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Sean's Japan Travel Journal
by Sean, staff writer of japan-guide.com

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2012/12/31 - Sean's Travel Highlights 2012

An eventful year at japan-guide. Here are the picks for my favorite visits this year:

Number 10: Strawberry Picking in Shizuoka

Life's firsts are always the most memorable, and it was my first time picking strawberries at a farm and savoring them on the spot. Those succulent berries, topped with sweetened milk, were a great delight and the fruit picking experience was worth a million.

Number 9: Nature's wonder: Crater of Azuma Kofuji

Located at Mount Azuma in northern Fukushima Prefecture, Azuma Kofuji is a beautifully shaped crater standing at 1707 meters above sea level. Walking around the crater was a highly profound experience, as I was awed by the wonder of nature.

Number 8: Kamikochi and Norikura

Kamikochi and Norikura are both outstanding spots to find nice scenery in the Northern Japan Alps. While they are two separate locations, I tend to think of them as a pair due to their proximity to each other and because I happened to visit them on consecutive days. That trip was definitely one of the highlights of the year.

Number 7: Nagashima Resort

The resort is located just outside Nagoya and includes, among others, a beautiful amusement cum water park called Nagashima Spaland, and one of Japan's best man-made hot spring baths Nagashima Spa Yuami no Shima. A thoroughly enjoyable day of leisure.

Number 6: Huis Ten Bosch

This is a theme park based on the Netherlands, located in Nagasaki Prefecture. Huis Ten Bosch's picturesque alleys, photogenic canals, elegant buildings, characteristic windmills, futuristic attractions and jovial ambience combined to create a lasting endearing image.

Number 5: Shugakuin Imperial Villa

The visit to the Shugakuin Imperial Villa was one of the best treats I had for this past autumn color season. Although the rainy weather that day led to some inconveniences in reporting, it sort of added to the atmosphere of the classy and spacious grounds of Shugakuin. The autumn colors that I witnessed there that day was nothing short of breathtaking.

Number 4: Skiing in Inawashiro

The ski trip to Inawashiro Ski Resort on Mount Bandai, was a great experience: powdery snow, great views and a really fun time skiing for the first time in my life.

Number 3: Dance performance by the Hula Girls

At Spa Resort Hawaiians, one of the marquee attractions are the dance performances by the Hula Girls. In the aftermath of the March 2011 disasters, the Hula Girls visited numerous evacuation centers along the tsunami hit Pacific Coast to encourage their inhabitants. They also traveled all over Japan to perform and invite people to visit Iwaki. Seen by many as a symbol of hope and recovery for the affected regions, these ladies entertained a delighted audience when we visited and never failed to put on their infectious smiles.

Number 2: Fort Goryokaku

The star-shaped Fort Goryokaku in Hakodate is the pick for my favorite cherry blossom spot this season. I was lucky to be there when those beautiful sakura were at their very best, and the views were simply outstanding.

Number 1: Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale

I loved treasure hunts as a kid, which partly explains why the Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale ranks the highest on my list this year. At the festival, art pieces were placed at different locations across six towns of parts of Niigata, and it was an absolute pleasure looking for them. Many fantastic art pieces were seen at this year's edition of the triennale.

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List of Posts:
2014/05/09 - Cherry Blossom Report: Hakodate
2014/05/08 - Cherry Blossom Report: Matsumae
2014/04/23 - Cherry Blossom Report: Fujigoko
2014/04/17 - Cherry Blossom Report: Takato
2014/04/15 - Cherry Blossom Report: Fujigoko
2014/04/11 - Cherry Blossom Report: Kyoto
2014/04/10 - Cherry Blossom Report: Yoshino
2014/04/09 - Cherry Blossom Report: Hikone
2014/04/08 - Cherry Blossom Report: Kyoto
2014/04/05 - Cherry Blossom Report: Matsuyama
2014/04/03 - Cherry Blossom Report: Fukuoka
2014/04/02 - Cherry Blossom Report: Kumamoto
2014/04/01 - Cherry Blossom Report: Kyoto
2014/03/06 - Shopping around Northern Osaka
2014/01/23 - Nikko in Winter

