Surrounded by a rich natural environment in the heart of the Japanese Alps, the historical district of Takayama (高山) perpetuates…
Marie BorgersApril 30, 2021
Shimane Prefecture is relatively unknown to foreign visitors. However, I have had the opportunity to visit several times, and it…
Clémentine CintréApril 30, 2021
Despite numerous journeys across Japan and the constant quest to discover more off-the-beaten-track destinations, Tsuwano (津和野) in Shimane Prefecture, was…
Clémentine CintréApril 30, 2021
We came to Shimane Prefecture to explore the former Iwami Ginzan silver mine and the historic village of Tsuwano. However,…
Clémentine CintréApril 30, 2021
Ever since the remote village of Shirakawa-go (白川郷) was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, it has…
Marie BorgersApril 30, 2021
Here's our guide on how to use Japanese yen, where to exchange your foreign currency, and how to use the…
Claudia MitsuboriApril 23, 2021
As the world begins its slow return to relative normalcy, you may be one of many ready to scratch that…
Todd FongApril 21, 2021
In the culture of traditional Japan, the mountains have always held a deeply spiritual connection to the people. There is…
Todd FongApril 21, 2021
There are two majority religions in Japan, Shinto and Buddhism, which are part of Japanese people's daily lives. Religion and…
Gaël FaulconnierApril 17, 2021
Sponsored by Tourism Oita Scattered across the Ono River Valley in Oita Prefecture are hundreds of magaibutsu Buddhist figures carved…
Derek YamashitaApril 15, 2021
What time is it in Japan, the land of the rising sun? What is the time difference between its neighbors…
Marie BorgersApril 14, 2021
On Saturday, October 12, 2019, Typhoon Hagibis made landfall in central Japan. Outlets such as Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) had…
Richard MilnerApril 12, 2021
On the warm weekend nights of Japanese summers, the skies are lit up with awe-inspiring bursts of fireworks, some displays…
Todd FongApril 10, 2021
When you are strolling around in Japan and are looking for cafés for a break, you usually can't avoid stumbling…
Claudia MitsuboriApril 9, 2021
When I came to Japan with my Working Holiday visa in March 2019, sakura blossoms were about to bloom. The…
Maria PeñascalApril 2, 2021
Traveling in Japan allows you to immerse yourself in a wide variety of worlds, whether in the traditional or modern…
Claudia MitsuboriApril 1, 2021
Spring is a wonderful time for nature lovers. Trees blossom with flowers, landscapes turn green, and we switch our heavy…
Maria PeñascalMarch 25, 2021
In Japan, names are very important and, for many parents, choosing the right first name is a way of expressing…
Marie BorgersMarch 24, 2021
Riding northwards into Shimane Prefecture, I was treated to a whistle-stop tour of what the region had in store for…
Callum HoweMarch 22, 2021
The story of Japanese prosthetics manufacturer Nakamura Brace (中村ブレイス) is made up of a multitude of comebacks. Among its episodes,…
Callum HoweMarch 22, 2021
Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I didn't see my first snow until I was five-years-old. Early in…
Todd FongMarch 20, 2021
One of the reasons I enjoy escaping from the confines of the big city is to remind myself of the…
Todd FongMarch 20, 2021
Ako a smaller city in Japan that is perfect for a short stay if you are looking for an off-the-beaten-track…
Thomas SiebertMarch 20, 2021
Ako City (赤穂市) is a small coastal town in Hyogo Prefecture along the beautiful Seto Inland Sea. Its location between…
Thomas SiebertMarch 20, 2021
If the wind blew strong through Tokyo’s Kokyo Gaien (皇居外苑) National Garden on Sunday, gusting through rows of a captivated…
Cherise FongMarch 19, 2021
The island of Manabeshima (真鍋島), in Okayama Prefecture (岡山県), is a place in Japan that I have dreamed of visiting…
Clémentine CintréMarch 18, 2021
Some of them are small, and others are large. Some have long and thick fur, while others have to wear…
Yvonne TanakaMarch 18, 2021
