Journal

  1. Japan Typhoon Season: Insurance Tips and Backup Plans for AussiesAustralia and Japan sit on opposite sides of the Pacific, yet both countries share a familiarity with tropical storms. Each year between June and October,…
  2. Japanese work culture insights for curious visitorsMany travellers to Japan arrive with images of ancient temples, neon-lit streets, and cherry blossoms. Yet for those who step beyond the tourist trail, the…
  3. Sapporo in summer: beer gardens and lavender fields for Aussie travellersSapporo surprises most travellers heading north. While Tokyo swelters through humid August days, Hokkaido's capital sits comfortably in the low twenties, with…
  4. How to shop at a Japanese department store like a localAustralian travellers heading to Tokyo or Kyoto often plan for shrines and bullet trains, yet few anticipate the cultural immersion waiting inside a Japanese…
  5. Miyajima Island and the Tidal Magic of Itsukushima ShrineJust a short ferry ride from Hiroshima, Miyajima Island (formally known as Itsukushima) is one of those rare destinations where the landscape literally…
  6. A Guide to Japanese Craft Beer: Breweries and Where to Find ThemAustralia's craft beer scene has matured into one of the most adventurous in the world, and Sydney and Melbourne drinkers have already developed a soft spot…
  7. Seasonal Illuminations Across Japan: Winter Lights and Summer GlowJapan has a deep cultural affection for light, and nowhere is this more visible than in its seasonal illuminations. From the crisp sparkle of winter displays…
  8. How to experience a Japanese garden: elements, symbolism, and quietWalking into a Japanese garden often feels like stepping into a painting. The air changes, the pace slows, and your eyes begin to notice stones, moss, and…
  9. Step Back in Time at Narai Juku on the Historic Nakasendo TrailHigh in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture, tucked between forested ridges and the rushing waters of the Narai River, lies a centuries-old settlement where…
  10. A guide to omamori, daruma, and Japanese lucky charmsWalking through the lantern-lit lanes of Kyoto, travellers from Australia notice small pouches tied to temple gates and rows of red round dolls stacked at…