After driving past field after field of cherries in Yamagata Prefecture, Hunter and I finally parked and made our way to 立石寺 (Risshaku-ji), more commonly known as 山寺 (Yama-dera). That 山寺 literally translates to “mountain temple” should give you some idea of what getting to...
While on our way back from the onsen of Akita, my husband Hunter and I visited Kamo Aquarium in Yamagata. This aquarium is known for its jellyfish — one of my favorite animals! Afterwards, we ate one of the weirdest things I’ve ever had: jellyfish ice cream. But first, a quiz...
After we finished lounging around in Tamagawa Onsen, we drove another 30 minutes to check out Goshogake Onsen. Like Tamagawa, Goshogake has a volcanic field you can explore. However, its abundance of boiling mud meant it was a completely different experience. As soon as we cleared the...
When I read about Tamagawa Onsen online, it said that it is not usually a tourist destination, but more a destination for people with illnesses and conditions they wish to be cured. The water has special properties and is home to rocks said to help cure a variety of things. We decided to...