Journal

  1. Unwinding in style: Japan's best onsen towns for a relaxing weekendA weekend spent wandering between steaming outdoor baths, wooden ryokan corridors and lantern-lit streets is one of Japan's most rewarding escapes. The country…
  2. Japanese Convenience Store Snacks Worth Trying in JapanJapanese convenience stores, or konbini, are much more than places to buy a drink and a packet of chips. In Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and smaller regional towns,…
  3. Why the Shimanami Kaido Belongs on Every Cyclist's Bucket ListStretching roughly 60 kilometres across the Seto Inland Sea, the Shimanami Kaido links the main island of Honshu with Shikoku through a chain of six small…
  4. The Charm of Kanazawa's Samurai and Geisha DistrictsTucked between the Sea of Japan coast and the Hakusan peaks, Kanazawa carries the reputation of a refined Kyoto alternative. Travellers from Sydney or…
  5. How to Experience a Traditional Japanese Ryokan: Etiquette and HighlightsStepping into a ryokan for the first time can feel like crossing into another era of Japan. Tatami-matted rooms, sliding paper screens, handcrafted kaiseki…
  6. A Day Trip to Nikko: Toshogu Shrine and Kegon FallsNikko sits roughly 140 kilometres north of Tokyo in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, and most travellers manage its headline attractions in a single day.…
  7. What to Pack for a Winter Trip to HokkaidoHokkaido winter is a different experience from the cold many Australians know in Melbourne, Canberra or the Blue Mountains. Sapporo can sit below freezing, ski…
  8. Uncovering Tokyo's Best Backstreet Ramen Shops Like a LocalRamen holds a near-religious status in Tokyo, and while the bright signs of chain shops beckon from every major intersection, the truly memorable bowls sit…
  9. The quiet geometry of Japanese gardens: Ryoanji and KenrokuenFew places on earth translate philosophy into landscape as precisely as Japan does. A stroll through a centuries-old garden can feel like reading a poem…
  10. Aussie guide to riding Japan's trains with SuicaJapan's rail network is famous for moving millions of people across cities and regions with almost mechanical precision. For travellers from Sydney or…