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
ActivitiesChubuFeaturedShoppingSponsored 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
AccommodationActivitiesChubuKantoShoppingSponsored The Best Examples of Sustainable Tourism in Niigata, Yamanashi, & Nagano Sustainable Tourism has become an increasingly important topic as the world considers how to maximize the potential of global tourism…Todd FongMarch 16, 2023
AccommodationCultureKansaiShoppingSponsored The New Golden Route: Discover Hidden Kyoto and Osaka with the Hokuriku Arch Pass While the cities of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka continue to get the lion’s share of overseas tourists to Japan, few…Todd FongFebruary 2, 2023
ShikokuShoppingSightseeing Ozu City: Spend an Autumn Getaway in Ehime Prefecture Japan's smallest main island, Shikoku, is usually not one of the main destinations for international tourists visiting Japan. Many follow…ClaudiaMay 11, 2022
KantoShoppingSightseeing Jindaiji Temple, a Hidden Gem in Suburban Tokyo For many, the first things that come to mind when they think about Tokyo are the crowded streets full of neon lights in Shibuya or Shinjuku, the…Lucia TsujiguchiApril 28, 2022
FoodKansaiShopping Tenjinbashisuji Arcade in Osaka: Enjoy the Longest Shopping Street in Japan Like a Local Japan is a country of contrasts. From the snow and low temperatures in Hokkaido to the turquoise waters and tropical…Lucia TsujiguchiMarch 22, 2022
FeaturedFoodShoppingThings to Know Starbucks in Japan: Why They Are So Popular and Why You Should Visit Starbucks is, without a doubt, a beloved Japanese institution. In a couple of short decades since the global coffee chain’s…Richard MilnerMarch 16, 2022
ActivitiesChubuCultureFoodShoppingSponsored Traveling the TAKUMI Road: A Journey through 4 Cities with the Master Artisans of Japan Part 2: Takaoka and Echizen 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
ActivitiesCultureShoppingSponsored Traveling the TAKUMI Road: A Journey through 4 Cities with the Master Artisans of Japan Part 1: Tsubame Sanjo Hinoura Tsukasa turned the blade over in his hands, his keen eye taking in every detail of his handiwork. Each…Todd FongDecember 20, 2021
OkinawaShoppingSponsoredThings to Know Sanshin: Discover the History of this Japanese Instrument in Machidaya It’s often said that music knows no borders. It’s a universal language understood all over the world and capable of…Lucia TsujiguchiSeptember 8, 2021
OkinawaShoppingSponsoredThings to Know Unlocking the Secrets of the Japanese Ceramic Art with Kyoshi Matsuda In Okinawan dialect, yachimun (やちむん) means pottery. Its history dates back hundreds of years when the islands were still the…Lucia TsujiguchiSeptember 8, 2021
OkinawaShoppingSponsoredThings to Know The Legacy of the Traditional Japanese Pottery in Fuji Pottery Workshop When I think about Okinawa, the first word that comes to mind is "paradise". Its turquoise blue ocean contrasts with…Lucia TsujiguchiSeptember 8, 2021
OkinawaShoppingSponsoredThings to Know Nakama Pottery Workshop: The Science of the Handmade Pottery Handmade pottery is one of the oldest crafts in Japan. It’s a combination of art and tradition that reflects Japanese…Lucia TsujiguchiSeptember 8, 2021
OkinawaShoppingSponsoredThings to Know Okinawan Glass Making Experience in Ryukyu Glass Workshop Shizuku Like many of the traditional crafts of the ancient Ryukyu Kingdom (琉球王国), Okinawan glass is also part of a story…Lucia TsujiguchiSeptember 8, 2021
FoodOkinawaShoppingSponsoredThings to Know Okashi Goten: Indulge Yourself in a Paradise of Japanese Sweets If you've ever been to Japan, you've probably found yourself browsing the okashi (お菓子 Japanese snacks and sweets) area in…Lucia TsujiguchiSeptember 8, 2021
FoodOkinawaShoppingSponsoredThings to Know Okiham: Okinawan Food and the Secret of Longevity Japanese cuisine is world-famous, but there is much more food to try than sushi, ramen, or tempura. Japan's varied landscape…Lucia TsujiguchiSeptember 8, 2021
OkinawaShoppingSponsoredThings to Know Yomitanzan Hanaori: Japanese Textiles Created for a Royal Family When you think of traditional Japanese culture, one of the first images that probably comes to mind is a beautiful…Lucia TsujiguchiSeptember 8, 2021
AccommodationChugokuShoppingSponsored Tsuwano: Discover Real Japan in the Iwami Region 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
ChubuShopping The Elegant Japanese Metal Craftwork of Nousaku Takaoka city, nestled between the mountains of Toyama prefecture alongside the traditional Gokayama village and the Sea of Japan, has…Joachim DucosFebruary 26, 2021
ActivitiesFoodKantoPop CultureShopping Pokémon Cafe: The First Permanent Pokémon Cafe in Tokyo If Japan is not the world's mecca of themed cafés and restaurants, it has to be missing very little. Any…Toshiko SakuraiFebruary 17, 2021
CultureShopping The Nostalgic Beauty of Japanese Tatami Mats and Unique Gift Items of Kuboki Tatami There is a quality of tatami that is unmistakably Japanese. The scent of a freshly mowed field in Spring. The…Todd FongJanuary 25, 2021
EventsHokkaidoShopping Christmas in Hokkaido: The Holiday Season Under the Snow I have always loved winter and snow even more. Coming from the south of France, where it barely snows once…Joachim DucosDecember 18, 2020
Shopping Oriobi Brings Japan’s Lost Treasures Back to Life The exquisite traditional Japanese kimono is a beautiful article of clothing. However, one often forgets its other half: the long…Todd FongNovember 30, 2020
CultureShoppingSponsored Peko Peko Box: How to Get Unique Japanese Products to Your Home I’m sure you are missing Japan. You would like to be closer to this wonderful culture and experience its essence.…Maria PeñascalNovember 19, 2020
CultureShopping MinaHomi Design Workshop, the Art of Japanese Patterns MinaHomi Design Workshop is a project born from the dreams of a young artist who rekindled her deepest roots when…Lucia TsujiguchiNovember 11, 2020
FoodKantoShoppingSightseeing Akabane: A Day in the Charming Neighborhood of Tokyo Sometimes, coincidences give you incredible opportunities to visit a place you wouldn't have otherwise. My visit to Akabane (赤羽) was a matter…Maria PeñascalSeptember 25, 2020