Ehime Prefecture sits on the northern coast of the island of Shikoku, facing Yamaguchi, Hiroshima, and the southern island of Kyushu. Noted for its pristine nature and scenery, Ehime has anything and everything that you could want for a getaway. From the historic capital city of Matsuyama to part of the legendary leg of the Shikoku Pilgrimage, let’s check out Ehime Prefecture!

In Japan there are lists for nearly anything you could think of. Some of the most famous lists are the 100 Famous Mountains, The Three Great Gardens of Japan, and the Three Views of Japan (also the Three Major Night Views of Japan). However, this time around we’ll be focusing on one of the many nature lists, namely the ‘Nihon no Taki, Hyakusen’, or 100 Waterfalls of Japan made by the Ministry of the Environment in 1990. Let’s take a look at some of Japan’s most famous waterfalls!

Premiering earlier this month, the 4th series of Race Across the World pits 5 pairs of adventurers against each other as they attempt to cross Asia, all without their phones, the internet, and other essentials. The first episode began with the groups departing from Sapporo, the capital of the northernmost island of Hokkaido. Endeavouring to reach the city of Nara as their first checkpoint, let’s look at some of the spots that the pairs visited along their journeys!

Tottori Prefecture, not to be confused with the similarly named Studio Ghibli character, a neighbour to Shimane, Okayama, and Hyogo prefectures, sits within a beautiful area of Japan, full of nature and immersive culture, yet perfect for one who is looking for a adventure that is slightly off of the beaten path. Let’s jump in and see a selection of what Tottori has to offer! 

One of Japan’s best places to stay at when travelling is an onsen. Saunas as well are a happy addition to many onsen, giving people a full range of relaxation opportunities. We recently spoke with Eetu-Antti Hartikainen, a PhD student at Hokkaido University in Sapporo, about saunas and sauna culture, so let’s get into it and learn a bit about ‘sa-katsu’!