Journal

  1. Hidden Temples of Kyoto: Quiet Sanctuaries Away from the CrowdsMost visitors to Kyoto start with the postcard landmarks. Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji - these places earn their fame, yet by mid-morning they can…
  2. Forgotten railway stations of Japan: abandoned and transformedFor over a century, rail has been the spine of Japanese travel, threading through mountain villages and dense neighbourhoods alike. Yet many old stations have…
  3. Hot drinks from a can: Japanese vending machine coffee and teaJapan has more vending machines per capita than almost any other country, and a remarkable number of them dispense heated beverages year-round. Walk down a…
  4. Viewing Mount Fuji: Photo Spots and Sunrise LocationsMount Fuji holds a magnetic pull for travellers from Australia, especially those who land at Haneda after a long-haul from Sydney and immediately start…
  5. How to order at a Japanese izakaya without faking itWalking into an izakaya for the first time can feel like joining a private club you forgot to apply to. The door slides open, a chorus of "irasshaimase" hits…
  6. Why Visit Takayama for Festivals and Old Town CharmHigh in Gifu Prefecture, Takayama offers a slower, more traditional side of Japan. Surrounded by the Northern Japan Alps, this compact mountain city is known…
  7. Discovering Japanese Hot Springs: Rotenburo and Mixed BathingJapan's bathing culture is woven so deeply into daily life that locals often describe a hot spring soak as a daily reset. From steaming mountain pools to…
  8. Scenic Cycling Routes Across Japan: Kyoto to the Shimanami KaidoRiding a bicycle through Japan offers a slowness that trains never capture. You hear temple bells drift across a Kyoto neighbourhood, feel tyres hum on a…
  9. How to Genuinely Make Japanese Friends While TravellingStepping off a Qantas flight into Narita or Kansai, you might immediately register the polite hush of Japanese public spaces. The famous reserve of strangers…
  10. Exploring Nagasaki Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum from AustraliaSet on a hillside overlooking the Urakami River, Nagasaki Peace Park and the adjacent Atomic Bomb Museum draw visitors from every corner of the globe. For…