Map of Japan

Hokkaido

Hokkaido is Japan’s second largest and most northern island. During winter the island is covered in a blanket of thick white snow and its surrounding seas turn to ice. Those who like to ski and snowboard will definitely find their next mountain to slide down. more

Tohoku | Sendai

The region of Tohoku is in the northern part of Japan’s main island (Honshu) and consists of the prefectures Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, and Fukushima. Encompassing the northern tip of Honshu, Tohoku is surrounded by the Sea of Japan, the Pacific and Tsugaru Strait but also features a mountain range through its middle. more

Kanto | Tokyo

Apart from the metropolitan Tokyo, Kanto consists of the prefectures Chiba, Gunma, Ibaraki, Kanagawa, Saitama and Tochigi. A bit of trivia for the Pokemon fans amongst us, the name Kanto may sound familiar to you as the original region the story took place in Kanto. Although you will pretty much find anything you could ever wish for in Tokyo, exploring the rest of Kanto is well-worth doing. more

Koshinetsu | Nagano

Yamanashi’s most liked experiences is picking grapes, peaches and plums during the harvest seasons.For those coming to Japan during the summer and need an escape from the heat, Nagano Prefecture is your place to go.Moving slightly towards the east you come across Niigata prefecture, home to the Japanese most important food: rice. more

Kenroku-en Garden, Hokuriku area, Japan.

Hokuriku | Kanazawa

The Hokuriku region is located in the northwestern part of Honshu, the main island of Japan and consists of the prefectures Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui. Faced in Sea of Japan, seafood is so delicious, and it snows a lot in this region, the attractive onsen or ski place are welcome to you. more

Tokai | Nagoya

The Tokai region is in the middle part of Japan that runs along the pacific ocean: Mie, Gifu, Aichi, and Shizuoka prefecture. The biggest city in this region is Nagoya-city where you can see some local specialities: Eel, Miso-Katsu, Chicken wings, and some Anko sweets. more

Kinki | Kyoto

The Kinki region, also known as Kansai, is one of Japan’s most popular destinations with the metropolitan aspiring Osaka and the ancient capitals of Kyoto and Nara at its center. Osaka is Japan’s second largest city and much like Tokyo buzzes with activity throughout the year. more

Chugoku | Hiroshima

As Japan’s main island’s most western region, Chugoku remains an off-the-beaten-path destinations for many visitors. Nonetheless, even outside its most-known city Hiroshima the region has plenty to offer in terms of vast nature and memorable sights. more

Shikoku | Naoshima

The island of Shikoku consisting of the four prefectures Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, and Kochi is rich of both history and natural beauty. With the completion of several expressway bridges the island has become easily from several major cities on the western side of Honshu, such as Kobe and Okayama. more

Kyushu | Fukuoka

As the gateway between Japan and Asia, Kyushu is located southwest of Japan’s main island Honshu and has a slightly warmer tropical climate. Kyushu is also known as the “Land of the Seven Prefectures” as it encompasses the seven prefectures: Fukuoka (the island’s largest city), Saga, Nagasaki, Oita, Kumamoto, Miyazaki and Kagoshima. more

Okinawa

The prefecture of Okinawa is made up of about 160 islands also known as the Ryukyu Islands between Kyushu and Taiwan. The islands harbor a subtropical climate making it both comfortable throughout the year as well as lush in nature. more

Sightseeing

Enoshima Guide: A sacred island just one hour from Tokyo

Sponsored by ODAKYU ELECTRIC RAILWAY I remember my first visit to Enoshima, relaxing on its expansive beaches while taking in a splendid view of Mo ... more

Ultimate Hakone Guide: Onsen, Art and Nature just 80 minutes from Tokyo!

Sponsored by ODAKYU ELECTRIC RAILWAY . Hakone is one of the most popular escapes for both Tokyoites and visitors to the metropolis, and for good re ... more

# Old Town

Looking Back on Taketa, Oita’s City of Secrets

Sponsored by Tourism Oita When arriving in Taketa city for the first time, the best ....

The Old Town Chiwata by the Omura Bay in Nagasaki

Sponsored by Higashisonogi Town. Higashisonogi, the beautiful seaside town overlooking ....

Accommodation

Peaceful Relaxation in Charming Yunohira Onsen

Sponsored by Tourism Oita As we approached the main street of Yunohira Onsen, I was a bit surprised. Thirty minutes earlier, I had been in Yufu ... more

Kasasa Ebisu, a stylish accommodation in Minamisatsuma, Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan.

