A Photogenic Journey: Route 1
To Do on Your Trip
Route 1
SHIBUYA SKY
This new three-zone observation facility in Shibuya is a must-visit spot for tourists in Tokyo. From the rooftop observation area, you can take in everything from the famous Shibuya Crossing to the iconic Tokyo Skytree, and even get a glimpse of Mount Fuji on clear days. The Cloud Hammock on the rooftop is a great place to lie back and relax under the great big sky, in the heart of a bustling metropolis. On the 46th floor is the Sky Gallery, which is an indoor observation corridor. There you can experience visual content that brings together videography, sound and the scenery outside, or shop for souvenirs. It's a great hangout spot even on rainy days.
teamLab Borderless
What if you took Japan’s technological skills—which are world-renowned, refined and on the cutting edge—and used them to create art? The result would be Epson teamLab Borderless, a place where you can immerse yourself in digital art created with the latest technology. It’s an innovative place that redefines the very definition of the museum. Their aim is to create “borderless art.” The artworks displayed in different rooms merge seamlessly together, combining to create a surreal space. Rather than looking passively at the artwork, visitors get the sense that they’ve wandered into a world of art, and even people who don’t normally enjoy museums will find themselves hooked. It almost doesn’t matter where you aim your camera—you’re sure to get a beautiful shot that you’ll want to show off to everyone.
Asakusa
From Kaminarimon to Sensoji, Asakusa is home to popular tourist destinations with deep historical significance. Nakamise, said to be the oldest shopping street in Japan, is the perfect spot to find traditional Japanese goods as well as unique items that will make great souvenirs, all while nibbling on the famous kaminari-okoshi (rice puff cake with peanuts) or ningyo-yaki (doll-shaped cakes). You can also immerse yourself in traditional Japanese culture by renting and wearing kimonos or riding around on rickshaws. Once you’ve had your fill of the retro vibe Asakusa has to offer, take a stroll along the Sumida River. There’s plenty to see and do around the river, such as gazing at pieces of modern architecture such as Tokyo Skytree, going on water bus cruises, or grabbing some drinks at a beer hall. Asakusa is truly a lovely place where the past meets the present.
BOOK AND BED TOKYO
If you want somewhere special to stay, even if you’re traveling on a budget, BOOK AND BED TOKYO may be the place for you. They may not have expensive beds and mattresses, or spacious and luxurious guest rooms—instead, they’re a hostel that offers a brand-new concept: “A bookstore where you can sleep.” Take your pick from more than 2,000 books available, and indulge in that small moment of happiness of falling asleep with a great book in your hand. The small bed spaces that are built into the frames of the massive bookshelves almost feel like a secret club house. While you're there, you can forget about the outside world and dive into a world of books. There’s also a cafe that’s open to the public, so you can spend some quality time with the volumes on the shelves even if you have no plans to stay the night.
1 hour 10 minutes from Tokyo Station to Echigo-Yuzawa Station by Joetsu Shinkansen
Beech Forest: Bijinbayashi
This spot features many slender Japanese beech trees that reach up beautifully towards the sky, and it has acquired the nickname, Bijinbayashi—forest of beauties. It is now a popular destination that gets many visitors, but it’s no understatement to say that it is a miraculous work of art created by nature over hundreds of years. On clear days the sunlight shines down between the leaves, and on rainy days a mysterious silence settles over the area. No matter the weather, you’ll love the beautiful scenery this forest offers. With every season it puts on a different aspect, and during winter you can rent snowshoes to walk around the winter wonderland. Spend some time to refresh your body and soul in this enchanting place that you’ll be tempted to visit repeatedly, with your camera in hand.
Echigo Tsumari Art Field
Reverse City by Pascale Marthine Tayou, also shown in the video, is a huge installation made with rows of giant pencils hanging from thick beams. On each pencil, a country's name is written. Also, Matsudai Nohbutai is a cultural facility created by MVRDV, an architectural firm based in the Netherlands. It features galleries and restaurants, but the building itself is a work of art. You can even find a room that’s made entirely with blackboards, including the floor, desks, and chairs. It's called Relation—Blackboard Classroom, and was created by Tatsuo Kawaguchi. Visitors are free to doodle anywhere, and by doing so, you can be an art lover and also a creator. In the surrounding satoyama (Japanese rural landscape), you can find the works of world-famous artists, making for the rare opportunity to walk amidst the bountiful nature of this farming village while engaging with metropolitan architecture and modern art. Once you’ve enjoyed the nature and art to your heart’s content, head to the restaurant within the facility and enjoy lunch made from local produce, while taking in the view of the rice terraces and green forests that sprawl out before you.
Kiyotsu Gorge
Kiyotsu Gorge, which is located in Joshinetsukogen National Park, is trending on social media as a photogenic spot. The rough surface of the massive stone walls and the clear water of the Kiyotsu River that runs in between them create a spectacular view. You won’t want to miss Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel, which was given a second life as the Tunnel of Light, an artwork created by Ma Yansong and MAD Architects. Within the tunnel are observation decks with cleverly placed lights and mirrors, which artificially enhance the natural beauty of Kiyotsu Gorge. The most prominent is the Panorama Station, where the whole interior wall is covered with mirrors and the ground covered with water. This well-calculated setup allows the scenery outside to be reflected in all surfaces of the tunnel, resulting in strange yet beautiful pictures of people completely surrounded by the beauty of Kiyotsu Gorge.
Snow Country Cycling
Echigo-Yuzawa may be known as a great place to ski, but it’s a fantastic place to enjoy in all seasons. The Farm Village Exploration Cycling Tour is offered only between August and November, and it’s the perfect way to rediscover the beauty of Echigo-Yuzawa when it’s not covered in snow. The tour starts in the morning from Echigo-Yuzawa Station, and you’ll ride under the great big sky towards Yuzawa Central Park and Iwappara. After that, you can try your hand at farming in Takinomata, and making drip coffee with spring water. By interacting with the nature of Echigo-Yuzawa, rather than just taking in its beauty from your bicycle, you’ll be sure to make special memories to last you a lifetime. By the time this two-hour tour is over, you’ll be even more in love with Echigo-Yuzawa.
*Halal and vegetarian food is available
Takahan: Kasumi-no-ma
Beautiful natural scenery, soothing hot springs, comfortable guest rooms, and meals that let you savor the produce of Uonuma—Takahan is an inn that ticks all the boxes of a great getaway spot, but there’s more. It’s also a place of great importance in the history of literature, because this is where Yasunari Kawabata—one of Japan’s greatest writers and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature—wrote his masterpiece, Snow Country. The guest room Kasumi-no-ma, which he visited and stayed at several times during three years of writing, is still preserved as it was then. Visitors can go in and take pictures, and see documents that give insight into Yasunari Kawabata and Echigo-Yuzawa, in which the story of Snow Country takes place. Literature fans will love taking a deeper dive into the place that gave birth to a masterpiece. *Additional fees are charged for entry into Kasumi-no-ma.
Go Another Way
This isn’t the only journey you can take to experience so many of the things that Tokyo and Niigata have to offer. Our alternate route lets you visit a temple where a famous figure from Japanese folklore got its start and see some incredible scenery.
