The Backpack Adventures

For those who don't know, Kansai Region lies in the south-central area of Japan's main island Honshu. It is composed of seven prefectures namely Hyogo, Kyoto, Mie, Nara, Osaka, Shiga, and Wakayama. The main entry point of foreign tourists to this region is the Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Kobe Port.  10 Kid-Friendly Places to Visit in Kansai Region This region is a great place to immerse oneself in Japan's rich history and culture. Adults would surely find Kansai a fascinating place to visit... However, the big question is, is it kid-friendly? In my opinion, and probably the majority of all those who had visited this region before, the Kansai Region and Japan, in general, is a very child-friendly place.  Here we go!!! For today's article, I have compiled 10 child-friendly places to bring your child(ren) when you visit the Kansai Region. Here are my top 10 recommendations of child-friendly places in the Kansai Region: 1. Eiraku Yumenomori Park

Day 22 June 7, 2018 Farewell Japan Ohayou ! This is it! Our final day in Japan . Cold and foggy morning at Tsubasagaoka! I woke up early and was amazed to see the neighborhood of Tsubasagaoka blanketed by thick fog. What's more amazing was the fact that it was still very foggy until 8:30AM.  All our bags are packed... but we don't want to go... Off to the mall for our last lunch in Japan . Aside from being chilly outside, I decided to remain indoors because of the fact that my mind kept on playing scenes from Stephen King's The Mist . Thankfully the fog lifted at around noon and it turned out to be quite sunny. for the first time, Japan 's weather forecast didn't hit the mark. AEON Mall in Wakayama Ella with Montbell's mascot Looking for a place to eat... Lunch at Shabusai Ella with Ms. Taeko We went to AEON Mall in Wakayama for lunch and also to look for ingredients for some dishes requested by our Japanese family. Sadl

Suna Matsuri or Sand Festival  ( 白浜砂祭り )  is an annual festival held every May in Shirarahama Beach in Shirahama , Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. Shirahama, for those who are unfamiliar with the place, is a coastal resort town on the southern coast of Wakayama Prefecture. The town is famous for its onsen(s), rock formations, and of course Shirarahama Beach . Suna Matsuri  or  Sand Festival  ( 白浜砂祭り ) Suna Matsuri (Sand Festival) Details Speaking of Shirarahama Beach , it is the venue of the annual Suna Matsuri (Sand Festival) held every May. The highlight of this festival is the Sand Art Contest that is modeled after the Snow Festival of Hokkaido. This competition features around 30 - 60 pieces of three-dimensional artworks made from the sand of the beach. These artistic mounds measure around 15 feet by 15 feet and are at least 6 - 10 feet tall. Suna Matsuri Festival - Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture Taking a closer look... Is that Snorlax? The entries for the cont

Located several meters from the coast of the resort town of Shirahama in Wakayama Prefecture, Engetsu Island  also  Engetsu-to  ( 円月島 ) is a small yet must-see island of the town.    Engetsu Island  also  Engetsu-to  ( 円月島 ) Engetsu Island Details The name engetsu means "the island of the full moon". However, a lot of people are unaware that its official name is actually Takashima . The island measures approximately 115 feet from east to west, 430 feet north to south, and 82 feet high at the tallest elevation. Engetsu Island - Shirahama , Wakayama Prefecture Surprisingly the water near it is very clean and is teeming with fish Despite being an island, Engetsu-to is also viewed as a scenic rock formation jotting out of Rinkai Bay. It is famous for its natural sandstone arch which has a perfectly circular hole in the middle. This hole was formed through the natural effects of the waves and the wind which eroded the "weaker" part of the rock formation