Japan 2026 – Blog

エイキンのソーロートラベル

令和8年1月6日〜15日

6日（火）

奈良市・Nara

After landing in Osaka, I went straight to Nara to greet the deers. Moreover, I could also do my anime pilgrimage – Crossroad in the Ancient Capital.

アニメ聖地巡礼：名探偵コナン　天空の難破船

I took 近鉄 (Kintetsu) train to Nara, it was 770円 one-way. The train leaves you right in front of 奈良公園 (Nara Park), and you only need to walk a few minutes to 興福寺 (Kōfukuji) and 東大寺 (Tōdaiji) and other attractions. I also walked to JR Nara Station because it was featured in the movie. It took around 10 minutes to reach there.

奈良の鹿

奈良

JR奈良駅前

JR奈良駅

奈良

7日（水）

北栄町・コナンタウン・Hokuei (Conan Town)

My other Detective Conan pilgrimage: アニメ聖地巡礼：コナンタウン

I took スーパーはくと (Super Hakuto) express train from Umeda to 倉吉 (Kurayoshi) in 鳥取県 (Tottori Prefecture) since it is the end of the express train. Then, I transferred to the local train along 山陰線 (San-in Line) to 由良駅 (Yura Station) which was rebranded as Conan Station. The total price was almost 9000円, but it was covered by the JR West Kansai Wide Area Pass.

I enjoyed taking photos and the museum.

青山剛昌ふるさと館

鳥取市・Tottori

I spent a night in Tottori, it was a short stay. However, I did not have enough time to go to the Sand Dune. However, this was the Conan pilgrimage, not the desert vacation.

鳥取駅

鳥取駅前

鳥取駅

鳥取

8日（木）

城崎温泉・Kinosakionsen ♨️

It was a relaxing day here in Kinosakionsen (https://visitkinosaki.com/). I went to all the onsens available for the day. Sadly, the ropeway was closed so I could not go up to the top of the mountain for the view of the Sea of Japan.

一の湯 (Ichi-no-Yu; Water of Luck) was the first onsen I visited in this journey, the caved semi-outdoor bath was the first time I was naked in this cold. The temperature was around -1 to 3 degree with a bit of snow (or sleet), and rain.
地蔵湯 (Jizo-Yu; Water of Safety) was a nice and spacious normal indoor onsen.
鴻の湯 (Kō-no-Yu; Water of Happiness) was the first place where I bath in the onsen when it snowed. There were both indoor and outdoor bath. And I enjoyed the outdoor one so much. Snow (or sleet) melted when it hit my palms. Felt so calm.
まんだら湯 (Mandara-Yu; Water of Prayer) was fine, but it was a bit too small and opened late.

To enjoy all these, there is a one-day pass available for 1500円. Just scan the QR code at entry and you are free to roam!

Unfortunately, there are no photos from the onsens because… of course, cameras are not allowed inside where people are bathing naked.

First times:

Onsen-hopping
Snow/sleet (although it’s not a lot)
Outdoor onsen in the snow (I did outdoor onsen in Tokyo, Beitou, Osaka and Arimaonsen before, but this time it was snowing)

城崎温泉

地蔵湯

城崎温泉

鴻の湯

城崎温泉

鴻の湯

城崎温泉

まんだら湯

一の湯

城崎温泉

雪

城崎温泉

城崎温泉駅

9日（金）

姫路市・Himeji 🏯

The one and only attraction here was 姫路城 (Himeji Castle). It was less than an hour from 新大阪駅 (Shin-Osaka) to 姫路駅 (Himeji) by the bullet train, Shinkansen, and another roughly 10-minute walk, I reached the castle ground. However, the castle is huge, so I needed more time to walk inside (around 1 hour for the castle, another 30 minutes for the surrounding area). The castle here was restored from time to time, however, it was not repurposed to be a full-tourist-friendly castle like the 大坂城 (Osaka Castle).

🚄新幹線

姫路！

姫路城前

姫路城

姫路

姫路城

神戸市・Kobe

I visited Kobe for 神戸ポートタワー (Kobe Port Tower) and the earthquake remnants at the port. There was the BlackPink exhibition there when I visited, so there were a lot of decorations.

神戸ポートタワー

神戸ポートタワー（東）

神戸ポートタワー（北東）

神戸ポートタワー（北）

神戸ポートタワー

神戸ポートタワー（南）

神戸ポートタワー（西）

神戸ポートタワー

神戸港

10日（土）

京都市・Kyoto

Speaking of Kyoto, speaking of Crossroad in the Ancient Capital! Here is the anime pilgrimage: アニメ聖地巡礼：名探偵コナン　迷宮の十字路.

Below are some more photos from the city.

I went to Kyoto from Umeda Station. With my JR Kansai Wide Area Pass, I could take any conventional train to Kyoto right away with no extra charge. It took only around 30+ minutes, and the train was packed. So, prepare to stand for the whole journey.

