Japan Journeys

A record spins and 1960s folk music warbles out over the old sunken...

Kyoto is a city that many consider to be the perfect embodiment of the truest 'Japanese sensibilities.' Refinement, subtlety and a restrained aesthetic create a type of harmony that permeates all facets of life in Japan. Minimalism, restraint and the beloved 'wabi-sabi' are all forms of a distinctly Kyoto-esque identity. Enter the Gion Matsuri: a night of hot air, cold beer and a touch of ancestral transcendence.

Food is an important part of travel for me. When I’m exploring a...

Yes, you read that correctly—one whole hour. To be honest, I didn’t quite...

A bird flying overhead might notice a few geometric shapes at grass level,...

Japanese pizza has a reputation for being a little strange. Where else would...

Local and authentic—these are the qualities typically associated with restaurants people want to...

Calling all adventurers! The realm of Eorzea is in dire need of your...

Tired body? Looking for a break from the tourist crowds of Kyoto? A...

Nozawa Onsen’s heavy snowfall and abundant powder have...

The Goto Islands are an archipelago of 140 islands located off the west...

While many of Tokyo’s visitors flock to Hakone, Lake Kawaguchiko to its North...

Be ye brave enough to sail Japanese waters? Until One Piece, pirates and...

Kyoto is the gently lit canal to Tokyo’s fit-inducing neon—part of its charm...

Ryoanji Temple is a UNESCO listed Zen Buddhist Temple home to Japan’s most...

Kyoto’s beauty and charm cannot be denied. However, it has led to a...

Not sure if you’ve heard, but the whole Tokyo city lights and neon...

Food lovers rejoice, the Nishiki Market in downtown Kyoto is a mecca for...

Once spring hits, they’re nearly everywhere. Visitors to Japan will find long strands...

There’s nothing more soothing than spending a day in nature; I’ve always thought...

Mention Fukuoka to any Japanese person, and they’ll reply with one of two...

Springtime in Japan means one thing, and one thing only: cherry blossoms. The...

Cinephiles coming to Tokyo could definitely put together a movie-based pilgrimage trip. Movie-themed...

In Tokyo, you can totally get by eating on a dime. But when...

Ine, the quaint fishing village in Kyōto’s northwest, is arguably one of the...

A line of Buddhist monks walk the stone path of Okuno-in.

For those who celebrate Christmas, you’ll know food plays a big role in...

Deep in the mountains of Nagano prefecture, sidling the Japanese Central Alps, lies...

Besides seafood, Hokkaido’s best export must be soup curry. This is exactly as...

If you’ve ever experienced the small thrill of finding a town or restaurant...

Of all the major transit and shopping hubs in Tokyo, Ikebukuro seems to...

Wondering how to cool off in Japan’s humid summer? Perhaps you’re munching your...

Tokyo’s world famous Tsukiji Market has now officially...

When most people think of Kyoto, they picture famous shrines and bamboo forests....

Arashiyama is a lush, scenic district west of Kyoto which translates directly to...

The Philosopher’s Path, or Tetsugaku no michi, is a 2 km-long pedestrian pathway...

Toddlers giggle, adults fall flat on their back, and a select few swoop...

With literally thousands of ramen restaurants in Central Tokyo and across the Greater...

At first glance, Kasuga Taisha Shrine looks like the gateway to an ancient,...

Naoshima is more commonly known as Japan’s ‘art island’, and for good reason....

Loving those red torii gate tunnel images from Kyoto, but just can’t get...

The districts of Akihabara and Ueno sit next to one another and offer...

Kinako, or roasted soybean flour, might be a difficult sell if you’ve never...

Japan is synonymous with sushi. Every day, thousands of fisherman take to the...

Tokyo Mario Kart Tours!? These Nintendo-esque go-kart street tours have to be one...

As I stared over the Asahiyaki instructor’s shoulder during the pottery wheel demonstration,...

Summers in Kyoto can be surprisingly hot and humid. Luckily, the pragmatic ancient...

It sounds like a crazy fantasy. In Japan, there’s a city. And in...

For a fun outdoorsy adventure in Kyoto, check out the Hozugawa River Cruise....

Miyajima, or Itsukushima, is a lush, forested island in Hiroshima Bay and undoubtedly...

For most, the words “Tokyo sewer tour” don’t inspire much excitement. It’s an...

For fans of Hello Kitty and her menagerie of mates, or even those...

After a leisurely boat ride along the Sumida River, you will arrive in...

By day, the neighbourhood of Ebisu hums with shoppers, museum-goers and the lunchtime...

If you’re looking for a fun activity that doubles as a memorable keepsake...

Visiting an art museum is probably not top of most people’s lists when...

Picture this: you're a feudal lord (daimyo) with land, money and power within...

Nagano’s Kiso Valley, with its wooded hills and pristine waters, is the perfect...

Since time immemorial, Japanese sensibility has lionised the transient events in life. Soon...

If you have a sweet tooth and you’re visiting Japan, green tea-flavoured desserts...

Whenever I have visitors in town, I love taking them to a stand-up...

In 1612, an Osakan man by the name of Yasui Doton began work...

Tokyo is a sprawling metropolis with countless landscapes to explore. Besides the main...

As I paddled my kayak through the mangroves, a hawk circled overhead and...

In the spring of 2019, my fiancée and I spent three weeks backpacking...

Calling all okonomiyaki fans! If you haven’t already done so, you simply must...

This Kyoto walking tour brings you from the Kodaiji complex to Kiyomizudera. An...

For green tea fans, there’s really no going past Uji—a town with tea...

Whiskey. Ireland and Scotland both claim to have first created it—in fact the...

Looking for a way to enjoy nature, soak up culture and get some...

The chances are high that you've never been to Fukuoka Prefecture's secluded island...

Despite having a Christian population of roughly 1%, Christmas is a big deal...

Looking for a short walking route in Kyoto that will give you real...

After a morning spent witnessing volcanic archery and visiting a capybara onsen, my...

Photography is a hobby of mine, a long running interest that I’ve had...

Can your feet beat the streets of Kyoto no more? Or perhaps you’re...

There can be no doubt that Arashiyama is one of Kyoto’s most popular...