Top trips to watch in 2021 from five popular travel writers

From travel that is gaining popularity in the new normal era to trips to World Heritage sites, be sure to use this as a reference for your travel plans this year.

One of the keywords for travel in 2021 is a style that takes into account the new normal. This trend was also seen in the spots that popular writers were paying attention to.

With COVID-19, the spotlight is back on this secret hot spring in a remote area.

Miki Ando

When the couple was exhausted after being tossed about by the rough waves of the city every day, they visited the Manza Prince Hotel in Manza Onsen, Gunma Prefecture, and were completely knocked out by the fresh hot spring waters and the beautiful scenery. This led them to become such hot spring lovers that they obtained the "Hot Spring Sommelier Master" qualifications. They are also active as travel writers, having visited about 120 hot spring inns and written a total of over 700 articles. They also obtained a qualification as a Healthy Bathing Instructor in order to perfect their bathing techniques. Now that it is difficult to go to hot springs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they are enjoying the hot spring atmosphere at home while researching bath additives and bathing techniques.
Web
Twitter
Instagram

Miki Ando, a freelance writer and certified hot spring sommelier master, enjoys hot spring trips both in Japan and overseas with her husband. She also visits hot springs many times during her travels, and says that she cherishes her time in hot springs more than anything else.

What Ando-san would like to recommend for 2021 is "Okomori hot spring inns" where you can relax and enjoy the baths at your own pace without worrying about those around you, even in this COVID-19 era. He told us about some particularly noteworthy spots.

[Aomori] Yachi Onsen in Mt. Hakkoda

Yachi Onsen is a hidden hot spring inn located on Mt. Hakkoda in Aomori Prefecture, where a sacred spring wells up from beneath your feet. This inn has a history of about 400 years, and was once one of the three great hidden hot springs in the Tohoku region. It is located in such a remote area that it is the perfect place to stay.

The interior of the building has a nostalgic atmosphere that is reminiscent of a hot spring resort. Ando-san describes it as "emotional and sophisticated!"

In addition, the rare wild animal "martens" are often seen around Yachi Onsen, so if you're lucky you may be able to see them from the windows of the dinner venue. Their cute appearance will surely warm your heart.

And there is a reason why you should definitely stay overnight at Yachi Onsen, rather than just visiting for a day trip.

Ando-san

This inn has two private hot springs, one of which is called the "sacred spring" and springs from under your feet. The water is particularly fresh, as it bubbles up from under your feet. Its color is a clear blue.

The hot spring water that gushes out from under your feet is located in the men's large bath, and men and women are switched over for three hours from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, but day-use bathing is only available until 5:00 pm. This means that it is a legendary hot spring that women can only enter if they stay overnight. If you have come all the way to Yachi Onsen, we recommend that you stay overnight to enjoy this hot spring water.
The source temperature is a lukewarm 38 degrees, so it's the perfect treat for someone like me who doesn't like hot water.

The food is also delicious, using plenty of local ingredients. The Aomori local dish "Ichigo-ni" (strawberry stew) is especially delicious!

Yachi Onsen

A relaxing retreat to release the tired body and mind from a cramped life

Konomi

A genuine hotel lover and content creator who travels around hotels all over Japan. His love of hotels has led him to work in many areas, including as brand director for L&G Global Business, which operates HOTEL SHE, and as an official ambassador for Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo, as well as managing hotel media accounts. He excels at creating content that matches the brand's worldview, managing social media, and casual photography.
Twitter
Instagram

Konomi, who posts information about wonderful hotels in various places on social media, is particular about choosing hotels because she thinks of them not just as a "place to spend the night comfortably" but as a "destination" and "main content." The hotel she is paying attention to is the Retreat Hotel.

Why not soothe your mind and body, which have unknowingly been stressed by the COVID-19 pandemic, in a hotel surrounded by nature?

[Okinawa] Miyakojima's "The Rescape"

The Rescape is a hotel that opened in May 2019 and is located in a hideaway on the east coast of Miyako Island, an area surrounded by rare natural beaches and virgin forests that remain untouched by nature, even within Okinawa Prefecture.

The guest rooms are designed to allow you to feel the nature and culture of the island, and you can also experience original activities that make use of the great outdoors, allowing you to enjoy the air of Miyako Island with all your senses.

