Journal

  1. Quiet Cherry Blossom Spots in Tokyo for a More Local SpringTokyo’s cherry blossom season is beautiful, but the most famous viewing areas can feel less like a peaceful spring outing and more like a slow-moving crowd.…
  2. The Complete Guide to Japanese Vending Machines: Unusual Finds and TipsJapanese vending machines are far more than convenient places to buy a cold drink. They are woven into daily life, appearing beside train stations, rural…
  3. Seto Inland Sea art islands: a guide to Naoshima and TeshimaFloating between Honshu and Shikoku, the islands of the Seto Inland Sea have quietly become one of Japan's most fascinating cultural destinations. While most…
  4. How to Attend a Japanese Matsuri: Etiquette and HighlightsAustralia sits on the other side of the calendar from Japan, so the deep-summer matsuri season of July and August lines up with winter back home. Plenty of…
  5. 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…
  6. 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,…
  7. 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…
  8. 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…
  9. 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…
  10. 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.…