Journal

  1. Discover Okinawa's Remote Islands: Hidden Beaches and Living CultureOkinawa's outer islands sit in a stretch of ocean that feels closer to the South Pacific than to mainland Japan. Travellers familiar with the tropical beaches…
  2. A Guide to Tokyo's Neighborhoods: Shibuya, Shinjuku, and BeyondTokyo is a city of contrasts, where neon-lit intersections sit beside centuries-old shrines. For Australians planning their first trip, the sheer scale of the…
  3. Japanese Snacks Worth Packing in Your SuitcaseJapanese snacks make excellent souvenirs because they are compact, attractive and easy to share. A packet of regional sweets can recall a day in Kyoto, a…
  4. Walking the Quiet Nakasendo Trail Through Kiso ValleyTucked between two mountain ranges in central Japan, the Kiso Valley shelters a chain of old post towns that once served the weary travellers who walked…
  5. How to Celebrate New Year’s in JapanNew Year, or oshōgatsu, is Japan’s most important annual celebration. Rather than focusing on one night of parties, Japanese families often treat the period…
  6. Tokyo's strangest museums worth booking a flight forTokyo hides entire worlds inside buildings that could easily be mistaken for ordinary office blocks. Beyond the neon glow of Shibuya and the serenity of…
  7. Bathing Etiquette in Japanese Onsen for First-Time VisitorsAustralia's love of a long soak after a hot day at Bondi or a winter weekend at Hepburn Springs makes Japan feel surprisingly familiar, yet the rules of an…
  8. A Guide to Japan’s Geothermal Hells: Beppu and NoboribetsuJapan’s volcanic landscape creates some of its most unusual sightseeing destinations. In Beppu, steaming ponds, bubbling mud pools and vividly coloured springs…
  9. Best Places For A Solo Trip In Japan: Safe And Welcoming DestinationsJapan is an excellent choice for independent travellers from Australia. Trains are dependable, streets are generally safe, and many everyday systems are…
  10. How to Visit a Japanese Tea Farm: Tours and Tasting ExperiencesVisiting a Japanese tea farm offers a slower, more personal way to explore the country. Instead of seeing green tea only as a drink in a café or convenience…