By the way, the name "rescape" is a combination of "retreat," which means to get away from everyday life and reset your mind and body, and "escape," which means to escape. It's an oasis where you can forget about the hustle and bustle of everyday life, clear your mind, and simply entrust yourself to nature.

Konomi-san

I love the sea, so I often go to tropical countries, but my friends around me all say, "The sea in Miyakojima was the most beautiful out of all the places I've been!", so I've always wanted to go to Miyakojima. I haven't been able to achieve that yet, so I'd like to go this year.

"The Rescape" is run by UDS, the same company behind some of my favorite hotels, "ONSEN RYOKAN Yuen Sapporo," "HOTEL ANTEROOM KYOTO," and "MUJl HOTEL," and it has received very high praise from my friends.

The charming retreat feeling that overflows from the concept of "sharpening your senses and experiencing the flow of time in every moment, the luxury of doing nothing in nature"...!

the rescape

Avoid crowds and go outside. Enjoy the outdoors with a bike trip

Yuhei Tonosho

Born in 1993 in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, and graduated from the Faculty of Letters at Doshisha University. After graduating from college, he worked in sales at a major parts manufacturer while also working as a travel writer. He believes in an outdoor lifestyle, spending long holidays cycling and frequenting the mountains on weekends. In spring, he cycles while admiring the cherry blossoms, in summer he goes on a bike adventure to the cool northern Japan, in autumn he climbs hidden areas in search of autumn leaves, and in winter he is captivated by the sparkling frost-covered trees and silvery white world. Such trips to immerse himself in nature are his routine. In September 2020, he won a prize in the "Summer YAMAP Photo Contest 2020". Graniph will release a T-shirt with his winning entry printed on it.
Web
Instagram
Twitter

Yuhei Tonosho is a man who writes about his bicycle trips in travel media and blogs. As he is an office worker, he enjoys bicycle trips around the country on weekends, holidays, and during the long vacations he has a few times a year.

Traveling on foot, he experiences the local nature, history, food and people with all five senses. Tonosho's outdoor travel style is perfect for the current era of concern about crowds.

Tonosho, who loves cycling trips, recommended some spots where you can enjoy a pleasant ride while also fully immersing yourself in the local culture.

[Nagasaki] Hirado, Ikitsuki Island and the Goto Islands

The Goto Islands are made up of five large islands and several smaller ones. You might think they're difficult to access, but they're easily accessible from Nagasaki Prefecture and Fukuoka by ferry or plane.

This is where Christians once settled, and traces of prayer from those times, such as churches and Christian caves, remain to this day. For this reason, several areas in the archipelago are known as part of the World Heritage Site "Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region," which was registered in 2018.

Of course, there are many things to see in the history and church architecture, but what we want you to pay particular attention to is the beautiful natural scenery. This photo shows Tonosho's bicycle trip around the Goto Islands during Golden Week in 2019. The sea and sky are so clear and blue that it almost seems as if they are one. You can feel the pleasantness of the scenery from the photo.

Tonosho-san was completely captivated by the charms of the Goto Islands during this trip, and now he is interested in the Hirado and Ikitsuki Island areas, which are also in Nagasaki Prefecture.

Tonosho

The Goto Islands shone brighter than any other destination I have ever visited. During my bicycle trip to the Goto Islands in 2019, I was touched by the overwhelmingly beautiful natural scenery, the Christian culture that is still deeply rooted in the area, and the charm of the truly warm people, and I became a big fan of the Goto Islands.

I would like to revisit Fukue Island and Nakadori Island, which I visited last time, but I haven't been to Uku Island, Ojika Island, Nozaki Island, or Hisaka Island yet, so next time I'd like to get on my bike and explore every corner of the islands. I'm checking out the former Nokubi Church, which is a World Heritage Site, and the Madarashima Lighthouse.

I am also strongly attracted to the Hirado area, which is at the very edge of Nagasaki. It is a great place to cycle through the Ikitsuki Island Sunset Way, which is often featured in car commercials, and the Kawauchi Pass, a scenic mountain pass known only to a select few, and visit the traces of the local Christians.

