Explore Travel Albums

This travel album captures a complete road trip circuit around Hakone and the Fuji Five Lakes starting from Mishima Station. While you can adapt this loop to start from any point that fits your schedule, this guide outlines the exact route, stops, and highlights experienced along the way. The journey begins by picking up a rental car at Mishima Station and heading straight to the first stop, Lake Ashi in Hakone. While heavy fog obscured Mount Fuji during this visit, clear days offer an iconic view of the mountain behind the famous lakeside torii gate (be prepared for a queue for photo opportunities). From the lake, head up to the volcanic valley of Owakudani to explore the active vents, check out the museum, and sample the famous longevity-giving black eggs (kuro-tamago). The route then heads north toward Lake Yamanaka for an overnight stay. As evening sets in, clearing skies reveal stunning views of Mount Fuji over the water. Day two kicks off early at Nagaike Water Park along Lake Yamanaka’s northern shore for scenic reflections, followed by sweeping elevated vistas from the Yamanakako Panorama-dai viewpoint. From there, head to the iconic Chureito Pagoda (Arakurayama Sengen Park) for classic postcard-worthy views, followed by a scenic drive around Lake Kawaguchiko and the surrounding Fuji Five Lakes with stops at key viewpoints along the shore. The journey wraps up with a visit to the cascading waters of Shiraito Falls, with the option to explore the nearby Narusawa Ice Cave if time permits.

If you’re planning a trip to the stunning UNESCO World Heritage site of Shirakawa-go, you already know the struggle: getting there usually means relying on crowded, managed tour buses from Nagoya, Takayama, or Kanazawa. While convenient, they strip away your freedom to explore at your own pace. I wanted something authentic and real, so I took a different route: Toyama Prefecture. Toyama is an absolute dream, balancing coastal beauty with ancient, snow-covered mountain villages. Plus, it’s legendary for having some of the freshest seafood in Japan. It’s the perfect weekend getaway for shooting amazing footage, enjoying incredible food, and escaping the usual tourist traps. This route is surprisingly accessible via a smooth train ride: 1. From Tokyo: Take a direct train on the Hokuriku Shinkansen straight to Shin-Takaoka Station. 2. From Osaka: It’s a bit trickier but totally doable. Take the Thunderbird Limited Express to Tsuruga Station, then transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Shin-Takaoka. Takaoka itself is a fantastic small city with great local markets and incredible seafood to fuel up on before heading into the mountains.Himi Line, Amaharashi Coast, Doraemon Walk Path, and Shunsai Tei Yumesaki, a best place for Masu-zushi. The secret weapon for this route is the 2-day World Heritage Bus pass departing from Takaoka Station. Instead of a rigid tour, this hop-on, hop-off route lets you build a flexible itinerary through several incredible spots. You can visit Johana Village, a charming town famous for its traditional streets and silk-weaving history. You can also explore Gokayama, a quieter UNESCO site featuring the same stunning thatched-roof houses as Shirakawa-go, but with a fraction of the crowds. Finally, use your pass to arrive early or stay late at Shirakawa-go, experiencing the main village completely free of the midday tour bus rush.

Osaka is famous for its street food and non-stop city energy, but the real adventure starts just past the concrete skyline. This collection is all about trading the busy streets for fresh mountain air. From challenging ridge climbs to sweeping panoramic viewpoints, the Kansai region hides some incredible wilderness right in its backyard. Whether it’s packing up the camera gear to capture that perfect cinematic pan, hitting the trails for a weekend trek with the wife and the rest of the crew, or just escaping the city noise, this is a look at the wilder, quieter side of Osaka. Grab your boots, and let's go explore.