I Stayed OVERNIGHT at Japan's BIGGEST Theme Park

Head to Awashima Shrine to attempt crawling through Japan's smallest torii gate, which is only 30 centimeters wide and high. It's supposed to bring good luck, help with fertility, and cure back pain. I struggled, even taking off my jacket and needing to be pulled through, but the secret is to go in on your back. My companions, Natsuki and Joey, sailed through, so be prepared for a challenge if you're not as nimble! We even raced through a second, equally small gate, with the loser having to go into the creepy cave first.

Venture into the Tonkararin Caves, a system of 445 meters of tunnels hidden beneath crumbling rocks in a bamboo forest. These man-made caves are said to date back hundreds, if not thousands, of years, with their purpose still debated. Some believe they were used for shamanistic rituals by monks. Be prepared for a dark, resonant environment – and potentially a lot of insects! My cameraman spotted an 'alien-looking creature' on the wall, which turned out to be a Japanese house centipede (gejigee). I was too scared to go in, but Joey bravely identified the creature. It's a truly mysterious and slightly terrifying experience.

Go horse riding at a ranch high in the mountains overlooking Mount Aso. It's quite cheap, only about ¥100 per person. I was genuinely nervous, having never ridden a horse before, and found it surreal to be in control of a living creature. My horse, Tarachan, was described as friendly and sassy, but she got a bit stressed and kept trying to eat grass, so I had to get off. It turns out I was given a brand new, not fully trained six-year-old horse, while my companions got experienced ones! Despite the challenges, I gained a lot of respect for horses, but I'm not overly keen to do it again.

Book an overnight stay in an authentic Dutch villa within Huis Ten Bosch, Japan's biggest theme park. It's effectively a replica of the Netherlands, built with actual bricks and complete with windmills and canals. The villa smells European, with wooden architecture and wallpaper that reminded me of my grandma's house. It has a proper living room, kitchen, and a grand bed. If you woke up here, you'd genuinely think you were in Europe. It's a very surreal experience, though I still prefer a traditional ryokan with a private bar!