Japan was struck by a series of powerful earthquakes on Monday that have left at least 48 people dead. Thousands of buildings have been damaged by fires and landslides.
16.12.2023 - 14:44 / matadornetwork.com
Most first-time visits to Japan entail some variation of the Golden Route, the well-trodden circuit of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. As much as these awe-inspiring metropolises deserve their reputation among travelers, Japan’s quieter prefectures are equally fascinating and often overlooked. In the Japanese countryside, urban frenzy yields to village serenity; warm, rural hospitality wins the day; and whispers of Basho’s bucolic odes still echo through misty rice terraces. Plus, a quick sojourn in the hinterland to unwind in the steamy waters of an onsen refreshes the soul. And it’s not hard to get to whether you want to take a trip solely focused on the quieter areas of Japan or you simply want a quick break from the city.
Sado Island, three hours by train and ferry from Tokyo, is an idyllic getaway exemplifying the cultural and natural beauty of the Japanese countryside. Twenty miles off the coast of Honshu, the main trunk of the Japanese archipelago, Sado feels worlds removed from the frenetic crowds of Shibuya or the carnivalesque chaos of Akihabara. Rich soil and fecund shoals have for centuries supported fishing villages and rice farming, but not a single large city disrupts the isle’s tranquil rhythms.
While placid beaches, dazzling avian life, and emerald-hued topography promise endless delights for nature lovers, Sado is also a rich repository of the high court culture of medieval Kyoto. Heian emperors traditionally banished unruly aristocrats to Sado, and these exiles brought intangible treasures like noh theater, taiko dance, and Nichiren Buddhism to the island’s rocky shores. Also, for roving gourmands and sake lovers, Sado’s smorgasbord of idiosyncratic delicacies and celebrated rice ambrosias are alone worth the trip from Tokyo.
Sado’s mesmerizing scenery and gentle flow are best savored in a ryokan, a traditional inn constructed near an onsen, those geothermal hot springs long cherished across Japan for their medicinal benefits.
Photo: Johnny Motley
Overlooking rice terraces awash with flocks of crested ibises, Hananoki Inn is the archetypical ryokan: stately wooden halls, constructed sans metal nails; minimalistic, serene accommodations; and an inner courtyard graced by a lovely zen garden. Spend the days exploring the local beach, reading with a cup of green tea, or decompressing in the healing waters of the nearby onsen. Each multi-course meal, called kaiseki, at Hananoki highlights seasonal and local ingredients, promising an unforgettable adventure for the palate. The menu changes frequently based on fishermen’s catches and seasonal produce, but the plates are always exquisite — especially when paired with pours of Sado Island sake.
Hananoki Inn: 78-1 Shukunegi, Sado, Niigata 952-0612,
Japan was struck by a series of powerful earthquakes on Monday that have left at least 48 people dead. Thousands of buildings have been damaged by fires and landslides.
This is a developing story and will be updated with more information.
As photos and video from the collision between two aircraft at Tokyo's Haneda Airport (HND) began circulating on Tuesday, it was immediately clear that a rare but catastrophic disaster had occurred.
In a tragic accident on Tuesday, a Japan Airlines plane and Japanese coast guard aircraft collided on the runway at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. The crash killed five coast guard crew members who were on their way to deliver aid to victims of a deadly earthquake that hit Western Japan on Monday.
“We regret to inform you that on the evening of January 2, JL516 was involved in a collision with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft during its landing at Haneda Airport, resulting in a fire on the runway. Our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased members of the Japan Coast Guard,” Japan Airlines wrote in a memo about a Tuesday evening runway collision that resulted in the Japan Airlines flight 516 erupting into flames.
A Japan Airlines Airbus plane burst into flames after colliding with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft on the ground at Tokyo’s Haneda airport on Tuesday. All 378 passengers and crew members on board the Airbus A350 widebody plane survived, but five people aboard the coast guard plane have died.
Flights are again departing from Tokyo's Haneda Airport (HND) following a runway disaster that left at least five Japanese service members dead and two aircraft destroyed.
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