2013/12/31 - Sean's Travel Highlights 2013
2013/12/06 - Kamakura Report
2013/11/26 - Tokyo Report
2013/11/22 - Kyoto Report
2013/11/21 - Miyajima Report
2013/11/19 - Korankei Report
2013/11/18 - Kyoto Report
2013/11/11 - Sakurayama Report
2013/11/08 - Karuizawa Report
2013/10/29 - Nikko Report
2013/10/18 - Nasu Report
2013/10/17 - Nikko Report
2013/10/14 - Mount Fuji Report
2013/10/10 - Oze Report
2013/09/27 - Alpine Route Report
2013/09/13 - Nakanojo Biennale 2013
2013/08/07 - Exploring Tokyo 2: Around the Tokyo Imperial Palace
2013/05/20 - Tottori Sand Museum 2013
2013/05/07 - Fuji Shibazakura Festival
2013/05/02 - Cherry Blossom Report: Hirosaki
2013/05/01 - Cherry Blossom Report: Kakunodate
2013/04/30 - Cherry Blossom Report: Kitakami
2013/04/23 - Northern Kanto Flower Report
2013/04/17 - Cherry Blossom Report: Takayama
2013/04/12 - Cherry Blossom Report: Matsumoto
2013/04/11 - Cherry Blossom Report: Kyoto
2013/04/10 - Cherry Blossom Report: Kanazawa
2013/04/09 - Cherry Blossom Report: Yoshino
2013/04/08 - Cherry Blossom Report: Kyoto
2013/04/04 - Cherry Blossom Report: Gunma
2013/04/02 - Cherry Blossom Report: Osaka
2013/04/01 - Cherry Blossom Report: Kyoto
2013/03/31 - Visiting Shodoshima for the Setouchi Triennale 2013
2013/03/28 - Cherry Blossom Report: Kyoto
2013/03/27 - Cherry Blossom Report: Osaka
2013/03/26 - Cherry Blossom Report: Nagoya
2013/03/25 - Cherry Blossom Report: Tokyo
2013/03/21 - Cherry Blossom Report: Tokyo
2013/03/12 - Tokyo Early Cherry Blossom Report
2013/02/17 - Tokamachi Snow Festival
2013/02/16 - Zao Snow Monster Report
2013/02/15 - Yokote Kamakura Festival
2013/01/10 - Winter Visit to Manza Onsen
2013/01/02 - Tokyo New Year Report

2012/12/31 - Sean's Travel Highlights 2012
2012/12/11 - Autumn Color Report: Tokyo
2012/11/26 - Autumn Color Report: Kyoto
2012/11/25 - Autumn Color Report: Kyoto
2012/11/21 - Autumn Color Report: Kyoto
2012/11/19 - Autumn Color Report: Takaosan
2012/11/16 - Autumn Color Report: Kyoto
2012/11/15 - Autumn Color Report: Shosenkyo
2012/11/07 - Autumn Color Report: Yamadera
2012/11/06 - Autumn Color Report: Naruko
2012/11/05 - Autumn Color Report: Hiraizumi
2012/11/01 - Autumn Color Report: Kuju
2012/10/26 - Autumn Color Report: Minakami
2012/10/24 - Autumn Color Report: Nikko
2012/10/16 - Autumn Color Report: Norikura
2012/10/12 - Autumn Color Report: Oze
2012/10/09 - Autumn Color Report: Nikko
2012/10/05 - Autumn Color Report: Route 292
2012/09/28 - Autumn Color Report: Kurodake
2012/09/27 - Autumn Color Report: Kogen Onsen
2012/09/26 - Autumn Color Report: Asahidake
2012/09/17 - Exploring Tokyo: Gate Bridge
2012/08/20 - Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial 2012
2012/06/27 - Hiking at Mount Azuma
2012/06/18 - Legoland Discovery Center opens in Odaiba
2012/06/18 - Hydrangea Flowers in Kamakura
2012/06/04 - Tokyo Skytree
2012/05/09 - Cherry Blossom Report: Sapporo
2012/05/08 - Cherry Blossom Report: Hakodate
2012/05/07 - Cherry Blossom Report: Hirosaki
2012/04/30 - Cherry Blossom Report: Hirosaki
2012/04/29 - Cherry Blossom Report: Kakunodate
2012/04/28 - Cherry Blossom Report: Kitakami
2012/04/28 - Cherry Blossom Report: Hiraizumi
2012/04/25 - Cherry Blossom Report: Sendai
2012/04/24 - Cherry Blossom Report: Fukushima
2012/04/15 - Cherry Blossom Report: Kanazawa
2012/04/14 - Cherry Blossom Report: Kyoto
2012/04/11 - Cherry Blossom Report: Kyoto
2012/04/10 - Cherry Blossom Report: Hiroshima
2012/04/09 - Cherry Blossom Report: Kyoto
2012/04/07 - Cherry Blossom Report: Osaka
2012/04/06 - Cherry Blossom Report: Kyoto
2012/04/04 - Cherry Blossom Report: Fukuoka
2012/04/03 - Cherry Blossom Report: Kumamoto
2012/04/02 - Cherry Blossom Report: Kagoshima
2012/03/22 - Cherry Blossom Report: Tokyo
2012/03/08 - Plum Blossom Report from Kairakuen, Mito
2012/03/07 - Trip to Iwaki, Fukushima
2012/02/21 - Plum Blossom Report from Tokyo
2012/01/30 - Skiing in Inawashiro, Fukushima
2012/01/27 - Kusatsu Hot Springs