Osaka Pennennemu (ペンネン ネネム) Children's Book Cafe A cosy cafe selling children's books with dishes themed from the stories.
Kagoshima Yakushima (屋久島) A luscious, small island in southern Japan renown for it's 1,000+ year old Yakusugi (屋久杉) trees and fantastic hikes.
Osaka Minami Horie Shops, Osaka (南堀江大阪) + More The Minami Horie (南堀江大阪) area of Osaka is teeming with small, boutique stores and trendy cafes / restaurants.
Hyogo Kinosaki Onsen (城崎温泉) A beautiful, historic town in northern Hyogo lined with onsens and ryokans (Japanese baths and Inns) serving up delicious Matsuba crab (Snow Crab) in Winter.
Kagawa Naoshima (直島) Art Island An art island in the Seto Inland Sea featuring artworks by Yayoi Kusama and architecture by Tadao Ando.
Ako Ako (赤穂) Seaside Climb Beside Waku Waku Land (a small amusement park) on the coast of Ako city is a small rocky area great for a little climbing and watching ships go by in the Seto Inland Sea.
Tokyo Tokyo (東京市) A short trip to Tokyo (Harajuku, Shinjuku and Asakusa) for shopping and general tourism.
Ako Ako Gishisai Festival (赤穂義士祭) Ako Gishisai Matsuri (赤穂義士祭) is an annual festival celebrating the story of the 47 Samurai.
Japan Hinase (日生町) Take a tiny local train through the Japanese countryside to a small town called Hinase. From there take a boat to an island and load up on Mandarins straight from the tree.
Hiroshima Hiroshima City (広島市) A short visit to Hiroshima City to see the Atomic Bomb Dome and Hiroshima Castle.
Hyogo Sakoshi Walk (坂越) A small historic town in Ako, Japan lined in traditional houses, a sake brewery and a road that ends at the Seto Inland Sea looking out to an island with a shrine.
Hyogo Aioi City (相生市) Twenty minutes west of Himeji is Aioi, a small Japanese town known for dragon boat racing.
Hyogo Himeji Castle (姫路城) A 10 minute walk North from Himeji Station leads you to one of Japan's most prized castles.
Hyogo Ako City (赤穂市) Mountain Hike & Cycle A short hike up Otakadai Mountain provides a nice view of Ako City. At the top you're greeted with a view of Sakoshi to the east, the Mitsubishi plant in the west and Chikusa River as it flows into the Seto inland sea to the south.
North Korea North Korea (北朝鮮) A 5-day Chinese tour of North Korea entering via train from Dandong, visiting many monuments and the Northern side of the Demilitarised Zone.