Staying in Minamisatsuma: where to spend the night and eat

Sponsored by the Minamisatsuma Tourism Board. Though Minamisatsuma can be reached in only an hour or so by car from Kagoshima, spending at least a ... more

# Farmstay

A Farm Stay Experience in Bungo-ono, Oita

Sponsored by Tourism Oita From budget and quirky capsule hotels to extravagant and ....

Food and Friendship at Wakabayashi Farm Stay in Yufu City

Sponsored by Tourism Oita Using Google Maps to navigate to a destination in Japan is a ....

Transport

Embarking on the most scenic train ride along the Nagasaki Bay

Sponsored by Higashisonogi Town. Sitting in a comfortable seat, watching the landscape whizzing by at high speed, all the while getting from point ... more

Riding the Rails on 2 Amazing Trains of Akita Prefecture

Sponsored by Semboku City I have a little secret to spill. When my son was a toddler, we bought him a Tomy Plarail toy train set from Japan. He was ... more

# Near Tokyo or Osaka

A Day or Weekend Trip from Tokyo: Hakone, Enoshima, Oyama by Odakyu Railway

Sponsored by ODAKYU ELECTRIC RAILWAY Japan prides itself on excellent service and hospi ....

Which Way is the most Convenient from Narita Airport to Tokyo?

Sponsored by Keisei Railways. Narita International Airport is 65km from the ....

Activities

Sakai City – A Cycling Paradise Inspired by Shimano

Sponsored by Kinki District Transport Bureau Anyone who has ridden a bike is undoubtedly familiar with Shimano, the world leader in bicycle compone ... more

Discover the mountains of Toyama Prefecture by bicycle

Sponsored by Toyama Prefecture Toyama Prefecture has an unusual geographic feature of having the seashore and the mountains separated by only a few ... more

# Outdoors

discover both the seaside and countryside in Minamisatsuma by bike, in Kyushu.

Cycling and picking up fresh vegetables in the countryside of Minamisatsuma

Sponsored by the Minamisatsuma Tourism Board. With a gentle climate year round and some ....

From waterfalls to art museum : Discover the hidden nature of Higashisonogi

Sponsored by Higashisonogi Town. With views of the deep blue sea of Omura bay and the l ....

Culture

Green tea tourism in Higashisonogi, Nagasaki

Discovering Green Tea Tourism in Higashisonogi

Sponsored by Higashisonogi Town. Most of you have probably heard about green tourism. But have you ever heard of green tea tourism? If green tea is ... more

In the footsteps of Sen no Rikyu, the master of the tea ceremony

Sponsored by Kinki District Transport Bureau Matcha (green tea) in Japan is more than an ice cream flavor or a style of latte at a trendy cafe. It ... more

# Tips

The Top 5 Travel Apps for Japan

Using mobile apps can make your life in Japan a lot easier. In this article I will show yo ....

ATM: Wondering Where to Withdraw Cash in Japan?

Carrying Cash in Japan Carrying cash in Japan can be really useful. There are plenty of r ....

Food

Chiwataya bakery: organic bread and curated goods in Higashisonogi

Sponsored by Higashisonogi Town. Higashisonogi is mostly known as a destination to taste one of the best teas in Japan and explore the beautiful na ... more

Tasting Japanese Whiskey in the Yamazaki Distillery, Osaka

Sponsored by the Kinki District Transport Bureau While Japan's traditional alcohol is sake, which has been perfected over centuries, in the last ce ... more

# Local specialities

Mars Tsunuki distillery, Japanese whiskey distillery in Minamisatsuma, Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan.

Visit a Whisky Distillery in Minamisatsuma, Kyushu

Sponsored by the Minamisatsuma Tourism Board. If Japan is mainly known for sake, made f ....

The Farm To Table Cuisine of Akita’s Semboku City

Sponsored by Semboku City This past year, a second ramen shop in Tokyo earned a Micheli ....

Shopping

Murakami Tea Matcha Traditional Teahouse Local Cuisine Niigata Prefecture

Discovering Japanese Tea Culture in Murakami

Sponsored by Murakami city Among the things that are fundamentally associated with the Japanese archipelago, tea probably takes one of the top spot ... more

Victoria Ski Snowboard Shop Equipment Tokyo Resort Gear Boots

Victoria Main Store – Eight Floors of Ski and Snowboard Equipment in Central Tokyo

It is a little-known fact among foreigners that 73% of Japan is mountainous. With most of the Japanese residential population scattered between these ... more

# Local crafts