DiTour Japan, Kuala Lumpur (2026)

31/08/2026

🇯🇵 Gifu’s Hidden Village｜Slow Down and Experience Rural Japan 🌾💚

Need a break from the rush of city life? Escape to Tanekura Village in Gifu and spend a night surrounded by mountains, rice terraces and untouched nature🌿🏞️This peaceful village is a beautiful example of Japan’s traditional satoyama lifestyle, where people live closely alongside nature. With quiet paths, layered rice paddies and mountain views in every direction, simply walking around here feels like hitting the reset button on everyday life✨

The best way to experience Tanekura? Take a slow walk through the rice terraces, enjoy wholesome local dishes made with traditional medicinal herbs, and let the peaceful atmosphere do the rest. Then, once night falls, look up at the sky — far from the city lights, the stars become the main attraction🌌On a clear night, you may even see the Milky Way stretching across the sky, creating a magical rural Japan moment.

For a deeper experience, stay overnight at Tanekura Inn🏡🤍and immerse yourself in the rhythms of village life, from local food to the surrounding nature. It’s also less than an hour’s drive from Takayama Station🚗If you’re looking for a quiet Japanese escape where you can slow down, reconnect with nature and experience a different side of Japan, Tanekura Village is definitely one to save for your next trip🌾

*Pictures are credited to Go Gifu

31/08/2026

🇯🇵 Kochi’s Hidden Island Paradise｜The Water Is Almost Too Clear to Be Real 🏝️💙

If you’ve already explored Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, it might be time to head somewhere completely different — Kashiwajima Island, tucked away at the southern tip of Kochi🏝️✨Surrounded by lush green mountains and unbelievably blue water, this quiet island looks almost unreal. The sea is so crystal clear that you can see the underwater world right from the shore. It’s also a paradise for marine life, with around one-third of the fish species found in Japanese waters said to be found in the surrounding area. And if you’re lucky, you might even spot dolphins swimming by🐬

For anyone who loves the ocean, there’s plenty to do here🌊🤿Dive beneath the surface to discover colourful coral reefs, or go snorkelling and kayaking across the incredibly clear water. Prefer to take it slow? Head to Shirahama Beach for a relaxing stroll along the sand, then visit Ryugahama Campground in the cooler afternoon and soak up the laid-back island atmosphere🏄‍♀️

After a full day by the sea, don’t leave without trying the local flavours! 🍓🐟Ichigoori, a famous frozen dessert from Otsuki, is made with locally grown strawberries and kudzu, giving it a light and fluffy texture. For dinner, treat yourself to a bowl of fresh local bluefin tuna donburi and taste the best of Kochi’s seafood✨If you’re looking for a quiet Japanese island with crystal-clear water, marine life, outdoor adventures and incredible local food, Kashiwajima definitely deserves a spot on your Japan bucket list! 📌🏝️

*Pictures are credited to Visit Kochi Japan

30/08/2026

🌿 Some travellers call it magical. Others say it’s just a pond.

This is Monet’s Pond in Gifu — a tiny, crystal-clear pond filled with colourful koi and water lilies that can look surprisingly similar to Monet’s paintings.

The catch? It’s only around 40 metres long and roughly 1.5 hours from Nagoya by car.

So yes, it can be gorgeous with the right weather, light and season. But I’d treat it as a stop on a Gifu road trip rather than travel all this way for the pond alone.

💡 DiTour Tips

• 🌸 Best for water lilies: June–July
• ☀️ Clear mornings usually give the best view
• 🌧️ Avoid going soon after heavy rain
• 🎟️ Free admission
• 🚗 Pair it with Gujo Hachiman, Mino or Seki

Worth the detour or overhyped?

30/08/2026

🇯🇵 Japan’s Most Unusual Onsen Experience｜Try a “Buried Alive” Hot Spring ♨️🏖️

If you ever spot a beach where people are lying buried in the sand with only their heads sticking out, don’t panic. This isn’t a scene from a horror movie — it’s Sunamushi, Japan’s traditional sand bath experience✨Naturally heated by geothermal heat, the sand becomes warm enough to cover your entire body, creating a completely different kind of onsen experience. Even in Japan, where hot springs are everywhere, sand baths are still relatively rare and can only be experienced in a few places around Kyushu.

One of the best-known places to experience this traditional ritual is Takegawara Onsen in Beppu. After changing into a special yukata, you’ll lie down on a warm bed of sand while the staff carefully shovel hot sand over your body until you’re almost completely buried — with only your head left above the surface♨️It may feel strange at first, but as the warmth gradually surrounds you, the experience becomes surprisingly relaxing. After around 15 minutes, the sand is removed and washed off before you can soak in a regular hot spring bath. Talk about a full-body reset!

