Discover delightful encounters and hidden spots!

Outstanding natural scenic beauty over the Kanto Plain and further away can be reached just one hour from the city. You'll be amazed at the impressive but secret viewing points.

It’s autumn now. It’s full of seasonal foods.

Catch the 65 minute special express Joban line from Ueno to Mito station in Ibaraki prefecture. It’s a prefectural capital and the biggest city in Ibaraki. You'll notice the size from the station which though spacious, isn't too hard to wander around to discover the bronze statue of Mito Komon, the symbol for Mito station. The statue will point in the direction visitors should head - 10 minutes from Mito station and you will be touring Komon and its superb spots. At Senba Lake, which used to be a moat in Komon’s time you'll find many ducks, black swans and unusual water fowl. Across the lake is Kairakuen, one of the best Japanese gardens. There's also a Kobuntei, a 3-story wooden structure. When it comes to food, Komon is noted for Mito Natto (fermented soybeans). It's worth taking a trip to the oldest established store to savour the 120 years of history which has led to many varieties of Mito Natto. Don't be surprised to find on a visit about 20 varieties including Mito Natto made of black soybeans which are as popular as they are pricey (approximately 315 Yen or S$5) as they are not made from normal soybeans. But it is worth the smooth taste and texture.

More superb views can be found by the Suigun line and before catching the train ride it's best to invest in one of the manylunch boxes sold in Mito station. The recommendation is the Squid Lunch Box which was once selected as the best lunch box in a competition. The Suigun line runs from Mito city and Kooriyama city in Fukushima. Head to Hitachi Oota,the last stop before the line branches off. Hitachi Ota lies in the tranquil countryside and near the station is a graveyard of Mito feudal lords. Visit Nishiyama Park which offers a panoramic view of the town. Make a trip while you're there to Akatsuchi in Hitachi-Ota, the home of noodles with huge buckwheat fields. The buckwheat is supposed to be the best in Japan and Soba noodles is a must. With many in the area making the noodles since the Edo era using freshly harvested Hitachi autumn buckwheat which is a bit green. The way to eat soba in Ibaraki is with chilli - a Kenchin-Jiru soup with lots of vegetables which itself is tasty.

After flavourful Soba in Akatsuchi, heads to the inn for the night. This is in Satomi district in Hitachi-Ota city and the reason for this is the secret hot spring. The thatched roof building which is large and quaint is reason enough. It has been a farming and hot spring inn since the Edo era and all food served at the inn is from the owners' rice fields near by. Dinner menu served by the fireplace and is made of local ingredients such as fried seasonal mushrooms and freshly caught and grilled Yamame fish. The price, 6975 Yen (S$ 111) for a night with 2 meals and don't forget the hot spring bath! This is not an open-air bath, but you'd think it so as the big bath is surrounded by beautiful maple trees. After brekfast at the inn go back to Kamisugaya to catch the main line which runs along the Kuji River offering views of bamboo groves and people fishing.

Get off at Shimonomiya where there'll be many anglers and at Miotoshi (miss out), is a superb view not to be missed. Follow the path to the bottom of a waterfall and see the falls from behind. The sound of water falling and the view through the water curtain is unforgettable. Finally, head to Mt. Yamizo,the highest point in Ibaraki prefecture where you'll see mountains like in an ink painting.

The next trip is to Saitama prefecture from Ikebukuro station. The destination, the sky village of Tochimoto located between the prefectural boundary from Chichibu city to Yamanashi prefecture. You'll be able to see beautiful terraced rice fields and other hidden beauty spots on this trip just one hour trip from Ikebukuro travelling to Yokoze by the Seibu line. Once you spot Mt. Bukou the symbol of Chichibu, Yokoze is not far. At the station itself you'll be able to gaze on terraced rice fields which you can visit in just a 10 minute walk. In fact you'll see the biggest terraced rice field in Saitama at the foot of Mt. Bukou, spanning about 5.2 hectares or some 300 lots. Some parts fell in disrepair though due to Japan's declining birth rate and aging society but some local volunteers didn’t want Terasaka rice or the terraces to die out and started working on them. The locals snack on 'Drip cake' (Tarashi Yaki) which is cake made from flour and Shiso herb that is dripped and fried, and it is different from another local favourite, the 'Drop cake' which is served with spring onion miso paste. Visit the area in October, and catch the rice harvesting tour which is organized for people from the city.

