Travel | 6

A mountain opening ceremony was held at the Takeda Castle ruins on Friday, marking the start of the spring tourism season.

Leap years bring a special tradition for pilgrims in Shikoku: completing the pilgrimage in reverse order, known as "Gyaku-uchi Henro," is believed to triple the blessings.

The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, connecting Kobe City in Hyogo Prefecture with Awaji Island, is the world's second-longest suspension bridge with a total length of 3,911 meters.

"Porto Europa" is a theme park in Wakayama Marina City, with dining, hot springs, amusement parks, recreating the streetscapes of Europe.

Ghibli Park (located in Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture) revealed its new European-style area, "Witch's Valley," inspired by Studio Ghibli's films "Kiki's Delivery Service" and "Howl's Moving Castle" to the press on the 28th. It is the largest area within the park.

The Shonai region of Yamagata Prefecture, known as a wintering spot for swans, has witnessed the start of the swans' "northward migration" about three weeks earlier than usual. The birds are leaving for their breeding grounds in Russia and other locations.

Hankyu Railways announced on the 26th that it will introduce a reserved seating service on the Kyoto Line starting this July.

Visiting Japan is on a lot of people’s bucket list due to the culture, the busy city, and sights to see in every direction you turn. It’s a never ending adventure whilst in Japan, and one you could spend forever there and still not visit every location.