Off the
beaten path in fascinating Japan
Japan
is a fascinating country, unlike any other in Asia or the world. We recently
wrote about some of the more unusual
Japanese holiday destinations and feel it important to explore this
country in more depth. The following are some more unusual and off the
beaten path locations in Japan that are well worth visiting, including
a real Swan Lake, a dystopian video arcade and a monkey spa.
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Photo:
Mt Fuji by Alpsdake / CC0
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While
enjoying a tailor-made holiday or tour in Japan with Next
Japan Travel, ask the experts about these interesting and attractive
destinations.
1. Fuji-Goko
(Fuji Five Lakes)
Close
to Mount Fuji, around a two-hour drive from Tokyo, is an area called Fuji-Goko,
or Fuji Five Lakes in English. This cluster of attractive lakes is located
on the northern edge of Mount Fuji. Lake Yamanaka, the largest of the group
of lakes, is particularly interesting as it is known unofficially as “Swan
Lake.” This has nothing to do with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet of
the same name.
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Photo:
Lake Yamanaka via Wikimedia
by Alpsdake / CC0
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It
is called Swan Lake due to the many whooping swans that live there. However,
it’s not just real swans, as enterprising locals have created their own
swan population by adding paddle boats in the shape of the birds and even
a ferry in the shape of a swan, pictured below.
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Photo
Ferry on Swan Lake via Wikimedia
by Ogiyoshisan/CC BY-SA 3.0
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Lake
Yamanaka is an attractive tour destination, not only for the lake itself,
but for the impressive views of Mount Fuji that can be seen from the water.
The area is also popular with birding enthusiasts and lovers of fishing,
camping and boating. There are also excellent dining facilities in the
resort surrounding the lake.
2. Anata No Warehouse, Kawasaki
Fans of cyberpunk and the “Blade
Runner” films will appreciate the Anata No Warehouse. It is basically
a video arcade, but the “décor” is so much more than that. You won’t
find the usual neon lights and modern effects here. Designers and builders
accurately based the arcade on a seedy and filthy back alley in the Kowloon
Walled City of Hong Kong.
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Photo entrance to the
Anata No Warehouse by Ken OHYAMA/Wikimedia/
CC BY-SA 2.0
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While
the arcade is based in a normal commercial building, designers gave it
a rusting and filthy look, while inside the rusty nature and filth appear
to continue. While the dirt and rust are fake the effect is so realistic
you will really think you are in Kowloon. Throughout the arcade are rooms
and fake shops and shady medical practices and the halls and bathrooms
are coated in the fake, disgusting-looking filth.
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Photo Anata No Warehouse
by Ken OHYAMA/Wikimedia/
CC BY-SA 2.0BLA
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When
putting the arcade together, designers studied old photos of Kowloon and
painstakingly recreated it in the Anata No Warehouse – according to Atlas
Obscura, they even shipped in real trash from Hong Kong to ensure they
had the right look.
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Photo Anata No Warehouse
by Ken OHYAMA/Wikimedia/
CC BY-SA 2.0
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While
the video games are modern and up-to-date, the arcade gives a different
and dystopian sci-fi atmosphere to gameplay, something you’d be hard up
to find elsewhere in the world. The games arcade is conveniently placed,
a five-minute walk from the Kawasaki JR station.
3. Jigokudani
Monkey Park
Animal
lovers will appreciate the Jigokudani Monkey Park, but will find that it’s
not your usual zoo or animal park. Translating to “Hell’s Valley” in English,
Jigokudani is nestled in a harsh landscape which is covered in snow for
almost a third of every year. The valley sits among stark and jagged cliffs,
rising 2,500 feet above the monkey park.
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Photo Snow Monkeys enjoy
the hot springs by Yosemite/Wikimedia/
CC BY-SA 3.0
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What
Jigokudani is famous for is natural hot springs, which the local Macaque
monkeys, known as Snow Monkeys, have turned into their own personal spa.
This apparently started back in the 1960s when, feeling the chill from
the cold weather, some monkeys headed down from their forest to discover
the warm water. Since then they head to Jigokudani every winter for a soak
in their spa. Some hot springs reach temperatures of around 122°F,
the perfect temperature to warm up the monkeys and the odd human who visits
the park.
The
Jigokudani Monkey Park can be accessed from Yamanouchi by train and visitors
can hire snow boots and warm jackets at the information centre. The best
time to visit is around midday to watch the monkeys being fed and then
heading off for a soak in the hot springs.
We
hope you get to experience these unusual and fun locations on your next
trip to Japan.
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