Join us on an unforgettable journey Off the Rails in Kansai, as we ditch the usual tourist trails and dive into the heart of rural Japan. Armed with nothing but a 5-day Kintetsu Railways pass, we explore hidden gems like Mt Gozaisho’s snowy peaks, indulge in strawberry picking at Aqua Ignis, and wander the historic streets of Okage Yokocho, tasting roasted chestnuts and authentic mochi.
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Sometimes the best detours come with no gloves, no plans, and a rail pass.
Take a passage through mountain passes and discover Japan’s off-piste playground. The heavy-laden alpine trees creak and crack before their dead, brittle branches give way and thud into freshly fallen snow. The wallop echoes through the trees, slicing the silence in Japan’s Aokigahara Forest.
Justin Jamieson revisits Nagano and Kanazawa in winter, where monkeys steam, samurai endure and ancient cities reveal a colder, sharper kind of magic.
