Journal

  1. How to Rent a Kimono and Explore Japan’s Historic StreetsRenting a kimono is one of the most memorable ways to experience Japan’s older neighbourhoods. Rather than simply wearing a costume for photographs, visitors…
  2. Why Tateyama Kurobe’s Snow Wall Belongs On Your Japan ItineraryJapan offers plenty of famous seasonal sights, yet few are as dramatic as the Snow Wall Corridor in Tateyama Kurobe. Each spring, buses travel between towering…
  3. Japan’s most beautiful shrines beyond the famous gatesJapan’s most beautiful shrines are places where architecture, landscape and everyday ritual come together. A vermilion torii may frame a cedar forest, while a…
  4. A Guide to Japanese Desserts from Mochi to AnmitsuJapanese desserts balance sweetness with texture, seasonality and visual detail. A soft piece of mochi, a bowl of anmitsu or a slice of matcha cake can offer a…
  5. Preparing for earthquakes in Japan: apps, kits and local adviceJapan’s earthquakes can range from a brief, harmless tremor to a major event followed by a tsunami. Most visitors will never experience a serious disaster, but…
  6. Best Beaches in Japan for Swimming and SnorkelingJapan’s coastline offers far more than crowded summer resorts. Okinawa has warm water, coral gardens and white-sand beaches, while the Izu Peninsula combines…
  7. Exploring Japan’s Underground Shopping Streets Like a LocalJapan’s underground shopping streets, known as chikagai, turn the spaces beneath major railway stations into lively neighbourhoods of shops, cafés, restaurants…
  8. Japanese manhole covers: a collector’s guide to local designJapan’s streets hide a colourful form of civic art in plain sight. Across the country, ordinary utility covers are decorated with mascots, flowers, landmarks,…
  9. Snow Monkeys In Jigokudani: A Winter Visitor’s GuideJigokudani Yaen-Koen, commonly called the Snow Monkey Park, is one of Japan’s most memorable winter attractions. Located in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture,…
  10. How to use a Japanese toilet: features, buttons and instructionsA Japanese toilet can look surprisingly high-tech to visitors from Australia. Many models combine a conventional toilet with a bidet seat, heated seating,…