculptures dotting the landscape. These are installed as part of an international arts competition that is held every two years, so if you visit the park a second time you might find a whole new collection of about 90 sculptures to marvel at.

The park also has more fast-paced activities like the Tokiwa Zoo and amusement park.

Tokiwa Zoo

At the friendly Tokiwa Zoo, all of the animals are rescue animals, so  there is no need for any pangs of guilt about visiting. The zoo has monkeys, capybaras, rare birds and more, plus behind the scenes they also house stray cats and dogs.

Photo by: isado Monkey at Tokiwa Zoo.

The most famous animal of this zoo by far is Katta-kun, the friendly white pelican. Katta-kun was a rescue pelican who became the zoo’s unofficial mascot after he started to regularly escape and visit locals schools during the day. He would always return and never endangered any residence so the zoo decided to give him free reign of the city. Japanese people use to travel just to see the friendly bird, and he even had his own animated film “Katta-kun Monogatari.” Katta-kun unfortunately passed away in 2008, but his memory lives on in memorials and merchandise found at the zoo.

You can also see other white pelicans that the zoo continues to look after today. They are most active around 4 p.m. when they get fed.  On top of all this, the park has amusement rides, too. There are roller coasters, merry-go-rounds, dodgems and even a ferris wheel named after Katta-kun.

• Kyoto Aquarium will temporarily closed until further notice due to the coronavirus. 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/

Photo by: nachans A perfect place if the weather isn’t so great.

The admission fee includes a dolphin show and the amusing penguin-feeding session, both of which are held at least twice a day. Four bottle-nosed dolphins lead an upbeat 25-minute performance that shares some of the noises they can make, including the sound of their heartbeat. During feeding time you can see the personalities of some of the little Cape Penguins who – as the staff take care to feed each one its due number of fish – try to steal some from their friends.

Photo by: Satski Kawano Kyoto Aquarium penguins.

All feeding sessions last about 20 minutes, including the one in the big tank, which holds 500 tons of water and replicates the coastal waters of Kyoto. Let your stress slide off as you watch about 50 types of sea creatures and 11,000 fish swim past you drenched in a beautiful otherworldly blue light. Along with a school of about 10,000 sardines, a shark and some stingrays, included here are two species key to Kyoto cuisine, the horse-head fish and the conger eel. Keep an ear out for the quintessential Japanese fish-viewing phrase “oishii-sou” – looks delicious!

Keep an ear out for the quintessential Japanese fish-viewing phrase “oishii-sou” – looks delicious!

Another good place to take it easy is the outdoor area that depicts the Kyoto countryside with terraced fields of rice and other crops of local produce, like Kujo leek. Watch some beautiful black carp swim around the resthouse here.

Photo by: Kirsty Kawano The outside area has some fresh air to offer!

Bliss out further on the hypnotic moves of jellyfish of various shapes and colors, catch some crustaceans, or watch fur seal shoot past you in their glass-walled pen. For an extra ¥500, you can get your photo taken one-on-one with a dolphin, fur seal or penguin.

You can also get a hit of popular culture at the aquarium’s event space. The exhibits here change regularly but have included photo opportunities with cardboard cutouts of Sanrio’s Cinnamoroll cartoon character. Just what you need to round out your Kyoto experience!

There is a snack stall on the first floor, but the better option for lunch here is the café on the second floor. You can also bring food in from outside or get a pass-out.

It’s not quite a journey 20,000 leagues under the sea, but the Numazu Deep Sea Aquarium & Coelacanth Museum is situated on Suruga Bay, which is 2,500 meters below sea level at its deepest point. The aquarium not only features inhabitants of Suruga Bay but also inhabitants of the deepest parts of the world’s oceans.

The aquarium opened in 2011, after a local marine company poured 6 billion yen of its own funds into the construction of this aquarium, with the goal of making Suruga Bay a source of local pride. In fact, this is the first aquarium in the world with the theme of deep sea creatures. Much thought and preparation has gone into the aquarium, as feeding and caring of deep sea creatures who existence remains shrouded in mystery is difficult.

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The two-story aquarium consists of two parts. On the first floor, you’ll find plenty of mysterious and rare species who reside in the deepest, darkest parts of the world’s oceans. Among the rare fish you’ll find here are the bluntnose sixgill shark and giant isopods. However, it is the collection of coelacanth at Numazu Deep Sea Aquarium that makes it one of the rarest aquariums in the world. Housed on the second floor of the aquarium is the Coelacanth Museum, where you will find five coelacanth; two frozen and three stuffed specimens.

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The coelacanth was originally thought to have gone extinct 66 million years ago and is considered a living fossil. Due to its conservation status, it has become impossible to see a living coelacanth in Japan as its export/export and commercial fishing has been banned. All the coelacanth on display here have already been in Japan prior to the fish being designated a a threatened species.