If you’ve already experienced Japan’s classic hot springs and want to try something truly unusual and unforgettable, save this one for your Kyushu itinerary! 📌✨Lying in hot sand with a whole row of “floating heads” beside you is definitely one of those travel experiences you’ll be talking about long after the trip🤣Next time you’re in Beppu, skip the ordinary onsen for a moment and try getting “buried” instead!

『Takegawara Onsen』
📍16-23 Motomachi, Beppu, Oita 874-0944, Japan
⏰ Opening Hours: 6:30am – 10:30pm

*Pictures are credited to F先生的生活策展

30/08/2026

🇯🇵 Tokyo Autumn Hidden Gem｜A Charming Weekend Marche in Setagaya 🍂🏠

Looking for a quieter side of Tokyo with plenty of autumn charm? Head to Setagaya! Instead of ancient temples and traditional streets, you’ll find modern architecture, peaceful residential neighbourhoods and trees dressed in beautiful autumn colours🍁✨Walking through the area in fall feels almost like discovering a little Kyoto hidden within Tokyo — especially when the sunlight filters through the autumn leaves and blends with the contemporary buildings.

On weekends, you may also come across HANEGI MARCHE💐, a charming local market tucked within a collection of designer residences. Take your time browsing the stalls, discovering flowers, lifestyle goods and other little finds while experiencing the relaxed weekend atmosphere of the neighbourhood. Compared with visiting crowded autumn foliage spots, this kind of slow stroll feels much more like experiencing Tokyo as a local🌿🤎

If you’ve already explored Tokyo’s classic attractions, save Setagaya for your autumn itinerary! 🍂You don’t need a whole day here — wander through the neighbourhood, browse the weekend market, admire the architecture and enjoy the changing leaves at your own pace. Sometimes, these quiet corners of Tokyo end up being the places you remember most.📌✨

『HANEGI MARCHE』

*Pictures are credited to 晃九九

30/08/2026

🇯🇵 Kobe Hidden Gem｜Ride a Cable Car for Stunning Mountain & Sea Views 🚠🌊

Looking for something different to do in Kobe beyond the city centre? Add Suma Rikyu Park to your itinerary!🌿✨What makes this park special isn’t just the scenery, but the chance to ride three sections of cable cars up the mountain, with a different observation spot along each section. As you go higher, views of Kobe’s cityscape, lush mountains and the sea gradually unfold around you. On a clear day, the panorama is absolutely gorgeous!📸💙

There’s also a surprisingly fun experience waiting inside the park — the aerial tandem bicycle🚲✨Two people can pedal together high above the ground while taking in the valley and sea views below. It can get quite popular and you may have to queue, but the unique perspective makes it worth the wait! Just a little warning for anyone who’s afraid of heights.

You can explore most of the park in around 2 hours, making it a great option for a half-day trip in Kobe. If you love nature, cable cars and panoramic mountain-and-sea scenery — and want to discover something a little different from the usual tourist spots — save Suma Rikyu Park for your Kobe itinerary!📌

『Suma Rikyu Park』
📍1-1 Higashisuma, Suma Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 654-0018, Japan
⏰ Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm

29/08/2026

🇯🇵 Kyushu Must-Visit｜Feed Lions Up Close from a Jungle Bus 🦁🚌

Think zoos are only about watching animals from behind fences? Think again! 🌿✨ Kyushu Natural Zoological Park African Safari offers a completely different kind of wildlife experience. Spanning around 1.15 million ㎡ of vast natural surroundings, the park lets animals roam across open grassland and forest areas. The highlight is the famous Jungle Bus, which takes you right into the safari zone — it honestly feels like stepping into a wildlife documentary! 🦒🦁

The most thrilling part? You’ll receive animal feed and can get surprisingly close to lions, elephants and giraffes. Watching a lion come right up to the bus and open its mouth for food is seriously unforgettable — and yes, the whole bus might just scream when it happens🦁

✨ 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩-𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙞𝙥𝙨:
▫️ Arrive around 8:30am to queue outside before the park opens at 9:00am
▫️ Head straight to the General Information Center to get your Jungle Bus ticket — tickets are sold on-site and popular time slots can sell out quickly
▫️ Adult admission: around ¥2,600; Jungle Bus: around ¥1,500 for ages 4+, including animal feed
▫️ Children under 3 enter free, making it a great family-friendly attraction 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
▫️ From JR Beppu Station, take Bus No. 41 for about 50 minutes, or drive for greater flexibility 🚗