Currently, the outlook for overseas travel is still uncertain, but that's why we should also think about long-distance journeys through the air.

While it might be nice to think, "Once travel resumes, it's time for a classic overseas trip..." writers Remi and Tanaka Sayoko have suggested trips that allow you to enjoy special experiences that are unique to overseas trips.

Why not splurge while you can? Enjoy a family getaway to a resort

Remi

Representative and producer of "LOVETABI". Graduated from the Department of English at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.
After appearing on the TV program "Ainori" while still a student, she backpacked around the world, including across Africa, and published a book titled "LOVE Travel." After graduating, she worked in overseas sales at a general trading company, and then launched the women's travel media "LOVETABI." Currently, as a mother of two, she also runs "LOVETABI Mama," a travel and outing information media for families with children.
LOVETABI
LOVETABI Mama

Remi runs LOVETABI, a travel information site for adult travelers. She knows all about locations where you can feel extraordinary without doing anything, and places where you can stay in a luxury hotel and enjoy activities for adults and children.

If you're thinking of taking a special trip, why not try one of the trips recommended by Remi?

[Maldives] 1 island, 1 resort

The Maldives is a prime example of a beach resort. Its name is said to come from the Sanskrit word "Malodheep," which means "garland of islands," and is a reference to the way the islands form a group of 26 atolls (atolls) that are connected together in a circle.

It takes about 12 to 13 hours from Japan with a connecting flight, so if you have a long vacation, I would definitely like to go.

The Maldives, which consists of approximately 1,200 islands, has a "one island, one resort" style, meaning that each island has only one hotel.

It is truly a luxurious experience to be able to spend a very private time surrounded by the beauty of nature, especially the coral reefs, with white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters.

Remi says he wants to realize his long-cherished dream of staying in the Maldives with his family.

Remi

We were planning a family trip to the Maldives during the summer holidays of 2020. It was a long-awaited trip to take our children to a memorable overseas destination that my husband and I had visited together.

The Maldives is home to many one-of-a-kind luxury resorts, so I'd like to enjoy a private stay in an overwater cottage with a pool that can only be found here.

You can spend luxurious time doing nothing on the beach or in a hammock, relaxing at the spa, enjoying pool and beach activities, and having a romantic sunset dinner - all the while enjoying an extraordinary resort life to the fullest!

A large-scale solo trip to the Middle East

Sayoko Tanaka

Born in Osaka, graduated from Saga Art College. After working at an advertising agency, she moved to Tokyo to pursue a career in hair and makeup. Currently, she works as a hair and makeup artist at a TV station while also writing about her hobby of traveling.
He has visited all 47 prefectures in Japan, and is on imaginary journeys every day to capture beautiful scenery that can't be found anywhere else in his memories and on camera.
Web

Sayoko Tanaka is a hair and makeup artist who loves to travel and is also active as a writer. When traveling abroad, she often chooses countries with World Heritage sites and enjoys traveling alone at her own pace.

Tanaka is interested in visiting ruins in the Middle East. Of course, traveling with someone is fun, but traveling alone to explore World Heritage sites and quietly reflect on history feels even more special.

[Jordan] Petra and Jerash ruins

Located in the Middle East, Jordan is a country that has developed a unique climate with a mixture of Roman and African cultures. Jordan is known for its many tourist destinations, including the Dead Sea and locations featured in movies.

The Petra ruins are famous as the setting for the movie "Indiana Jones." And the Jerash ruins, with their magnificent appearance from the ancient Roman era, allow you to immerse yourself in the scenery as if you had traveled back in time. When you see them in person, you will be able to feel the vast scale of history.

Mr. Tanaka

In Jordan, I want to visit Jerash and other ruins and experience the sheer scale of the ruins. I've seen ruins in Peru and Morocco, but I still think, "I have to see this." It's also used as a filming location for movies, so I have a strong desire to go there.

I would also like to visit the Dead Sea and the desert area of Wadi Rum.

Photography is my hobby, so I'd like to capture the scenery in my own way.

Five travel writers have chosen "Hot travel styles and travel spots for 2021" from different perspectives. After reading this article, you may have felt even more motivated to travel.

As you plan your next trip, look forward to the day when you can travel freely again.