{"id":14255,"date":"2019-08-22T04:42:29","date_gmt":"2019-08-22T08:42:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mobal.com\/blog\/?p=14255"},"modified":"2020-03-12T08:20:08","modified_gmt":"2020-03-12T12:20:08","slug":"japans-dragon-route","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mobal.com\/blog\/travel-talk\/japans-dragon-route\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan’s Dragon Route"},"content":{"rendered":"

Take the road less travelled to discover the beauty of Japan- follow the Dragon!<\/p>\n

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The Dragon Route<\/a> is the alternative tourist path to the well-worn \u201cGolden Route\u201d which covers Tokyo from Kyoto. Known in Japanese as \u201cShoryudo\u201d the Dragon Route cuts across the main Japanese island from north to south \u2013 an area that is shaped like a dragon who ascends into the sky from Nagoya.<\/p>\n

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Assuming you are not an actual dragon it`s more likely you will descend into Nagoya- through the airport. Note- the airport is also referred to as Chubu Centrair International!<\/p>\n

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In any case you start your journey in the middle of Japan`s main island- the \u201cChubu\u201d region. Stretching from the Pacific to the Sea of Japan with mountains in the middle expect stunning scenery with oodles of variety. With excellent access to Mt. Fuji, Hot springs such as Gero & Wakura onsens & even Tokyo & Kyoto you don\u2019t have to be with \u2013 or far from the maddening crowds!<\/p>\n

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Getting Around The Dragon Route<\/h2>\n

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While you might be disappointed that dragons don\u2019t fly you won\u2019t be disappointed with the Dragon Bus Pass- known as the \u201cShoryudo Highway Bus Ticket\u201d! It\u2019s another heavily discounted ticket only available to foreign tourists with unlimited use of designated buses in the region- with rail transport included to\/from Nagoya Airport (ok, Chubu Centrair) !<\/p>\n

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If you are a Welsh dragon- or for that matter a Georgian dragon (or from South Africa, New Zealand or Italy) you might be visiting the Toyota Stadium for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in which case you will become quite familiar with the area around Nagoya. In any case it\u2019s good to become familiar with the main attractions some of which should be one every visitor\u2019s list when visiting Japan!<\/p>\n

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Take a Look at What`s on The Dragon Route<\/h2>\n

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Takayama:<\/strong>\u00a0Japan\u2019s most beautiful rural town. Old shops, coffee houses & sake breweries dating back to the 1600\u2019s<\/p>\n

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Shirakawago:<\/strong>\u00a0a Unesco World Heritage site with historic farmhouse famed for their steep thatched roofs<\/p>\n

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Kanazawa:<\/strong>\u00a0Japan\u2019s best preserved samurai & geisha district. Also the site of one of Japan\u2019s best 3 traditional gardens- Kenroku-en<\/p>\n

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Matsumoto:<\/strong>\u00a0Location of the famous\/beautiful Matsumoto Castle and access point for the Japanese Alps.<\/p>\n

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Magome:<\/strong>\u00a0A staging point for visitors of old travelling between Tokyo & Kyoto the town still retains its stone walkways as part of the Magome-Tsumago trail<\/p>\n

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Komagane:<\/strong>\u00a0A quiet city of 30,000 inhabitants & a good starting place for hikes in the Central Japanese Alps<\/p>\n

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The 3-Day Pass (Takayama, Shirakawago, Kanazawa): 8,500 yen<\/h2>\n

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If you make it this far & you have the time make it your mission to visit all 3 x listed major destinations. The 3-Day Pass doesn`t give you to time to pause & rest but when in Japan do as the Japanese do\u00a0\"????\"<\/p>\n

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You can only buy this ticket online in advance of travel & exchange your ticket for an actual pass on arrival in Japan. In addition there are no options to book in advance online. However the 3-day Pass is fabulous value covering;<\/p>\n

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