NTA Singapore

03/06/2026

While Typhoon Jangmi recently made an unexpected early landfall, June typically marks the beginning of the monsoon season. Please be prepared for increased rainfall during your trip. Despite the rain, this period also signals the start of summer, offering the opportunity to enjoy seasonal fruits and flowers.

One highlight we recommend is the Suigo Itako Iris Festival, held through the end of June at the Suigo Itako Iris Park in Ibaraki Prefecture. The park features over one million irises and 500 varieties in bloom. On select dates, you may even witness a traditional Japanese wedding ceremony, a beautiful local tradition still honored today.

The park is conveniently located within walking distance of JR Itako Station, which is approximately a 40-minute train ride from JR Narita Station. You can use a JR East Pass or a standard JR Pass for this journey.

If you have not already done so, please consider purchasing your JR Pass through us before your departure.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions on the JR pass or if you would like information on how to purchase the JR Pass.

27/05/2026

20/05/2026

Have you ever wanted to step into the story of Jack and the Beanstalk?

At SORA terrace, there may not be a giant beanstalk or a castle in the clouds — but you can stand above the clouds and admire the breathtaking world below.

Located at an altitude of 1,770m in Nagano, this scenic terrace is famous for its stunning sea of clouds*. One of its newest attractions is a spiral staircase that stretches toward the sky, inspired by the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. Walking up the staircase truly feels like climbing into the clouds.

Getting there is easy too — no magical beanstalk climbing required! Simply take the world’s largest ropeway up to the summit while enjoying panoramic views of the Northern Alps along the journey.

SORA Terrace is open from April to November each year.

Getting there:
• Free shuttle bus available from Yudanaka Station to the ropeway station
• From Tokyo, take the Shinkansen to JR Nagano Station, then transfer to the local line to Yudanaka Station
• Note: The JR Pass does not cover the local train ride to Yudanaka Station

*There is around a 60% chance of seeing the sea of clouds here, depending on weather conditions. Evening visits usually offer a better chance of witnessing this magical view.

For more information:
https://www.ryuoo.com/green/sora_terrace/

If you plan to include this destination in your Japan itinerary, consider getting a JR East Pass or JR Pass to save on transportation costs.

Do contact us via email or phone to get the latest JR pass price and purchase method.

13/05/2026

Golden Week in Japan has ended, which makes this a great time to visit the country. It is usually slightly quieter and less crowded before the rainy season begins in June.

If you are planning to visit the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, this may be one of the best times to go before the famous Murodo Snow Wall melts completely.

There are two main entry points to the Alpine Route, depending on where you plan to travel next.

The more popular route starts from Toyama Station, ideal if you want to experience the Murodo Snow Wall first.

Alternatively, you can start from Shinano-Omachi Station or Nagano Station if you prefer to visit the Kurobe Dam or Daikanbo Ropeway before heading towards Murodo.

If you are travelling from Nagoya and exploring the Alpine Route together with nearby cities, we highly recommend getting the JR Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Pass. It offers great value by covering selected JR train journeys as well as transportation along the Alpine Route.

Do get this JR pass from us before traveling.

06/05/2026

Would you like to travel to a place that is not crowded by tourists?

You may want to travel to Tottori prefecture. Other than the famous sand dunes, there are more places to visit which are less crowded by tourists.

One of the places to visit will be the Tottori prefectural Flower Park aka Tottori Hanakairo. This flower park is located near Yonago city and with a background of Mt Daisen.

Mt Daisen is the largest mountain in the west region of Japan and was given the nickname as the Mt Fuji of the west due to its shape.

The park is one of the largest flower park in Japan. You can enjoy the flowers and greenery all year round.

You can take the free shuttle service from JR Yonago station to the park. For international tourist, there is a discounted rates if you presented your passport when purchasing the ticket.

We would highly recommend that you get a JR West regional pass or JR Nationwide pass if you would like to add this place as part of your itinerary.

Do get your JR pass from us before traveling.

Official website: https://www.tottorihanakairou.or.jp/en/

29/04/2026

Are you planning to visit Ashikaga Flower Park for the wisteria season soon?

If so, you may also be interested in a hidden gem within Tokyo: Kameido Tenjin Shrine. Located in a quiet neighborhood in eastern Tokyo, this spot is less known to tourists and offers a unique view of the Tokyo Skytree framed by wisteria. The shrine hosts a festival from mid-April to early May to coincide with the blooms.

The shrine is easily accessible from Tokyo Station in about 30 to 40 minutes, including the walk from the nearest station. The grounds are open 24 hours a day, and admission is free.

Please consider adding Kameido Tenjin Shrine to your itinerary. Additionally, if you need a JR Pass for your trip, you can purchase one through us.

22/04/2026

A town located in southern Hokkaido that everyone pass by without checking it out.

Kikonai is where the Hokkaido shinkansen will stop first upon exiting the Seikan tunnel.
It is a quiet town with amazing places waiting for you to visit.

Cape Saraki is a great place to visit if you are a fans of Tulip. Every May, over 50,000 tulips blooms in this garden. You can oversee the Oshima peninsula as your background.

Donan Trolley Train is an attraction where you can use a self propelled trolley along an abandoned track. It may a fun actitvity for you and your family.

If you would like to take a photo of the Hokkaido shinkansen exiting or entering the Seikan tunnel, you may want to go to the Shinkansen viewing spot.
*Recommended to drive here.

There are 2 ways to reach Kikonai.
- The 1st way will be taking the Shinkansen to Kikonai from Shin Aomori or Shin Hakodate Hokuto.
- The 2nd way will be taking the South Hokkaido Railway from Hakodate. This train line will be traveling along the coast line where you can enjoy the different scenery it has to offer. The traveling time will take an hour from Hakodate to Kikonai. (This train line is not covered by the JR pass)

So you can consider doing it a day trip or side trip from Hakodate.
Do not forget that you can get your JR pass or JR regional pass from us if you are traveling soon.

15/04/2026

Have you been to 1 of the top 3 Sakura trees in Japan?

One of them are located in Miharu town, Central Fukushima. The Miharu Takizakura is considered as the single most beautiful sakura tree in Japan. "Takizakura" literally means "waterfall cherry tree" in Japanese.

The tree's wide drooping branches making it appear like a cascading waterfall. The tree is estimated over a thousand years old.

The best time to view the sakura will be around mid April when it is full bloom. The Miharu Takizakura is located at a rural and remote area in the town.
You may have to take a taxi from Miharu station. There is a temporary bus service that operated from Miharu station to Miharu Takizakura during the peak of the sakura season.

You can use the JR pass or JR East pass to travel from Tokyo station to Miharu station. The trip is fully covered by the passes.

Contact us or walk into our office to purchase your JR pass.

08/04/2026

The sakura season may be concluding in Tokyo and Osaka. However, you can still experience sakura in other cities beyond Tokyo and Osaka.

Cities such as Sendai, Nagano, Toyama, and many others are just beginning their sakura season. In Hokkaido, the sakura season will commence from late April to early May.

If you plan to use JR trains for most of your journey between cities, you might want to consider obtaining a JR pass or a regional JR pass for your travels.

Should you be uncertain about whether a JR pass is necessary for your trip, you can reach out to us to inquire via our email or phone and purchase the JR pass.