YOKOZUKA NorikoMay 13, 2026
 
 
 
JAPANESE READING & LISTENING

My Domestic Travels in Japan

Explore castles, shrines, hot springs, and beautiful places in Japan through a natural Japanese travel essay by Yokozuka-sensei.

Learn Japanese with a Travel Essay about Places in Japan

Have you ever traveled within Japan? In this blog post, Yokozuka-sensei shares some places she has visited in Japan, including historic ruins, castles, shrines, temples, and hot springs.

With furigana provided, this essay is a helpful resource for learners who want to practice reading natural Japanese while learning vocabulary related to travel and sightseeing.

It is also a good chance to think about places in Japan you have visited, or places you would like to visit someday.

Enjoy reading and listening to natural Japanese through this gentle travel essay.


Read Natural Japanese in Context:My Domestic Travels in Japan

私の国内旅行

 

 私はレッスンで、みなさんに旅行の話を聞くことがあります。今回は、私が日本国内で行ったことのある場所の中から、いくつかご紹介してみたいと思います。

 まずは遺跡です。代表的な遺跡の中では吉野ケ里遺跡、三内丸山遺跡に行きました。遺跡では、当時の人々の様子を想像しながら、のんびりと見て回るのが好きです。

 お城も好きです。小田原城、岐阜城、松本城などいくつか行きました。城の中に入って、急な階段を上っていき、城の上から外を眺めるのが好きです。夕方、城の外から城全体をぼーっと眺めて過ごすのがもっと好きです。

 神社仏閣もたくさん行ったのでここに書ききれませんが、今月は三峯神社に行く予定です。

 温泉もあちこち行きますが、今まで行った中で谷川温泉が最高によかったです。温泉も人によって合う合わないがあるので、自分に合った温泉が見つけられるといいですね。

 まだまだ行ってみたいところがたくさんあります。四国にはまだ足を踏み入れたことがないので、ぜひ行ってみたい。九州も時間をかけて巡りたい。屋久島、高千穂峡は外せないでしょう。

 これらの場所に行ったことがある人はいますか?
行きたいところがたくさんありすぎて困ってしまいますね。

Learn Japanese Listening with Video Lesson

Watch Yokozuka sensei unpack “My Domestic Travels in Japan,” with clear native pronunciation to sharpen your listening skills.

Learn Japanese Kanji with Furigana Reading Help

わたし国内旅行こくないりょこう

わたしはレッスンで、みなさんに旅行りょこうはなしくことがあります。今回こんかいは、わたし日本国内にほんこくないったことのある場所ばしょなかから、いくつかご紹介しょうかいしてみたいとおもいます。

まずは遺跡いせきです。代表的だいひょうてき遺跡いせきなかでは吉野ケ里遺跡よしのがりいせき三内丸山遺跡さんないまるやまいせききました。遺跡いせきでは、当時とうじ人々ひとびと様子ようす想像そうぞうしながら、のんびりとまわるのがきです。

しろきです。小田原城おだわらじょう岐阜城ぎふじょう松本城まつもとじょうなどいくつかきました。しろなかはいって、きゅう階段かいだんのぼっていき、しろうえからそとながめるのがきです。夕方ゆうがたしろそとから城全体しろぜんたいぼーっとながめてごすのがもっときです。

神社仏閣じんじゃぶっかくもたくさんったのでここにききれませんが、今月こんげつ三峯神社みつみねじんじゃ予定よていです。

温泉おんせんあちこちきますが、いままでったなか谷川温泉たにがわおんせん最高さいこうによかったです。温泉おんせんひとによってわないがあるので、自分じぶんった温泉おんせんつけられるといいですね。

まだまだってみたいところがたくさんあります。四国しこくにはまだあしれたことがないので、ぜひってみたい。九州きゅうしゅう時間じかんをかけてめぐりたい屋久島やくしま高千穂峡たかちほきょうはずせないでしょう。

これらの場所ばしょったことがあるひとはいますか?
きたいところがたくさんありすぎてこまってしまいますね。

English translation for understanding

My Domestic Travels in Japan

In my lessons, I sometimes ask everyone about their travels. This time, I would like to introduce a few places I have visited within Japan.

First, there are archaeological sites. Among the famous ones, I have been to the Yoshinogari Historical Park and the Sannai Maruyama Site. At ruins like these, I like to walk around leisurely while imagining what people’s lives were like at that time.

I also like castles. I have visited several, including Odawara Castle, Gifu Castle, and Matsumoto Castle. I like going inside the castle, climbing the steep stairs, and looking out from the top. But I like it even more when I spend time in the evening gazing absent-mindedly at the whole castle from outside.

I have also visited many shrines and temples, so I cannot write about them all here, but this month I am planning to visit Mitsumine Shrine.

I also go to hot springs here and there, but among all the places I have visited so far, Tanigawa Onsen was the best. Hot springs suit different people in different ways, so I hope you can find one that suits you well.

There are still many places I would like to visit. I have never set foot in Shikoku, so I definitely want to go there. I would also like to take my time traveling around Kyushu. Yakushima and Takachiho Gorge are places I certainly cannot miss.

Has anyone been to any of these places?
There are so many places I want to visit that it is hard to choose.

This week’s key vocabulary

遺跡いせき – ruins; archaeological site

のんびりと – leisurely; relaxedly

ながめる – to look at; to gaze at

ぼーっと – absent-mindedly; blankly

神社仏閣じんじゃぶっかく – shrines and temples

あちこち – here and there; all over

あしれる – to step into; to set foot in

めぐる – to go around; to visit various places

~ははずせない – cannot miss; must not skip

Meet the Teacher

YOKOZUKA Noriko
YOKOZUKA Noriko
Japanese Language Teacher

After studying abroad in Beijing, I decided to become a Japanese teacher and have since enjoyed spending time with many students in engaging Japanese lessons.
Currently, I teach intermediate and higher levels. My goal is to help students expand their vocabulary and improve their sentence structure to express themselves in Japanese more widely and naturally, which in turn refines their conversational skills.

I aim to guide intermediate learners toward the advanced level and help advanced students move beyond it. I warmly welcome those who enjoy learning Japanese in a fun yet thorough way. Let’s enjoy learning together!

Experience and Qualifications

  • LL.M., Graduate School of Law, Niigata University
  • Completed a Japanese Teacher Training Course while in graduate school
  • Community Japanese language volunteer experience
  • Engaged in Japanese language education (Japanese language schools in Takasaki, Utsunomiya, and Korea, and Japanese language special courses for foreign students)

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