Japan, explained
Practical guides, cultural notes, and travel news from people who spend a lot of time in Japan. Read what you need, plan what you love.
265 articles
Narita and Odawara: Two Transit Towns Worth More Than a Glance
Narita has a 10th-century temple and unagi. Odawara has a castle and kamaboko. Both reward a stop of 2 - 3 hours. Here's how to fit each into a real itinerary.
Ouchi-juku: A Thatched Edo Post Town in the Aizu Hills
How to reach Ouchi-juku from Tokyo by shinkansen and Aizu Railway, what to see on the thatched post-town street, and when the snow festival runs.
Kitakyushu: A Worthwhile First or Last Stop in Kyushu
Kitakyushu sits 15 min from Hakata by Shinkansen. This guide covers Kokura Castle, Mojiko Retro, the TOTO Museum, and the spring Kawachi Wisteria Garden.
Yamaguchi and Shimonoseki: A Guide to Japan's Western Tip
Practical guide to Yamaguchi and Shimonoseki: pagodas, ink-wash gardens, fugu at Karato Market, the Kanmon pedestrian tunnel, and shinkansen access tips.
Otsu and Lake Biwa: A Practical Guide to a Day Beside Japan's Largest Lake
Practical guide to Otsu and Lake Biwa: getting there from Kyoto (9 min, ¥230), Mii-dera, Ishiyama-dera, Enryaku-ji, lake cruises, and using Otsu as a base.
Iga: Inside Japan's Ninja Heartland
How to reach Iga-Ueno from Osaka or Nagoya, and what to see: the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum trick house, Ueno Castle's 30-metre stone walls, and Basho's birthplace.
Shizuoka and Hamamatsu: Tea, Castles and the Tokaido Coast
How to add Shizuoka and Hamamatsu to a Tokyo-Kyoto journey: green tea, hilltop shrines, eel, gyoza and musical-instrument museums on the Tokaido coast.
Walking Oirase Gorge: A Guide to Lake Towada's Caldera Trail
How to walk Oirase Gorge and visit Lake Towada: trail sections, waterfalls, bus routes from Aomori, the lake cruise, and autumn foliage timing.
Beyond Naoshima: A Practical Guide to Shodoshima and Awaji Island
Practical guide to Shodoshima and Awaji Island - ferries, getting around, Kankakei Gorge, Naruto whirlpools, and which island suits which traveller.
Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen: Hot-Spring Villages Beyond the Snow Monkeys
A practical guide to Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen: bathhouse-hopping, ryokan stays, seasonal highlights, and how to reach the villages from Nagano.
Enoshima and Mount Takao: Two Half-Day Escapes from Tokyo
Two easy half-day escapes from Tokyo: Enoshima's shrine island and sea caves, and Mount Takao's forested trails and temple. Real travel times, fares, food tips.
100-Yen Shops in Japan: What Daiso, Seria and Can★Do Actually Sell
Complete guide to Daiso, Seria and Can★Do: Japan's brilliant 100-yen shops. What they actually sell, what to buy, and how to shop like a local.