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
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) in Japan’s Tokohu region is truly a hidden gem of not only Japan but Japanese food culture.…
Richard MilnerDecember 27, 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
As a travel writer, I admit to often focusing too much on the incredible things to see in Japan. It…
Todd FongDecember 23, 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
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
Over the immutably calm waters of the Seto Inland Sea, we approached the port of Ogijima on the Meon Ferry,…
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
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
A few years ago, I caught a glimpse of an unforgettable scene while traveling through Semboku (仙北) in Akita Prefecture…
Clémentine CintréOctober 19, 2021
Mensore! When you travel to Okinawa Prefecture, you will hear this word often. Mensore means "welcome" in the Okinawan dialect,…
Lucia TsujiguchiSeptember 8, 2021
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
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
When I think about Okinawa, the first word that comes to mind is "paradise". Its turquoise blue ocean contrasts with…
Lucia TsujiguchiSeptember 8, 2021
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
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
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
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
When you think of traditional Japanese culture, one of the first images that probably comes to mind is a beautiful…
Lucia TsujiguchiSeptember 8, 2021
