What to Do with One Day in Kobe
Jun 20, 2019 By Justin Hanus
Meat lovers often plan day trips to Kobe just to try its most famous food: Kobe beef. In fact, there is much more to see and do in the city than eat steak. If you only have one day, you’ll need to plan your time carefully to make sure you’re...[ Click to read more ]
Let’s Tour: Yokocho Drinking Alleys
May 25, 2019 By Jason Gatewood
Japan is very adept at making sure its past is preserved while building the future in terms of architecture at the city level. It is very common to see a new building complex go up right next door to a 200+ year old temple complex in many cities, even in...[ Click to read more ]
Your Guide to a Day at Nara Park in Nara City
May 22, 2019 By Justin Hanus
There are numerous things to do and see in Nara City, but the most important attraction has to be Nara Park. Located at the foot of Mount Wakakusa, it became a public park in 1880, which makes it one of the oldest parks in the country. It has the title...[ Click to read more ]
Sakushima, Aichi’s Art Island
May 17, 2019 By Bert Wishart
Sakushima is a small island in the sparkling Mikawa bay to the east of Nagoya which, together with Himakajima and Shinojima, makes up the Aichi Archipelago. Small it may be, but it is absolutely packed with things to do. Seeing Sakushima Island Sakushima is a delightful little island, and when...[ Click to read more ]
Yoyogi Park, home of Tokyo’s “World Festivals“
Apr 24, 2019 By Jason Gatewood
Situated south of Shinjuku, north of Shibuya and just west of Harajuku, the expanse of lush greenery, rolling hills and clear ponds, Yoyogi Park serves as an oasis of refreshing nature in the concrete jungle known as Shibuya Ward. It’s also the home of Meiji Jingu, the shrine dedicated to...[ Click to read more ]
Hiroshima’s Takehara and Tomonoura in a Day
By Matt Mangham
With a nice little string of holidays at the beginning of May, you may be thinking of braving the roads for a day trip. From Hiroshima, there are any number of directions you might set off in, but if you’re fond of historic districts and traditional Japanese scenery, one sure...[ Click to read more ]
Diving into Hiroshima’s Sakes
Apr 23, 2019 By Matt Mangham
If you’ve only recently moved to Hiroshima, you may not yet be aware that you are in one of Japan’s three great centers for sake production, the other two being in Kobe and Kyoto. Of the three, Hiroshima is both the youngest and, by some metrics, the most innovative. Until...[ Click to read more ]
Horsing Around at Tado Festival in Mie
Apr 16, 2019 By Bert Wishart
Japan has so many strange, eccentric and exciting festivals every year that it is sometimes difficult to keep track. However, few festivals are exciting and dramatic as Ageuma-Shinji, held every year in Tado, Mie. Also known as Tado Festival, Ageuma-Shinji has been held in this sleepy little town since the Nanboku-chō...[ Click to read more ]
Things to do in Tokyo For Golden Week 2019
Apr 15, 2019 By Bert Wishart
Golden week is the longest public holiday period in Japan, and many residents make a trip abroad, or to a tourist area like Kyoto over the break. Trains and airports can be crowded, and the traffic into any area worth a visit is going to be heavy at best, standstill...[ Click to read more ]
Ten Nagoya Suggestions for the Ten Days of Golden Week (Part One)
Mar 28, 2019 By Bert Wishart
You may have noticed, that people are starting to get excited about Golden Week. Of course, people always get excited around Golden Week, when some public holidays combine to make an extended block of time off, but this year it's even better. With Emperor Akihito abdicating this year, another holiday...[ Click to read more ]