AccommodationCultureFeaturedKansai HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO: A Modern Haven Steeped in History Kyoto, it can be said, is a complex city. Imbued in tradition and history, it’s also a fascinating and modern…Paul McInnesNovember 21, 2024
CultureKantoShopping Good Old Tokyo: Secondhand Shopping in Japan’s Well-Stocked Capital I don’t particularly like new stuff. It makes me sad, for example, to think of factories churning out an ever-growing…Richard Koyama-DanielsOctober 22, 2024
ChugokuCultureSightseeing Entertaining the Gods: Kagura Theater in Shimane I think it was the moment Orochi arrived. A phantasmagorical rendering of the eight-headed, eight-tailed serpent from Shinto myth, cavorting…David McElhinneySeptember 24, 2024
CultureEventsKanto Joining the Dance: A Magical Bon Odori at Tsukiji’s Hongwanji Temple Across many parts of the western world, the bitter gray tedium of winter is made just about bearable by the…Richard Koyama-DanielsSeptember 13, 2024
KantoShopping Michail Gkinis Aoyama: A Fashion Brand Going Above and Beyond for Inbound Tourists in Tokyo I’ve known Michail Gkinis for not far off 20 years now. A maverick of design, he’s a graduate of the…Paul McInnesAugust 29, 2024
ActivitiesCulture Universal Shapes: A Public Art Odyssey in Tokyo The curvaceous and holey Henry Moores that dotted the landscape of my pre-Banksy UK youth, were to me, the face…Richard Koyama-DanielsJuly 16, 2024
Pop Culture A Time and a Place: 7 Artists Who Plotted a Course Through the Japanese 20th Century Over the years, one of the least wasteful ways I have found to waste my time, has been to head…Richard Koyama-DanielsJuly 4, 2024
ActivitiesCulture Evening News: Living the Music Dream in Japan Many bands from all over the world dream of playing live in Japan. It's often seen as a utopia for…Paul McInnesJune 24, 2024
FoodThings to Know Japan: The Land of Vending Machines Uncover the secrets behind Japan's vast array of vending machines, from convenience and safety to cultural customs.Maria PeñascalJune 13, 2024
CultureFoodShopping Welcome to the World of Japanese Cheesecake A brief history of Japanese cheesecake, including its various types, recommended locations to enjoy it in Japan, and instructions for…Claudia MitsuboriJune 10, 2024
ActivitiesEventsKansaiKantoShoppingThings to Know A Guide to Flea and Antique Markets in Japan Discover hidden treasures at Japan's top flea and antique markets with our comprehensive shopper's guide in Tokyo and Kansai.Stefania Da PontApril 4, 2024
ActivitiesCultureKyushuSponsored Kagoshima Day Trips: Sightseeing Trains, Subtropical Gardens, and More Kyushu's most southern prefecture, Kagoshima (鹿児島), is a beautiful place packed with interesting bits of Kagoshima history, culture, and subtropical…Cassandra LordMarch 22, 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
Things to Know How to Choose Your Japanese Language School in Japan 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
ActivitiesPop CultureThings to Know Where To Find And How To Buy Concert Tickets In Japan When planning a trip to Japan, people often build their itinerary around tourist spots, museums, and other famous attractions. However,…Anna ToccoliOctober 20, 2021
ActivitiesChubuCultureSponsored Gifu Prefecture: The Best Old Japan Experiences to See in Two Days From pictorial villages of traditional thatched-roof houses to one of Japan’s beloved onsen hot spring towns, a visit to Gifu Prefecture…Mika CunninghamFebruary 8, 2021
AccommodationActivitiesChubuSponsored A Taste of Traditional Farm Life in the Mountains of Mie If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to harvest your own food and then cook it for supper,…Cherise FongFebruary 8, 2021
AccommodationActivitiesKyushuSponsored A Night in the Temple: Accommodation and Relaxation at Oteragoto on Goto Island The man approached the 200-year-old Buddhist Temple from the street, waving to us as he passed beneath the stone gate.…Todd FongJanuary 28, 2021
ChubuCultureSightseeingSponsored Discovering The Artistic Side Of Niigata Prefecture There’s something surreal about driving through the countryside of southern Niigata Prefecture and suddenly seeing a giant window — complete with…Patrick St. MichelDecember 3, 2020
ChubuCultureEvents New Years in Japan: A Niigata Family Gathering to Celebrate the New Year It’s that time of the year again. The New Year is awaiting us, and with it, one of the most…Yvonne TanakaNovember 4, 2020
CultureSponsored An Online Tea Ceremony Celebrating Japanese Craftsmanship As closed borders and shelter-in-place restrictions continue to be in effect around the world, travelers and travel-related service providers alike…Todd FongJune 23, 2020
ActivitiesKanto Learning the Lessons of Authentic Tea Ceremony in Tokyo A traditional Japanese art, green tea tasting, meditation, awakening; so many terms used to define the Japanese tea ceremony or…Cyrielle Ugnon-CoussiozMay 28, 2020
CultureKyushuSponsored Tea Ceremony in the Izumi Samurai Town Izumi (Kagoshima prefecture) is a city with many surprises. After my experience staying in a traditional rural house and seeing…Maria PeñascalMarch 7, 2020
ActivitiesKyushuSponsored Yamaga: Strolling the City of Lanterns in a Vintage Kimono sponsored by Northern Kumamoto Administrative Headquarters Situated in Kumamoto Prefecture on the old Buzen Kaido road linking northern and southern…Clémentine CintréNovember 28, 2019
CultureKyushuSponsored Saiki by Bicycle: Samurai and Zen Tea Experiences Sponsored by Tourism Oita Saiki, coastal city in Oita prefecture Located in the southeast part of Oita Prefecture on Kyushu…Aimée MoribayashiJuly 16, 2019
KyushuSightseeingSponsored Kimono and Tea Ceremony in Izumi’s Historic Samurai Residence Sponsored by Izumi City Though the relentless march of progress has taken its toll on historic areas of urban Japan,…Marie HabasqueJanuary 16, 2019
ChubuCultureSponsored Meeting the Geishas of Niigata (Geigi) Sponsored by Niigata city Before visiting the city of Niigata, the only time I came close to meeting a Geisha…Marion PontAugust 4, 2018
ActivitiesChubuSponsored Hida Furukawa : Take A Walk in this Old Town, Wearing a Kimono Sponsored by Hida City Only a 15 minute train ride from Takayama, Hida Furukawa is a historical town in Hida city that's…EstelleJune 14, 2017