The TAKUMI Road runs along Japan's western coast, collectively known as Hokuriku, from Fukui to Niigata prefectures. It is centered…
Todd FongJanuary 15, 2022
In Gunma (群馬県), beneath the forest canopy halfway up a great mountain, we ascended an ancient stone staircase, crumbling from…
Todd FongJanuary 12, 2022
On an early November morning – in anticipation of witnessing my first colors of the long-awaited koyo autumn leaves season…
Burcu BasarJanuary 11, 2022
Remove your watch and shut down your smartphone. For time flows differently at Oumi no Sato (翁美の里), and you don’t…
Toshiko SakuraiJanuary 5, 2022
With a distinct culture developed under the warmth of the Seto Inland climate, Okayama Prefecture (岡山県) has a rich heritage…
Toshiko SakuraiJanuary 5, 2022
In the quest for a place’s identity, Setouchi asked itself what it wanted to be and found its answer to…
Toshiko SakuraiJanuary 5, 2022
Whenever I think back on my first experiences of Japanese train travel, it’s never the 300 kph speeds or the…
Mika CunninghamJanuary 5, 2022
From the picturesque canals of Kinosaki Onsen to Amanohashidate's pine-covered sandbar, the Kitakinki (北近畿) region has everything necessary to make…
Mika CunninghamJanuary 5, 2022
Shirakami-Sanchi tour guide, Yukio Koike, moved to Aomori Prefecture 33 years ago to study Environmental Science at Hirosaki University. The…
Don KennedyDecember 28, 2021
Tsuruoka City (鶴岡市) and its surrounding region are, without a doubt, one of Japan’s most unique, hidden gems for travelers.…
Richard MilnerDecember 27, 2021
Tsuruoka City (鶴岡市) in Japan’s Tokohu region is truly a hidden gem of not only Japan but Japanese food culture.…
Richard MilnerDecember 27, 2021
The fact that I had made it this far down the canyon, wading and sometimes swimming in the river's cold…
Todd FongDecember 23, 2021
As a travel writer, I admit to often focusing too much on the incredible things to see in Japan. It…
Todd FongDecember 23, 2021
Over the immutably calm waters of the Seto Inland Sea, we approached the port of Ogijima on the Meon Ferry,…
Todd FongDecember 23, 2021
I could try to convince you about the many virtues of Kochi Prefecture (高知県), but instead, I'll leave that to…
Todd FongDecember 23, 2021
If you have seen the Studio Ghibli anime Princess Mononoke and were wondering where the inspiration for the natural environment…
Don KennedyDecember 21, 2021
During the Edo period (1603-1868), the powerful Tsugaru clan ruled the region around present-day Hirosaki. The city still has a…
Thomas SiebertDecember 21, 2021
Aomori (青森) is well known for its gorgeous natural scenery. Being located at the northernmost tip of Japan’s main island…
Thomas SiebertDecember 21, 2021
Hinoura Tsukasa turned the blade over in his hands, his keen eye taking in every detail of his handiwork. Each…
Todd FongDecember 20, 2021
Venturing into the heartland of samurai history and culture may be closer than you imagine. If you find yourself in…
Cherise FongDecember 15, 2021
There is a lot to discover in the Kanto region around Japan's capital Tokyo, and it can be hard to…
Claudia MitsuboriDecember 14, 2021
I was waiting for my dinner, sitting on the tatami floor at a ryokan in Oita prefecture. I didn't know…
Maria PeñascalDecember 10, 2021
Nicknamed The Heart of Kyushu, Kumamoto city (熊本市) is the capital of its homonymous prefecture and home to one of…
Toshiko SakuraiDecember 10, 2021
The Aso-Kuju region of Kumamoto prefecture may be Japan’s poster child for what a volcanic landscape truly looks like. While…
Toshiko SakuraiDecember 10, 2021
What if I told you that here’s also a hidden place where the ultimate bushido (The Way of the Warrior)…
Toshiko SakuraiDecember 10, 2021
You have just arrived in Japan with your new visa, and you are looking for information about opening a bank account.…
Manon ChauvrisDecember 2, 2021
Passion for Japan often makes people want to learn the Japanese language beyond the basic expressions such as "arigato". Nowadays,…
Stefania Da PontNovember 29, 2021