Shizuoka is only a 1 hour shinkansen ride away from Tokyo, making Numazu Deep Sea Aquarium & Coelacanth Museum and the rest of Shizuoka’s sights an attractive day trip.

If you can’t get to the coast or corals, why not try the Aqua Park Shinagawa in Tokyo? Let the lava lamp loveliness of jellyfish wash over you. Experience the weird wonder tunnel vision of sharks and rays flying over your head. Get your seat early for the dolphin show and make sure you’re wearing waterproof kit! The aquarium is packed with awesome otters, sneaky seals and if you’re peckish like a penguin; tasty treats.

The Aqua Park (not to be confused with the nearby Shinagawa Aquarium) is found within the Shinagawa Prince Hotel complex and is close to the station. Arrive early, especially on weekends, holidays and rainy days. The latter days are when it pays to have your waterproof kit with you for the dolphin show. You’re guaranteed a splash or several in the first five or six rows of the stadium, as the dolphins seamlessly blend kawaii (cute) with breathtaking acrobatics. Given that the shows are obvious crowd pleasers, it’s recommended you take your seat at least 30 minutes beforehand. It may seem excessive, but it’s worth it.

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A less-frantic attraction is the jellyfish ramble. These placid, pulsing creatures are housed in ever-changing luminescent tubes and tanks. Watching them undulate and bob becomes almost hypnotic. Imagine, if you will, an interstellar disco meets a ballet of slow moving bubbles. It’s an oddly soothing effect, especially if you’ve encountered the queues for the venue.

From chilled to the more chilling creatures, the Wonder Tube is akin to walking through an oceanic environment without all the hassles of donning diving gear. You’ll see sharks, rays, sawfish and other denizens of the deep. You might even wonder just how reinforced that glass is. The answer is: very. And the views are still startlingly clear.

Photo by: Jeremy Moorhead Jelly fish up close.

Tropical fish such as perennial Pixar favorites, clownfish and blue tangs can be found in the little paradise section. Expect lots of folks here, with faces pressed to the glass to see the real-life Nemos and Dorys! If that’s not up your alley, Wild Street will introduce you to the otters, seals and penguins — another popular attraction where the squeals of the animals are often matched by the sounds of sheer delight from the audience. The penguins even have their own turn in the spotlight, marching about and taking a tumble. Especially at feeding time.

The aquarium also has interactive touch screens where you can learn more about its inhabitants and a coral café bar to complement your thirst for knowledge. If that doesn’t make the head spin, a trip on the merry-go-round or pirate ship should suffice for the kids.

How about a day at the pig races? Chiba Prefecture’s huge Mother Farm is family friendly and you can loaf about with llamas, milk cows, ride horses, pick fruit, try bungee jumping, enjoy the amusements and picnic.

These hills are alive, with the sound of animals, families — and yes — music. The farm which sits on Mount Kano has been running for over 50 years and remains popular with Tokyoites. A major draw is the capybara. This mostly sedate creature seems to be the current favorite gigantic South American rodent amongst kawaii types. It plods around the enclosure, followed by adoring fans who can gently pat the straw furred beast. That alone, is worth the price of admission!

Photo by: Jeremy Moorhead Rabbits relax at the farm.

A day at the pig races

A close second, for the kids, is the pig races. Children between the age of three and sixth grade can run alongside piglets twice a day, four races at weekends. As you can imagine, this is a sought-after event and competitors are chosen via a lottery system 15 minutes before the run.

Horse rides

There’s a paddock and small enclosure where you can ride the horses, a favorite with families. There are several different rides available for beginners and more experienced, adult and child alike. Wear long trousers and sneakers if you plan on saddling up. Or you may just be content in feeding a cup of carrots to the steeds.

Photo by: Jeremy Moorhead Located in Chiba Prefecture.

It’s not just your equine friends who enjoy being fed. Alpacas, goats and sheep will appreciate food supplied by the farm. There’s also ostriches, emus, guinea pigs and rabbits — some of whom bask in the attention of visitors.

Did somebody say tractor train?

Another way to see the farm is the tractor train which promises views of Tokyo Bay, weather permitting, of course. In spring, the fields bloom with a carpet of petunias and there’s mouth-watering fruit and vegetables to be picked. You can load up on kiwis, sweet potatoes, strawberries, tomatoes and blueberries — a nice fresh souvenir to stock up the larder. There’s plenty of green space to relax, have a picnic or just catch a few rays when the sun does its thing.

Photo by: Jeremy Moorhead Baa!

For mild thrill seekers

If that doesn’t grab you, a bungy jump or ziplining will. On the former, you get to jump 21 metres with a backdrop of the Boso mountains. A further adrenaline rush is the zipline attraction which you zoom through the air on a 340-meter-long cable, probably yelling your lungs out.

Having sensibly completed your thrill-seeking first, it’s time to snack or lunch at one of several restaurants, cafes and barbecue outlets on the site. There’s a no smoking policy operated always. Soft serve ice cream is available at stands throughout the farm and is made on site courtesy of the resident cows. There’s also the option to make your own butter, jam, yogurt and cheese at the food tasting studio. If you couldn’t face another tasty morsel, you can join the handicraft studio and create leather key holders, good luck accessories, woolen toys and pressed flowers.

