Alex Ehrenreich, Author at VOYAPON

Alex Ehrenreich

I'm an expat from the USA, currently living in Tokyo. However, I do like to get out of the city now and then, explore the nooks and crannies, and traverse the road less traveled.

18 articles

Articles by Alex Ehrenreich

Shiriyaki onsen, a hidden onsen place in Nakanojo town, Gunma prefecture.

Hidden Onsen in Nakanojo, Gunma

October 5, 2017 Car Rentals, Gunma, Hiking, Local Buses, Mountains, Onsen & Sento, Ryokan, Sponsored, Summer, Tokyo, Tokyo, Tokyo

Sponsored by Nakanojo tourism association When people travel around Japan, usually going to at least one onsen is on their list of things to do. Though luxurious and relaxing, it can sometimes be expensive. There are also rules to...

Canoeing in Shima river full of natures and have outdoor activities in Gunma prefecture.

Get Outdoors in Onsen Country – Canoeing in Nakanojo

September 30, 2017 Gunma, Hiking, Language, Onsen & Sento, Ryokan, Safety, Sponsored, Summer

Sponsored by Nakanojo tourism association Going to a Ryokan is usually considered to be a relaxing experience – lying around in the warm onsen bath, enjoying room service, and some sake. The Kashiwaya Ryokan, on the other hand, also wants...

Kashiwaya Ryokan is a ryokan located in Shima onsen, gunma prefecture, Japan.

My First Ryokan – Kashiwaya Ryokan at Shima Onsen

September 25, 2017 Cherry Blossoms, Etiquette, Gunma, Onsen & Sento, Ryokan, Sponsored, Spring, Summer

Sponsored by Nakanojo tourism association Japan is known as a country with a lot of tourism, even outside of the big metropolitan areas there are always some interesting destinations for travelers to see. While there are plenty of modern hotels,...

A Tour of the 6th Nakanojo Biennale

September 21, 2017 Gunma, Hiking, Historic Sites, Local Buses, Mountains, Museums & Galleries, Sponsored, Taxis

Sponsored by Nakanojo tourism association In our previous articles on Nakanojo, we discussed the upcoming art festival Nakanojo Biennale. It takes place over the course of an entire month every other year in the rural Gunma town of Nakanojo, and...

Murakami Lacquerware, A local craftwork with a long history.

Murakami Lacquerware – The Specialty Handicraft of Niigata

September 15, 2017 Culture, Historic Sites, Museums & Galleries, Niigata, Souvenirs, Sponsored, Winter

Sponsored by Murakami City During my trip to Murakami city, I learned about the numerous “charm points” of this interesting town. Besides beautiful beaches and delicious food and drink, Murakami also has a history of making “Tsuishu” or red lacquerware....

Welcome to Salmon Town: Sample the Cuisine of Murakami

September 10, 2017 Niigata, Rice, Sashimi, Sponsored, Summer Festivals, Teishoku

Sponsored by Murakami City If you take a stroll around Murakami City, you are sure to see pictures of salmon everywhere. Indeed, Murakami is popularly known as a salmon town, due to its proximity to the Miomote River. This river...

Murakami: A Town on the Sea of Japan

September 5, 2017 Beaches & Islands, Fishing, Local Buses, Niigata, Sponsored, Summer, Taxis

Sponsored by Murakami City The “Sea of Japan” is an inland sea separating Japan from Russia and China. This area is very popular with Japanese tourists in summer, primarily for two reasons: fishing and beaches! When one thinks of the...

Nakanojo Biennale , An art festival at Nakanojo town, Gunma prefecture, Japan.

Nakanojo Biennale – Meet the Artists Beautifying the Japanese Countryside

September 4, 2017 Gunma, Historic Sites, Museums & Galleries, Onsen & Sento, Sponsored, Summer Festivals

Sponsored by Nakanojo tourism association Margherita Marchioni (Left) with Kazue Taguchi (Right) Starting on September 9th, the town of Nakanojo, Gunma will begin their 6th Biennale. This art festival, which is held in the rural Gunma town every other year,...

