Journal

  1. Sapporo, Hakata, and Tokyo: a guide to Japan's signature ramen stylesAustralians planning a trip to Japan usually have sushi, tempura, and okonomiyaki on the must-try list, but the country's most beloved everyday dish is a…
  2. Exploring Monzen Nakacho: Tokyo's living Edo period streetscapeMonzen Nakacho sits in the eastern reaches of Koto Ward, a neighbourhood where the layout of streets, shrines, and merchant houses still echoes the geography…
  3. Watching the Morning Rush: A Day in the Life of a Japanese CommuterThe 7:42 train from Yokohama pulls alongside the platform with a soft hiss of pneumatics, and within ninety seconds roughly two thousand passengers have…
  4. The fascinating world of Japanese capsule hotelsJapanese capsule hotels offer a compact, highly organised way to spend a night in cities where conventional accommodation can be expensive. Instead of booking…
  5. How to respectfully visit a Shinto shrine in JapanA Shinto shrine, or jinja, is a place of worship, community memory and connection with the natural world. Visitors are welcome, whether they arrive to pray,…
  6. Best places to see fireflies in Japan by seasonFireflies turn warm Japanese evenings into quiet, glowing scenes along streams, rice fields and wooded paths. Their brief appearance is one of the country’s…
  7. Why You Should Visit The Art Islands Of Naoshima And MiyajimaJapan’s islands offer a slower, more intimate way to experience the country. Naoshima and Miyajima are especially rewarding because they combine striking…
  8. Japan's National Parks: Hiking Trails And WildlifeJapan’s national parks offer a remarkable mix of volcanic landscapes, ancient forests, alpine ridges and subtropical islands. They are ideal for travellers who…
  9. How To Order Coffee In Japan With Local Café Know-HowOrdering coffee in Japan can be a small cultural adventure. A polished specialty café in Tokyo may serve carefully measured pour-over, while a traditional…
  10. The Most Photogenic Shrines in Japan for Sunrise ShotsJapan’s shrines offer some of the country’s most memorable dawn scenery: vermilion gates emerging from blue-grey shadows, coastal torii reflecting the first…