After finishing your folk art it’s time to freak out at Waku-Waku Land, the farm’s very own amusement park. Just follow the beat of J-pop fairground sounds. On offer is the Ferris wheel, family roller coaster, cycling monorail, ice world, samba balloons and many more.

Finally, exhausted as you are, pick up some handmade ham and sausages or wafers and milk in the farm stores for an easy to make meal when you arrive home.

Japan isn’t slow when it comes to modernizing and rebuilding. In the larger cities especially, you’ll be hard-pressed to find any residential building more than 20 or 30 years old.

One area that has, thankfully, been largely unspoiled for most of the last 50 years is Osaka Expo City.

Universal Studios Japan

Amongst other things, Expo City is home to one of Japan’s most famous soccer teams, Gamba Osaka, who play their home games at the Suita City Stadium, next to the world famous Bampaku Koen. Bampaku Koen is better known by its English name Expo ’70 Commemorative Park. The huge park covers 60 hectares and still includes the original Japanese Garden from the expo at its centre.

Tower of the Sun

You’ll also find one of Expo 70’s most memorable icons nearby, the “Tower of the Sun.”

Photo by: Ryan McBride Tower of the Sun.

This beautifully bizarre structure, which kind of looks like a cross between a totem pole and a giant penguin, is 65 meters tall and 25 meters wide and can been seen for miles around. Its vibrant red and white design, with flashes of silver, black and gold across its multiple faces was said to be the one exhibit that best encapsulated Expo 70’s main theme: Progress and Harmony for all Mankind.

It’s not all echoes of the past however. The modern day Expo City also has plenty of innovative entertainment to offer too.

More to see and do

Redhorse Osaka Wheel at Expocity.

Nifrel is a state of the art aquarium and animal sanctuary. In addition to all manner of tropical fish, seafaring mammals and other creatures, you can also see the likes of crocodiles, tigers and monkeys.

Expo City also makes for a great dating venue. The Redhorse Osaka Wheel is the tallest Ferris Wheel in Japan, towering 120 metres above Expo City.

The Nearby Lalaport shopping centre also offers plenty of food and entertainment options for couples and families alike. And, of course, the perfect way to round off a day out is to see a good movie. Once again, Expo City has you covered. The 109 Cinema, located next to lalaport is the most hi-tech Imax theatre in the region. Go see a 3D or even 4D immersive movie experiences are also available at the cinema. (4D can get quite crazy here in Japan — depending on the theatre that can mean different things, but some even include, smoke, water, and more!)

For kids and kids at heart, there’s also the nearby Pokemon Gym! So, all things said and done, Expo City has everything you would look for in a perfect family day out.

For an intimate look at aquatic life surrounding Tokyo’s two tropical island chains (Izu Islands and Ogasawara Islands) a trip to Sumida Aquarium is a must. Stylish and trendy, it’s located on the 5th and 6th floors of Tokyo Skytree Town in the Asakusa area and has a more contemporary vibe than other aquariums in Tokyo.

For starters, visitors will get drawn into the jellyfish kaleidoscope tunnel. Oddly soothing and satisfying is the way their translucent bodies are illuminated by blacklight. But don’t stay too long, you haven’t seen the main tank, yet. It features sea creatures which surround the more than 200 islands and sub islands that make up both the Izu and Ogasawara chains located as far as 1,000 KM away from mainland Tokyo.

Photo by: Kakidai The entrance of the aquarium with SkyTree in the background.

Among must-see exhibits in Sumida Aquarium are the fur seal tunnel and the penguin pool. With a volume of 350 tons, the penguin pool is Japan’s largest indoor open tank and is designed so that visitors can as close as possible to the tuxedoed wobblers.

In summer, the aquarium’s Edorium area becomes “Tokyo Goldfish Wonderland,” a living art exhibit celebrating the role of goldfish in Japanese summer festivals. Nearly 1,000 goldfish from 20 different species are on display in tanks of various shapes and sizes.

Photo by: ©Saori K/©JNTO Dive into Sumida Aquarium.

Check out the Penguin Cafe and have some salty vanilla ice cream made with salt harvested near the Ogasawara Islands or a parfait topped with an adorable penguin shaped cookie. Better yet, sip on a cocktail that glows thanks to an ice cube with an LED light.

On your way out, stop by the gift shop for trendy gifts and souvenirs. Along with standard fare like plush animals and tote bags adorned with the aquarium’s minimalist logo, the gift shop also sells quirky items like Japanese sweets in the shape of a penguin, sea turtles and other sea creatures.

Know before you go

A quick reference guide in PDF format is available in English, Chinese, and Korean and can be found on the aquarium’s homepage.

Discover more zoos and aquariums in Japan.