ESCAPE

This all color, high-design magazine, which is published four times a year, provides information on seasonal sightseeing, gourmet, lifestyle and travel.
ESCAPE is at your disposition in all our vehicles, please take a look en enjoy it while boarding to your next destination.

MK Deep Dive: Ikuta Shrine — Where Kobe’s Spirit Was Born

Beneath Kobe’s neon skyline, Ikuta Shrine stands as a living link to ancient Japan. With over 1,800 years of history, this sacred site enshrines Wakahirume-no-Mikoto, goddess of weaving and love. Wander the battlefield-haunted Ikuta Forest, touch the ancient sacred tree, and glimpse the metaphysical world hidden behind the city’s modern pulse. A journey into Japan’s living spirit.

11 minutes ago

Historic brick building with green roofs under a blue sky. Large chimney with star and Japanese text. Sign reads "Sapporo Beer Museum."

MK Deep Dive: Sapporo Beer Museum — Where Hokkaido’s Frontier Spirit Still Brews

Step inside a red-brick relic of Hokkaido’s frontier days. The Sapporo Beer Museum pours more than golden brew—it serves up 120 years of pioneer ambition, resilience, and the simple joy of beer under cold northern skies.

2 hours ago

Island with dense greenery and several traditional buildings. Blue sky above, clear water below, with boats docked at the shore. Serene mood.

MK Deep Dive: Chikubushima Island — Where the Sun, Moon, and Spirits Meet

Floating on the waves of Lake Biwa, Chikubushima Island has drawn pilgrims and poets for over 1,300 years. Home to Hogon-ji Temple and Tsukubusuma Shrine, it’s said to be a power spot—where Benzaiten, the goddess of music and fortune, still answers prayers. Part of the Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage and steeped in imperial lore, this 2-kilometer sanctuary offers myth, history, and stillness—all in a single ferry ride.

3 days ago

Snow-covered village at night, illuminated traditional thatched-roof houses, casting a warm glow. Dark background; serene winter scene.

MK Deep Dive: Shirakawa Village — Where Snow Falls, But Time Stands Still

Tucked deep in Gifu’s snow country, Shirakawa Village offers a timeslip into old Japan. Home to the UNESCO-listed Gassho-zukuri homes—steep, thatched roofs like hands in prayer—it’s a living postcard wrapped in mountains, seasons, and silence. Traditions here aren’t staged; they’re practiced. With MK’s Takayama & Shirakawa-go Sightseeing Plan, you don’t just visit—you remember what still matters.

5 days ago

Bustling Chinatown street with red lanterns, colorful signs, and crowds under a gray sky. Buildings line the street filled with lively energy.

MK Deep Dive: Nankinmachi — Kobe’s Compact Chinatown That Refuses to Fade

Once a bustling enclave of butchers, merchants, and diplomats, Nankinmachi—Kobe’s Chinatown—has burned, rebuilt, and risen again with its own brand of resilient charm. In just 270 meters, this district blends red lanterns, green tea sweets, and Taoist prayers into an unforgettable microcosm of Chinese culture nestled in cosmopolitan Kobe. A savory, sensory bridge between worlds.

Apr 18

White torii gate on a rocky beach, waves crashing. Blue sky and sea in the background, creating a serene coastal scene.

MK Deep Dive: Sakurai Futamigaura’s Couple Stones — Where the Sun Meets the Sea, and Two Become One

On the edge of Fukuoka’s Itoshima Peninsula, Sakurai Futamigaura’s Couple Stones rise from the sea—bound by rope, framed by a torii, and bathed in myth. Said to represent Izanagi and Izanami, Japan’s divine creators, these sacred rocks draw lovers and seekers alike. Whether for the solstice sunrise or a sunset stroll, this stop on MK’s 5-hour Itoshima Course reminds us that beauty, belief, and love are never far apart.

Apr 16

MK Deep Dive: Dotonbori – Where Good Decisions Go to Forget Themselves

Dotonbori isn’t just a street—it’s Osaka’s neon pulse, where retro-futurism meets fried food and spontaneity. Once a 17th-century canal, now a technicolor fever dream of signage, octopus balls, and late-night regrets. The district’s wild energy—equal parts jazz-era decadence and Blade Runner chaos—turns every walk into a scene. From Glico’s running man to legends of KFC curses and celebratory canal dives, this is where Osaka lives loud.

Apr 15