Journal

  1. How to enjoy a Japanese public bath with confidenceA Japanese public bath offers a slower, more social way to experience everyday life. Rather than treating the bath as a place to wash quickly, visitors are…
  2. Why Explore Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium for Whale Sharks and CoralOkinawa Churaumi Aquarium is one of Japan’s most memorable places to see marine life up close. Set inside Ocean Expo Park in Motobu, northern Okinawa, it…
  3. A Guide To Japanese Castles: Matsumoto, Himeji, And BeyondJapanese castles are more than striking wooden towers surrounded by stone walls. They reveal how regional lords controlled trade routes, defended valuable land…
  4. Day hikes from Tokyo by train for mountain viewsTokyo’s rail network makes it surprisingly easy to trade office towers and crowded shopping streets for forest trails, temple paths and broad mountain views.…
  5. How To Watch Sumo Morning Practice In JapanWatching sumo wrestlers train before a tournament offers a quieter, more intimate experience than attending a match at Ryogoku Kokugikan. The stable is a…
  6. Japanese vending machines serve far more than drinksJapan’s vending machines are famous for cold water, green tea and hot coffee available at almost any hour. Yet drinks represent only part of the country’s…
  7. Japan’s Most Scenic Train JourneysJapan’s rail network turns the journey itself into part of the destination. Beyond the famous shinkansen, local lines climb alpine valleys, follow rugged…
  8. A guide to Japanese seasonal fruits and the best time to buy themJapan’s fruit calendar changes with the weather, so the best produce depends heavily on when you travel. A winter visit may bring sweet strawberries and mikan…
  9. Golden Gai: Tokyo’s Tiny Bars And Retro Night StreetsHidden behind the bright billboards of Shinjuku, Golden Gai is a compact maze of narrow lanes packed with hundreds of tiny drinking spots. Corrugated walls,…
  10. How to experience a traditional Japanese ryokan from check-in to kaisekiA stay at a traditional Japanese ryokan offers a slower, more attentive way to experience Japan. Rather than simply booking a room, you become part of a…