Journal

  1. Japanese business etiquette for travelers on work tripsA work trip to Japan involves more than arriving on time for a meeting. Everyday details—how you exchange a business card, where you sit, how you pour a drink,…
  2. What to Eat in Okinawa Beyond Taco Rice and Blue SealOkinawa’s food culture is often introduced through two easy favorites: taco rice and Blue Seal ice cream. Both deserve a place on your itinerary, but they…
  3. The Best Places to Watch the Sunrise in JapanJapan rewards early risers with a completely different travel experience. Before the trains fill, temples open, and sightseeing streets become busy, the…
  4. How to dress for a Japanese festival with confidenceA Japanese festival, or matsuri, is as much a social experience as a sightseeing event. Lanterns glow above food stalls, taiko drums fill the streets, and…
  5. The Most Underrated Castles in Japan for a Richer JourneyJapan’s famous castles often dominate travel itineraries, especially Himeji, Osaka, and Matsumoto. Yet some of the country’s most rewarding fortress towns…
  6. Japanese Zodiac Temples And Your Birth YearJapan’s zodiac tradition connects each year with one of twelve animals: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and boar.…
  7. Exploring Naoshima’s Museums and Outdoor ArtNaoshima is a small island in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea where contemporary art, dramatic architecture, and quiet coastal scenery share the same landscape. Once…
  8. How to Use a JR Pass Effectively Across JapanJapan’s railway network makes it possible to travel from snowy Hokkaido to tropical Kyushu with impressive speed and comfort. For visitors planning several…
  9. The best local snacks to buy at Narita Airport before departureNarita Airport is more than a gateway to Tokyo. It is one of the easiest places to pick up edible souvenirs from Chiba, Tokyo, and other regions of Japan just…
  10. Why You Should Try a Japanese Capsule HotelA capsule hotel offers one of Japan’s most distinctive forms of accommodation: a compact private sleeping space inside a larger shared facility. Originally…