Nagiso Town, Nagano Prefecture
Nestled in the mountains of Nagano, this former post-town was the 42nd of 69 stops on the Nakasendo, one of two main travelling routes connecting Kyoto with Edo (modern-day Tokyo). This was the first area in Japan to be selected as an important Historic Buildings Preservation District, back in 1976.
Shirakawa Village, Gifu Prefecture
This is one of Japan’s famous world-heritage towns, with huge gassho-zukuri (thatched, gable roof) houses. As a lot of the village is closed to visiting vehicles, streets here are more like idyllic paths. In 1995, the historic villages of Shirakawa-go and nearby Gokayama were registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Otsukimi, rabbit sweets
This week in Japan, people around the country are celebrating a special event known as tsukimi, literally “moon-viewing”. Celebrated on the 15th day of the lunar calendar. It is the best time to look at the moon because the position of the earth, sun and moon make it appear especially big and bright. In addition to the traditional autumn foods of otsukimi, sweets featuring rabbits are also very popular because the moon is inhabited by a mochi-making rabbit, at least according to a Japanese folk tale.
Nago Pineapple Park, Okinawa
Nago pineapple Park is a great place to visit if you’re in Okinawa island. You can do a tour in a cute pineapple carts. After the ride, you can tour the winery and taste some of the amazing pineapple wine. Inside the gift shop you will find anything and everything you can think of in pineapples like candy, snacks, cakes, drinks, key chains, photo frames…the list is endless. They are open everyday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Mooncake, Yokohama
There is a giant mooncake exhibited at the lobby of Rose Hotel Yokohama in Yokohama Chinatown prior of the Mid-Autumn Festival 2014. Making and sharing mooncakes is one of the hallmark traditions of this festival, and Rose Hotel Yokohama cut & served the mooncake for 300 people yesterday.