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Chotto Zeitaku Japan
Places to unwind and indulge
The Chotto Zeitaku Japan series by japan-guide.com is a continuing project to seek out places that allow us to enjoy the better things in life. Not exactly a sightseeing guide, but one that transports the visitor into a different space to relax and get away from it all.

Oh Onomichi

Onomichi, for me, is like the essence of a love sonnet. A place that evokes good vibes, where good memories are made and where you can relax and take time to be in the present. But this is me romanticising about one...
By Raina Ong|

Eclectic times in Nakameguro

Nakameguro is a neighbourhood in Tokyo that is home to lots of hip and unique boutiques. It’s one of the places where creative minds go to play, a district with an artsy and edgy streak while retaining some of the...
By Raina Ong|

Chasing the high life in Chino, Nagano

Nagano Prefecture is one of the few inland prefectures in Japan whose borders do not touch neither sea nor ocean. The lack of large bodies of water is made up for by plenty of mountains that provide a playground among...
By Raina Ong|

Following Japan’s silk road to Kiryu

Kiryu is a small town outside of the tourist radar about two hours north of Tokyo. The small city sees few tourists, but it nonetheless used to be part of an important old trade route in Japan: the silk road. The...
By Raina Ong|

Shinrinyoku in Kirishima

Taking a small deviation off the regular Chotto Zeitaku series, this edition is about shinrinyoku, or forest bathing, an indulgence of nature. The idea is to surrounded by nature, soak in the negative ions and leave...
By Raina Ong|

Tomigaya, the hidden gem of Shibuya

Just minutes away from one of the busiest and most well visited tourist destinations, Shibuya, are the neighbourhoods of Tomigaya and Kamiyamacho. An oasis of peace from the busy scramble...
By Raina Ong|

Turning up the heat in Hayama

Summer in Japan brings to mind beaches and barbecues, ice cold drinks, and festivals and fireworks. If you are in Japan over the hottest months of the year, consider visiting a nearby beach to experience how the...
By Raina Ong|

Traditional craftsmanship in Tsubame-Sanjo

Wanting for a change of pace and to get out of the city, I headed to the cities of Tsubame and Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture. Often collectively referred to as Tsubame-Sanjo, the cities are not as well-known compared to...
By Raina Ong|

Escaping to the roofs in Tamagawa

Deciding that I needed a little escapade before the rush of the cherry blossom season, I headed to an area in western Tokyo known as Tamagawa. The area is not a major tourist area unlike some of the more popular...
By Raina Ong|

Modern Traditional, Gotemba and Hakone

Mid-winter is the time when most people tend to stay indoors and out of the cold. It is no different here, but when the sky is blue and the sun is out it makes me want to get out and do things. I took advantage of the...
By Raina Ong|

Getting crafty in Mashiko

Mashiko is a town in Tochigi Prefecture that is famous for its ceramics, Mashiko-yaki. Being a pottery craftsman town, there is a lot of emphasis on hands-on creation and local wares. The city is about 2 hours north...
By Raina Ong|

Designs on Tennozu Isle

With fall fast on the heels of summer, the temperatures are starting to cool down and the country gearing up for the autumn color season. Having at least another month before the colors make their way down towards the...
By Raina Ong|

Summer in Itoshima

In the summer edition of Chotto Zeitaku Japan, I headed to Itoshima, a small city about a 40-minute drive from either Fukuoka in the east or Karatsu in the west. The area draws parallels to the Shonan Coast near Tokyo...
By Raina Ong|

Shitamachi Yanesen

Yanesen, which is made up of the three neighbourhoods of Yanaka, Nezu and Sendagi, is one of Tokyo’s most well known shitamachi areas. A literal translation of the term
By Raina Ong|

Delicious Biei, Classic Furano

In the June installation of Chotto Zeitaku Japan, we head over to the middle of Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido. Located in the middle of Hokkaido, the towns of Biei and Furano are twice as large as the 23 wards...
By Raina Ong|

Wandering through Kagurazaka

When you’re filled with a craving for travel and are a little restless, there’s no better way to soothe that urge than to go out exploring. In an attempt to curb the wanderlust, I spent a cheeky weekday in Kagurazaka...
By Raina Ong|