五条大橋

京都

うまい！

清水寺

京都タワー

先斗町

11日（日）

宇治市・Uji🍵

Speaking of 抹茶 (まっちゃ; Matcha), Uji is among the first place people could think of, I believe. I took a JR train (another free ride, of course) from Kyoto to Uji within around 30 minutes. It was cold and snowing, so I was there for only some photos and shopping. No temple visit.

宇治駅

タヌキ！かわいいですね！

宇治川

宇治

鞍馬・Kurama

I visited Kurama for 2 main reasons. First, it was the location where Conan and Heiji were attacked by the murderer (アニメ聖地巡礼：名探偵コナン　迷宮の十字路). Second, I wanted to bath in the outdoor onsen. It was snowing so heavily when I had lunch. After the sky was clear, I went straight away to the onsen. A trip to Kurama was a bit expensive. First, I changed to 京阪 (Keihan) train at 東福寺 (Tōfukuji), and transferred again at 出町柳 (Demachiyanagi) for 叡山 (Eizan) train. These two were not covered in the JR pass, so I paid 770円 for going there (and another 770円 for the return trip) using my Suica card.

And again, I went to another outdoor onsen where I needed to change to their thin lounge wear and walk across the open air parking lots before getting naked for the onsen in the hill.

出町柳駅

鞍馬駅

鞍馬時

鞍馬

鞍馬の雪

鞍馬

鞍馬温泉♨️ – outdoor bath in a freezing temperature! ⛄️

12日（月）

新幹線・Shinkansen

This is a high-speed trip from 京都 (Kyoto) to 東京 (Tokyo) using のぞみ新幹線. The price was a steep 13970円 with a reserved seat and luggage space. Along the way, I could see 富士山 (Mt. Fuji) so clearly for the first time!

おはよう、京都！

俺の朝ご飯

京都駅

車内〜

富士山！

東京駅

ハリー・ポッター・Harry Potter⚡

A popular and hard-to-book WB Harry Potter Studio Tour was eventually visited (it was sold-out when I was trying to book in 2024). And the theme was gorgeous.

Harry Potter Pilgrimage

Harry Potter Studio Tour!

Wow, the moving staircase

Let’s just try a cup of butterbeer… it’s actually full of caramel~~

I’m going to Hagrid’s

At Hagrid’s

Hogwarts Express…

The Main Hall!

Welcome to the Ministry of Magic ~ just after the Dark Lord took over

This, Harry, is Diagon Alley

Hogwarts…

Huge Hogwarts model

A unicorn in the front

🌠 君の名は。

I visited 東京シティビュー (Tokyo City View at Roppongi Hills Mori Tower) for “Your Name.” pilgrimage. It was the 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン (Neon Genesis Evangelion) exhibition, so the photos were a bit full of red decorations from the exhibition.

アニメ聖地巡礼：君の名は。

The tower at night

The entrance is not always on the first floor

You can see both Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree from here

Me on the observation deck

13日（火）富士山🗻

Fuji-san was so shy. I couldn’t really see Mt. Fuji on this day. However, I could try ほうとう (Hōtō) and drank the water melted from Mt. Fuji’s snow at 忍野八海 (Oshino Hakkai).

富士山@LAWSON

大石公園

Soft Serve @ 大石公園

河口湖＠大石公園

富士山＠大石公園

河口湖

昼ご飯：ほうとう

忍野八海

新倉山浅間公園

富士山@LAWSON

14日（水）

渋谷スカイ・Shibuya Sky

And once again when I could see 富士山 (Mt. Fuji) clearly… this time from the rooftop of 渋谷スカイ (Shibuya Sky), which is the observatory on the top of 渋谷スクランブルスクエア (Shibuya Scramble Square). It was so nice.

富士山

渋谷スカイ

東京タワーと東京スカイツリー

渋谷スカイ

富士山

渋谷

明治神宫・Meiji Shrine

Located near 原宿 (Harajuku), Meiji Shrine was still gorgeous. And this time, unlike back in 2016, I could see the whole shrine with no places under construction anymore. It requires a bit of walking, but not so long. Anyone can walk.

明治神宮

🌠 君の名は。

アニメ聖地巡礼：君の名は。

カフェラ・ボエム

須賀神社

俺の友達

Thanks, bro, for 2 consecutive dinners together. Let’s hope that I can visit Japan again soon and we could go to snow together. Or a cruise ship. Or whatever!

俺の友達

15日（木）

まなね、日本！

Ok, it is a little bit random here. I went to Shibuya for almost nothing – what I wanted to check was not yet opened. Then, I went to 青山一丁目 (Aoyama-Itchome) to take my last 君の名は。 photo. And then to 上野, before heading back to collect luggage and go to the airport. またね！