Want To Get Away from It All? The Beaches of the Sea of Japan

September 2, 2017 Beaches & Islands, Fishing, Niigata, Souvenirs, Sponsored, Summer

Sponsored by Murakami City Though Murakami is a small, somewhat remote city, the area becomes much busier in the summertime as a result of its proximity to the beach! Without needing a plane ticket to travel the distance to...

Kawaminato lighthouse along the Nagara River

Mino City – Stroll Along the Nagara River

June 6, 2017 Cherry Blossoms, Gifu, Historic Sites, Sponsored, Summer Festivals, Temples & Shrines

Sponsored by Mino City Seeing the Flower Mikoshi Festival is a great reason to visit Mino in Gifu prefecture, but there are a few other things to see as well! The Nagara River - Lifeline of Mino City Though the...

Mino: Stay at a Ryokan in A Leisurely Fashion!

June 4, 2017 Cherry Blossoms, Gardens & Parks, Gifu, Onsen & Sento, Ryokan, Sponsored, Summer Festivals

Sponsored by Mino City Since the Mino town festival is a two day affair, why not stay in town and experience both days in a leisurely fashion? One advantage of being in the scenic countryside is their wonderful old-style hotels,...

Hanamikoshi festival in Mino city, Gifu prefecture

Flower Mikoshi Festival: A Look into the Sweet Life of Mino City

June 2, 2017 Cherry Blossoms, Culture, Gifu, Historic Sites, Sponsored, Spring, Summer Festivals, Takayama

Travellers in Japan all too often miss out on one of the key things that makes the country so unique: its rural areas and countryside. Though famous for its giant metropolis of Tokyo and other major cities like Osaka and...

Yamadera- A Brief Look at the Natural Beauty of Yamagata

April 26, 2017 Hiking, Mountains, Soba, Sponsored, Temples & Shrines, Tohoku, Yamagata

Where is Yamadera "Mountain Temple"? The area of Northern Honshu known as Tohoku is not always the first destination in mind for the tourist new to Japan. The mountainous region north of Kanto, from Fukushima all the way up...

Top 3 Nature Spots in Nikko You Cannot Miss!

April 22, 2017 Kanto, Local Buses, Mountains, National Parks, Nikko, Ryokan, Sponsored, Temples & Shrines, Tochigi, Volcanoes

Sponsored by Nikko City Tourism Association In our past articles on Nikko, we have focused mainly on places of historical significance, whether it be seeing the history of Toshogu, or joining in on historical activities at Edo Wonderland. However, for...

Staying in Nikko: The Where, How and Why!

April 21, 2017 Affordable Accommodation, Culture, Kanto, Language, Nikko, Onsen & Sento, Ryokan, Sponsored, Tochigi

Sponsored by Nikko City Tourism Association If you have read the previous articles we have written about Nikko, you may find that the feat of doing everything in one day may be quite difficult. But not to worry! There are plenty of...

Yuba 101: A Beginners Guide to Nikko’s Culinary Specialty

April 20, 2017 Culture, Kaiseki, Nikko, Ryokan, Sashimi, Sponsored, Sushi, Tempura

Sponsored by Nikko City Tourism Association If, like me, you browse the restaurants in Nikko on the way to Toshogu shrine, you may see a lot of restaurants advertising local specialties, like Cheese Eggs, Cheesecake, and something called “Yuba.” [caption...

Nikko: Not Just Shrines and Tofu, but Also Ninjas and Samurai!

April 14, 2017 Culture, Historic Sites, Nikko, Sponsored, Theme Parks, Tochigi

Sponsored by Nikko City Tourism Association Quick, which are guests, and which are actors? If you checked out our previous articles on Nikko, you may be interested in some other things to do around town: Edo Wonderland is a theme...

Discover Nikko Toshogu, the Shrine with Over 400 Years of History

April 13, 2017 Historic Sites, Local Buses, Nikko, Rail Passes, Shinkansen, Sponsored, Spring, Temples & Shrines, Tochigi, Tourist Visa

Lately, people visiting Japan are increasingly taking the time to visit the small city of Nikko, which is located in Tochigi Prefecture. Nikko just celebrated its own special anniversary! This year marks the 401st anniversary of Nikko Toshogu Shrine, possibly the...

Articles by Alex Ehrenreich

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