Several exhilarating ways to reconnect with nature and shake off the months of sitting at home can be found at Minakami, one of Japan’s premiere spots for white water rafting and canyoning.

Looking for a place where you can enjoy Japan’s traditional hot spring culture? Then Takaragawa Onsen Osenkaku in Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture, is your ideal destination. Nestled along the scenic Takaragawa River, this secluded onsen is surrounded by natural beauty. Known for its riverside open-air baths and quiet atmosphere, it offers visitors the perfect escape to relax.

In the modern world of perfectly controlled sake brewing, Tsuchida Sake Brewery aims to reintroduce traditional variables to create unique and complex flavors with sake brewing methods of the past.

Gunma, home to some of the juiciest fruits and vibrant vegetables in Japan, is waiting for travelers to taste the bounty of the region. And we know just the spot to enjoy the seasonality of the prefecture directly from the source.

From the backwoods of Myoko to the slopes of Echigo Yuzawa, Niigata is home to dozens of ski resorts scattered throughout the prefecture. To enjoy one of the country’s coolest snowy getaways, hop on a bullet train from Tokyo (which can take 70 minutes or more) to find a winter wonderland!