Contrary to many cities in Japan, major cities in Hokkaido such as Sapporo, Hakodate, and Furano aren’t as populated. Moreover, these cities also have nature’s blessing that permit visitors to enjoy outdoor activities. There are many trees, trails, open space, and bodies of water, which make rafting a highly feasible activity. Visiting Hokkaido cities during the summer provide perfect conditions to have fun doing things outdoor.

Rafting may be a challenging sport but provides the ultimate thrill. If you want to further challenge yourself, try inflatable ducky rafts where up to two people can ride the raft at once. As oppose to guided rafting tours, ducky rafts may be just as fun. It’s also a popular choice among couples.

Therefore, next time you plan a vacation, maybe you’ll consider embarking on a summer holiday rafting trip to Hokkaido? It will surely be a memorable experience.

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• Visit the City Hall – if you want to get a peaceful place in a city so crowded and full of high point, maybe you should consider taking a visit to the City Hall. Tokyo City hall is 800 ft tall and offers an amazing view of the whole city as if you were watching over them. The panorama view from City Hall is incredible and offers magnanimous vistas of the sky. On a clear day, you can even see Mount Fuji from the top of City Hall. The place is also situated near the gay area of Shinjuku. What else can be more convenient.

• Tokyo streets are very confusing. Heer anybody can get lost, even cab drivers. So whenever you go out to see the real city make sure you have a map of the locations drawn by a local friend pointing out directions where you have to go. Many times, even local city maps can get you in trouble as they draw places and routes that don’t even exist. In case you get lost or have difficulties finding the place don’t hesitate to ask for help.

• The best weather to choose to visit Tokyo would be in summers. Summer with nice, clear skies should give you a great day to enjoy and hang out. Rainy season is also another great time for gay couples to roam around the city. During this season many people go on vacation and the streets are clearer than usual.

• The place around Shinjuku is equipped with bars, dance clubs, sauna, massage centers and many other places for gay couples. You can also go to these places with your partner but if you’re not a native are speak Japanese, it’s better to go in such cases with a local friend who will introduce you to the place and be your ticket in. Without proper Japanese or a local friend these bars won’t allow foreigners to enter.

• If you have been to Tokyo before for a gay couple trip, you must be aware what a beautiful experience it is with your partner. There are many things to do and places to visit around Tokyo. Mount Fuji is one of those places if you ever get to visit the place, do it.

Featuring a vast history and many untouched beauties, Japan is not a country to be missed. So grab your hiking boots and fill your water packs, and check out these rural Japan popular hiking spots.

1) Oze National Park

Oze National Park covers many different areas within itself. The Ozegahara Marshland and the Ozenuma Pond are two of the most well-known areas within the park, but there are many trails and smaller mountains that make up this majesctic piece of wilderness. The trails lead to many places but decent hikers should look to hiking from the Hatomachitoge trailhead, past the marshland and pond, and then finishing at the Oshimizu trailhead. This is an all day hike, six to eight hours, so inexperienced hikers may want to consider doing a smaller hike.

2) Nikko National Park

Two hours north of Tokyo, and yet a world away. Nikko national park surrounds the Toshugo Shrine Complex and the mausoleum of the founder of Japan’s Tokugawa Shogunate. This are is a great place to relax that won’t take you too far from the city. If you are visiting the county, it’s a good idea to devote a day to go here and have a look at other things that the country has to offer.

Japan is a country of opposites. The capitol and surrounding major cities give the impression that it is all modernised, yet a short bus ride to the west will show you lazy towns, massive hills, and tiny villages. A hike in Japan is worth the leg pain you’ll feel the next day.

Image: Stefan Schlautmann