Kyoto, it can be said, is a complex city. Imbued in tradition and history, it’s also a fascinating and modern…
Paul McInnesNovember 21, 2024
Wellness and self-care are concepts that have recently become associated with upscale spas and luxury resorts offering epicurean amenities and…
Todd FongNovember 18, 2024
In the social media-fueled new world of tourism, we are tempted to hurry from one Instagrammable spot to the next,…
Todd FongNovember 11, 2024
From very reasonably priced breakfasts and lunch time set meals to blockbuster gut-busting dinners, family restaurants are generally brilliant and…
Paul McInnesNovember 8, 2024
Tohoku, a famed region in northern Japan, known for its breathtaking landscapes, historical sites, and deep-rooted traditions, offers a remarkable…
VoyaponNovember 7, 2024
In hindsight, the timing couldn't have been more perfect. Having spent most of the prior week attempting to outmaneuver one…
Todd FongNovember 4, 2024
Welcome to the latest installment of Voyapon’s new series where we highlight a curated list of some under-the-radar events happening…
Paul McInnesOctober 30, 2024
I don’t particularly like new stuff. It makes me sad, for example, to think of factories churning out an ever-growing…
Richard Koyama-DanielsOctober 22, 2024
Dosanko, once defined as the species of horse native to Hokkaido has evolved to a cheerful moniker for the people…
Justin RandallOctober 18, 2024
In autumn 2024, the day that gaming fans had been waiting for finally arrived — the new Nintendo Museum opened…
Yvonne TanakaOctober 16, 2024
When thinking about Halloween in Japan, the first thing that comes to mind is usually the colorful and sometimes spooky…
Claudia MitsuboriOctober 10, 2024
I spent much of my time in Britain, in the latter half of the 1990s, hoisting kegs of real ale…
Richard Koyama-DanielsOctober 8, 2024
Welcome to the first installment of Voyapon's new series where we highlight a curated list of some under-the-radar events happening…
Paul McInnesOctober 4, 2024
A phoenix is rising in the shadow of Osaka, but you'll need to look closely. It rises slowly and deliberately…
Todd FongOctober 1, 2024
Approximately an hour south of Tokyo, Kamakura feels like a world apart. This coastal city, cradled between forested hills and…
Toshiko SakuraiSeptember 26, 2024
I think it was the moment Orochi arrived. A phantasmagorical rendering of the eight-headed, eight-tailed serpent from Shinto myth, cavorting…
David McElhinneySeptember 24, 2024
Welcome to the next installment of Voyapon's My Japan series, in which we introduce you to our more or less…
Yvonne TanakaSeptember 19, 2024
Across many parts of the western world, the bitter gray tedium of winter is made just about bearable by the…
Richard Koyama-DanielsSeptember 13, 2024
"Ah, Barcelona! Olympic Games, Sagrada Familia." An almost unanimous chant uttered by many older Japanese people (old enough to remember…
Toshiko SakuraiSeptember 9, 2024
As a boy in the early 1980s, I would spend many happy hours in the art supplies and stationery section…
Richard Koyama-DanielsSeptember 5, 2024
If you ask the average Tokyoite about Tokyo Daibutsu 東京大仏 or Tokyo’s Giant Buddha, do not be surprised by the…
Toshiko SakuraiSeptember 2, 2024
I’ve known Michail Gkinis for not far off 20 years now. A maverick of design, he’s a graduate of the…
Paul McInnesAugust 29, 2024
Fukuoka 福岡 is one of Japan’s beautiful southern prefectures, with a different culture and lifestyle all of its own. It’s…
Cassandra LordAugust 27, 2024
When I was asked if I’d like to contribute to the Voyapon My Japan series, I faced a dilemma. The…
Cassandra LordAugust 23, 2024
You are taking a Shinkansen 新幹線 or bullet train, as it's known overseas, in Japan and spending time inside the…
Maria PeñascalAugust 20, 2024
Just a short walk from the Gojo Bridge, site of the warrior-monk Benkei’s fateful 1,000th duel, there is a typically…
Richard Koyama-DanielsAugust 16, 2024
Uncover a treasure trove of local specialties and one-of-a-kind souvenirs in this charming onsen town's shopping district.
Toshiko SakuraiAugust 13, 2024