Plan to spend at least 3 hours exploring the park 🌿🦒 Besides the Jungle Bus, there are plenty of other animal areas to discover, plus restaurants, kids’ meals and rest areas for a more relaxed family visit. Whether you’re an animal lover, travelling with kids, or simply looking for a unique experience in Kyushu, save this one for your Japan itinerary📌🦁✨

『Kyushu Natural Zoological Park African Safari』
📍Japan, 〒872-0722 Oita, Usa, Ajimumachi Minamihata, 2-1755-1
⏰ Opening Hours: 8:50am – 4pm

29/08/2026

🇯🇵 Hidden Shrine in Usuki｜A Shrine Dedicated to Lucky Red Cats 🐈⛩️

Looking for a cute and unusual hidden gem in Oita? Add Fukura Tenmangu Shrine to your Japan itinerary! ⛩️✨Just a short walk from Kami-Usuki Station toward the old town, this shrine looks rather ordinary from the outside — but step inside and you’ll discover a charming little “Red Cat Shrine” filled with adorable red cat figures. There are even tiny cat footprints along the stone path and a miniature scene of a cat parade, making it such a fun place to explore and spot little surprises along the way❤️

One thing you definitely shouldn’t miss is the Red Cat Omikuji🐈🎋Instead of a regular paper fortune slip, the message comes inside a cute red cat-shaped ceramic figure. Draw a good fortune? You can take the little cat home as a lucky charm or keepsake. If you get a bad fortune, you can leave it at the shrine and pray for the shrine to keep the bad luck away✨Nearby stands a tree said to be one of the oldest trees in Usuki, surrounded by white shide paper streamers. When the wind gently moves them, looking up from beneath the tree creates an almost mystical atmosphere🌿

But why red cats? 👀The story goes back to the Edo period, when a merchant named Otsuka Kohei was known for being extremely successful — and apparently a little too ambitious — in business. Locals gave him the nickname “Aka-neko,” or “Red Cat.” Over time, red cat figures became associated with bringing good fortune, eventually giving rise to the unique Red Cat tradition seen here today. If you love **hidden shrines, unique Japanese traditions, lucky charms, and discovering places beyond the usual tourist route**, this adorable little shrine is definitely worth saving! 🐈❤️

『Fukura Tenmangu Shrine』
📍211 Fukura, Usuki, Oita 875-0053, Japan
⏰ Opening Hours: 8:30am – 5pm

29/08/2026

If you love Rilakkuma and Sumikko Gurashi, don’t miss this adorable new attraction in Japan✨Opened in August 2026, San-X Paradise brings some of San-X’s most beloved characters to life, with cute character displays, themed decorations, and photo spots around the area. Be prepared to stop for photos at almost every corner.

And it’s not just about taking cute photos🎀You can enjoy San-X-themed experiences, check out Rilakkuma and Sumikko Gurashi attractions, meet the characters, browse exclusive merchandise, and grab themed food and drinks🍛🛍️For San-X fans, there’s something fun to discover in almost every area — it really feels like stepping into a giant kawaii world!

The best part? Fuji-Q Highland itself has free admission🎡Even if you don’t plan on riding the attractions that require separate tickets, you can still enter, explore San-X Paradise, take photos, shop for exclusive merchandise, and enjoy the themed food. It’s perfect for families, but honestly, grown-up San-X fans might have an even harder time leaving empty-handed💛

『Fuji-Q Highland』
📍5 Chome-6-1 Shinnishihara, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi 403-0017, Japan
⏰Opening Hours: 9am – 8pm

28/08/2026

If you love Rilakkuma and Sumikko Gurashi, don’t miss this adorable new attraction in Japan✨Opened in August 2026, San-X Paradise brings some of San-X’s most beloved characters to life, with cute character displays, themed decorations, and photo spots around the area. Be prepared to stop for photos at almost every corner.

And it’s not just about taking cute photos🎀You can enjoy San-X-themed experiences, check out Rilakkuma and Sumikko Gurashi attractions, meet the characters, browse exclusive merchandise, and grab themed food and drinks🍛🛍️For San-X fans, there’s something fun to discover in almost every area — it really feels like stepping into a giant kawaii world!

The best part? Fuji-Q Highland itself has free admission🎡Even if you don’t plan on riding the attractions that require separate tickets, you can still enter, explore San-X Paradise, take photos, shop for exclusive merchandise, and enjoy the themed food. It’s perfect for families, but honestly, grown-up San-X fans might have an even harder time leaving empty-handed💛

『Fuji-Q Highland』
📍5 Chome-6-1 Shinnishihara, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi 403-0017, Japan
⏰Opening Hours: 9am – 8pm

*Pictures are credited to ©SAN-X CO.

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