Next, move on to Chichibu city that is located in the middle of Chichibu Basin and discover tradition.
Visit the 'alley of wind' to discover how Tochi nut Cakes a traditional fare is made with nuts and ashes. You'll find other traditions such as the old cheap sweet shop,a comic storyteller, and an Udon noodle shop. The shop 3 minutes from the train station, called Tajika Udon noodle shop is where you can experience a different way of eating udon and in different styles such as warm clam udon and the popular Meat and Long Green Onion Udon. Head back to the station and travel to Tochimoto, takinh the Chichibu line from Ohanabatake to stop at Urayamaguchi station. From the station you can take a short walk to a limestone cave. Along the walk, take a taste too of Fudo water, believed to be the spring water from Mt. Bukou. What appears to be an amazing rocky mountain that appears out of nowhere is in fact the surface of the cave that goes vertically. You'll have to wear a helmet if you visit the limestone cave for a 10 minute tour which is like an expedition with a shaft cave and a lot of climbing up and down. Take a rest on the train back on the Chichibu line heading to the last stop, Mitsumineguchi. Transfer to a bus to Chichibu Lake and then transfer to a small bus to Tochimoto Village.

It will run through a small tunnel and west along Lake Chichibu which it passes. The sky village is just around the corner and really is a village in the sky. Tochimoto village is located in the deepest Oku-Chichibu with just 44 houses. It used to be a stop for traveller from Bushu to Koshu, and also to Shinshu in the Edo era with reminders of the past like the Tochimoto barrier that was set up in the Warring States period. Although the village stands on a steep incline of the hill (some 30 degrees), locals are used to it and plant many crops on the slopes. Stay at the oldest inn in the village which was a private guest house named after Mt. Kobushi, which is the border of Yamanashi, Nagano and Saitama. The house is 120 years old and is a typical old

farmhouse used to raise silkworms. It only became an inn in 1967 and the owners serve guests local produce at meal times. This includes purple potato with sweet miso paste that is grilled over the sunken fireplace and homemade Udon noodle cooked with vegetables. The meal served by the fireplace also includes tempura of wild plants including flowers and deer hot pot. Relax with a bath with water coming from the Otaki hot spring near by and turn in early to see the superb view in the morning. If the view is clouded in the morning you can still take in the superb views at the border with Yamanshi prefecture.

	Mt. Yamizo is a mountain, so the weather is changeable with sudden rain not unusual.
	Have the right gear when visiting Tochimoto village which is located at a steep location.
	The Fudoji temple in Mt. Kurosaki will require a brisk walk up a steep path so be well prepared.

Another trip for a secret view is to a temple which is over 1000 years old in the Gunma prefecture. The Fudoji temple in Mt. Kurosaki can be reached from Shimonita, the nearest station to Fudoji in Mt. Kurosaki. It’s about 90 km from Tokyo or about an hour's drive by car. Shimonita is located in the basin by Mt. Myogi and before the temple visit feed the body. You have to eat Konnyaku if in Shimonita and the best is to have it by an old brazier at Tokiwa-Kan, an old established rokan since 1912. There is a Konnyaku course menu available for lunch. It’s a popular menu offering full course of Konnyaku. The colourful and unusual meal includes salted fish roe and tofu skin Konnyaku, braised chicken cooked in sweet wine and soy sauce with Miso paste sauce made of herb and citrus. The Kaburagawa course of 9 dishes is 3150 yen (S$ 50). After lunch, head for Mt. Kurotaki which is not far from Shimonita station and can be reached with an 8-seater village-run bus from the station, to the next village, Nanboku village and to Ozawabashi bus stop, for 200 yen (S$3). Just 5km from the bus stop is Fudoji temple. It’s home to Zen Buddhism Ohbake sect. The temple is located 870m up in the middle of Mt. Kurodaki. It’s also known as a sacred place for the mountain worship with the belfry being the best viewing spot. Ring the temple bell and leave a donation before moving on to your next adventure.