ChubuCultureSightseeing Retracing Kawabata’s Steps: A Literary Journey Through Izu Human nature is indomitable. As pilgrimages were in the past something that reinforced our relationship with the most mundane aspects…Toshiko SakuraiJune 5, 2025
CultureThings to Know Sleeping on a Futon: Why do Japanese Sleep on the Floor? For many travelers, one of the most unique and appealing experiences in Japan is sleeping on a futon 布団. This…Toshiko SakuraiMay 30, 2025
CultureKansaiSightseeing One Day in Kyoto: Essential Sights in Japan’s Former Imperial Capital Despite the title of this article, the truth is that it's not exactly my intention to recommend seeing Kyoto in…Toshiko SakuraiMay 20, 2025
CultureKansaiSightseeing Fushimi Inari Taisha: The Most Fascinating Shrine in Kyoto What first comes to mind when talking about Fushimi Inari Taisha, also known as Fushimi Inari Grand Shrine 伏見稲荷大社, is…Toshiko SakuraiMay 9, 2025
Culture Ryuichi Sakamoto Albums I Want To Share With You The queue snaked several times within the premises and extended outside, nearly around the corner, far longer than I anticipated.…Toshiko SakuraiMarch 27, 2025
EventsHokkaidoSightseeing Sapporo’s Snow Festival: Sculptures, Ice Art, and Winter Magic The hum of the elevator grew faint as it rose higher and higher, carrying me to the top of the…Toshiko SakuraiFebruary 3, 2025
My Japan My Japan: My Life as a Travel Journalist Hi everyone. Let me share a peek into my daily life for Voyapon readers as part of the My Japan…Toshiko SakuraiNovember 19, 2024
KantoSightseeing Traveling Through Japan’s Medieval Heartland in Kamakura Approximately an hour south of Tokyo, Kamakura feels like a world apart. This coastal city, cradled between forested hills and…Toshiko SakuraiSeptember 26, 2024
CultureSightseeing Von Jour Caux: The Architect of Otherworldly Dreams "Ah, Barcelona! Olympic Games, Sagrada Familia." An almost unanimous chant uttered by many older Japanese people (old enough to remember…Toshiko SakuraiSeptember 9, 2024
KantoSightseeing Tokyo Daibutsu: The Hidden Giant Born from War and Earthquakes 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
ChubuShopping Atami Shopping: Another Way to Experience this Famed Onsen Town 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
ChubuSightseeing A Love Letter to Atami, Shizuoka’s Legendary Onsen Town At the zenith of Atami's heyday, it was the golden prize of your average corporate employee. A spa town so…Toshiko SakuraiAugust 1, 2024
Culture Kanban Kenchiku: A Time Capsule of Early 20th Century Japanese Architecture In 1923, Tokyo burned to its very core. Live wires and kitchens flamed out of control as the trepidation of…Toshiko SakuraiJune 25, 2024
Things to Know Who are the New Faces on Japanese Banknotes? Did you know that Japan is about to roll out a new set of banknotes very soon? This will be…Toshiko SakuraiJune 21, 2024
Culture Understanding Butoh: Dance Born Out of Darkness Butoh is an avant-garde dance that emerged in Post-war Japan that has captivated audiences worldwide. Here is all you need…Toshiko SakuraiMay 28, 2024
CultureThings to Know How Does the Japanese Education System Work? Although the legal framework of the current Japanese education system dates back to the postwar constitution, most educational structures, which…Toshiko SakuraiMay 2, 2024
ActivitiesKantoSponsored Enjoying the Beauty of the Fall in Isehara Isehara City (伊勢原市) located in Kanagawa Prefecture's heartland, is a gateway to both history and nature, just a short journey…Toshiko SakuraiMarch 15, 2024
ActivitiesKantoSponsored Sustainable Tourism Destinations Near Tokyo for 2024 – Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo and Kanagawa As Tokyo's tourism industry has experienced a remarkable revival since last year, the principles of sustainable tourism, societal impact, and…Toshiko SakuraiMarch 8, 2024
AccommodationKantoSightseeingSponsored A Journey of Discovery to Unveil the Charms of Shizuoka In the heart of Japan, between the iconic Mount Fuji and the serene Pacific, lies the vibrant region of Shizuoka.…Toshiko SakuraiJanuary 24, 2024
ChubuFoodShoppingSightseeingSponsored Yamanashi’s Water of Life: The Source of its Unparalleled Wild Game, Wines, Whiskies, and Sake Water is the beginning of life, and there’s one place in Yamanashi prefecture where it flows from the holiest of…Toshiko SakuraiMarch 29, 2023
ActivitiesChubuShoppingSponsored Into the Heart of Traditional Japanese Arts and Crafts of Yamanashi Prefecture When traveling, many people may settle for the most trodden path while may find that the more fulfilling experiences may…Toshiko SakuraiMarch 27, 2023
ActivitiesChubuShoppingSponsored Koshu Inden, the Traditional Japanese Lacquer-Painted Leather Craft by Yamanashi Artisans If there is one craft that is intrinsically related to Japan, it is Japanese lacquer. Before humans ever rode horses,…Toshiko SakuraiMarch 27, 2023
ActivitiesCultureFoodKantoSponsored The Best Examples of Sustainable Tourism in Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, & Kanagawa Sustainable tourism, societal impact, and culture and legacy preservation are crucial aspects of modern travel. As we explore new destinations…Toshiko SakuraiMarch 16, 2023
AccommodationActivitiesKyushuSightseeingSponsored Discovering the Beauty of Nagasaki’s Fukue Island Fukue Island is the largest on Nagasaki's Goto Archipelago. Discover with us its beautiful landscapes and fascinating history!Toshiko SakuraiJanuary 31, 2023
KantoSightseeing Todoroki Valley, A Nature and Mystical Haven in Tokyo Legend has it that a deity appeared in a dream to a pious Buddhist monk to show him a sacred…Toshiko SakuraiApril 12, 2022
CulturePop Culture Art, Beauty, and Tragedy: The Legacy of Isao Takahata The year is 1952. The revolution that will radically transform Japanese animation into what we know today is taking place…Toshiko SakuraiMarch 28, 2022
AccommodationChugokuCultureSightseeingSponsored Discover Setouchi’s Beauty Through Art and Architecture 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
AccommodationActivitiesChugokuSponsored A Farmstay Experience in Oumi no Sato 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