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From Cat Island to a Shiba Inu Airbnb: My Animal-Themed Road Trip Through Western Japan (Days 1-4)

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In May 2026, I did a road trip around the Chugoku region（中国地方）covering some animal-related places I have longed to visit, such as cat island and a Shiba Inu Airbnb! We visited after the Golden Week, hence it was not crowded and prices were normal. Weather was also good compared to April or June which is more rainy and unstable.  Before the road trip, we visited Samoyed Cafe AL in Osaka, which costed around 3000 yen per person for 50 minutes. The dogs are super adorable and disciplined. We got to play, feed and take photo with them. All the dogs here are very young, only 1-2 years old. As for the road trip, we rented a car near Osaka, our port of destination this time. (More details about expenses will be shared at the end of the second post.) The road trip started with a 3-hour drive to Matsue city（松江市）in Shimane prefecture（島根県）. It is at the Japan Sea side, northwest of Osaka.  On the way, we went strawberry-picking at Sawako Strawberry Farm in Yasugi, Shimane, one of the hig...
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Japanese Business Hotels Guide: Toyoko Inn, APA, Dormy Inn & More (Pros, Cons & Tips)

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If you are planning a trip to Japan, you will likely come across something called "business hotels". These are not expensive hotels, but affordable ones suitable for one to two persons, such as local businessman traveling for work.  Japanese business hotels are usually located near train stations, and always provide free wifi, a hair dryer and a small refrigerator in the room.  One night stay costs around 6,000-15,000 yen, depending on room type (single, double or twin) and location. However, the room size can be as small as 12 sqm!  Each Japanese business hotel chain has a distinct personality . 1. Toyoko Inn (東横イン) Best for: Budget + consistency Typical price: ¥5,000–¥10,000 Pros: Free breakfast at all locations Very consistent rooms across Japan (same layout, same body soap!) Usually walking distance from train stations Rooms are generally cleaner than many other business hotels despite being more dated Generally the cheapest option with little price hike...
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Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots in Kansai | Kyoto & Osaka Hanami Guide

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Kansai is one of the most beautiful regions in Japan for cherry blossom viewing. From historic temples in Kyoto to iconic castles in Osaka and Nara, the region offers diverse hanami experiences from late March to mid-April. Here are 15 of the best cherry blossom spots in Kansai. Those marked with * are in the list of top 100 best spots (桜名所１００選) picked by Japanese Cherry Blossom Society. 1. Heian Shrine (平安神宮), Kyoto prefecture (京都県) Heian Shrine is particularly famous for its elegant weeping cherry blossoms in the Shin’en Garden（ 神苑 ）. The large torii gate at the entrance and the vermilion shrine buildings contrast beautifully with the pink blooms. The garden area requires an admission fee but is worth visiting for its reflective pond views and carefully landscaped sakura scenery. If you want classic Kyoto photos during sakura season, consider renting a kimono near Gion before visiting Heian Shrine. Full bloom:  Late March ~ Early April Access:  10-minute walk from Higa...
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Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots in the Kanto Region | Greater Tokyo Sakura Guide

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Updated February 2026: This post has been refreshed with the latest travel tips and information. 2025 was the 10th year I was in Japan for cherry blossoms. This time, I did a road trip around the Greater Tokyo area. Although I had visited several spots in Tokyo for cherry blossom viewing (hanami) previously, I have yet to check out most of the places in the prefectures surrounding Tokyo. 2025 appeared to be a challenging year for hanami at first, as the earlier blooming Kawazu-zakura（河津桜）variety was two weeks late, and it was snowing in most parts of Japan on 19 March. Fortunately, the temperature shot up to 20+ degrees Celsius on 22 March, hence the bloom timing ended up generally in line with usual years.  Below are the places in the Kanto region I visited this trip, in no particular order. My favorites would be 7 & 10. (Places around Mount Fuji will be covered in another post.) 1. Shimizu Park（清水公園）, Chiba prefecture（千葉県） One of the three "Japan's top 100 c...
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