Most people planning a trip to Japan build their route around cities. Tokyo, then Kyoto, maybe Osaka, with a day trip to Nara squeezed in for the deer. It works, and it is a fine trip, I will not...
Home Cooking Classes in Japan: Types, What to Expect, and Where to Book
Japan has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other country outside of France, and it is easy to spend an entire trip eating extraordinarily well without ever touching a kitchen. But as a...
Travelling Japan with Kids? Here are the Best Destinations for Your Family
When my son was born, I quickly realised that I might have to write travel off the calendar for a few years. Planning and managing a trip is hard enough. Adding kids to the equation is, to say the...
Top Japan Cultural Experiences for First-Timers (According to Local Guides!)
One of the reasons Japan is such a popular tourist destination is the sheer number of unique and memorable experiences you can have in the country. But what we have seen as a boutique travel agency...
All the Ninja and Samurai Experiences You Can Enjoy in Japan
Most people outside Japan grow up with a fairly cartoonish idea of what samurai and ninja actually were. Samurai become noble swordsmen in slow motion films, all silence and honour. Ninja become...
Unlocking All the Authentic Maiko & Geisha Experiences Japan Has to Offer
When you picture Japan, the geisha is probably one of the first things that come to mind. If the embarrassing videos of oblivious tourists hounding them along the streets of Kyoto are anything to go...
I Booked a Sumo Dining Experience, and You Should Too
Living in Japan for a decade now, I would love to tell you that sumo is completely mundane to me already. I would love to say I attend tournaments every other weekend, and act as though bumping into...
Sumo Morning Practice in Tokyo: What It Is, How to Book, and More!
Most visitors to Tokyo see sumo from the outside. By this, I mean that they watch tournament highlights on a screen, maybe spend half an hour at the Kokugikan Museum in Ryogoku, or buy a cool...
The Ultimate Mie Area Guide & 3-Day Itinerary
Most people who visit Mie come to see Ise Jingu, tick it off, and leave. They spend a morning at the shrines, eat a bowl of udon on the way out, and catch the train back to Osaka or Nagoya before...
The Best Zoos in Japan, From a Penguin Walk in Hokkaido to a Safari Park in Kyushu
Choosing between the best zoos in Japan is a bit like choosing a favourite ramen shop: everyone has an opinion, and half of those opinions are based on nostalgia rather than reality. The internet...
Best Things to Do in Karuizawa, Japan’s Upscale Mountain Town
Karuizawa is essentially the Hamptons of Japan. If you are expecting a rugged, untouched mountain village where you might stumble upon a lonely monk, you are in the wrong place. Instead, it is more...
The Best Aquariums in Japan to Add to Your Summer Adventure
Travelling in Japan during the summer months, you’ll realise soon enough that the humidity in this country is not a joke. You will find yourself looking for any excuse to stand in front of a...
Before You Watch Sanno Matsuri, Read This Essential Guide!
Sanno Matsuri is one of Tokyo's three great festivals, yet a lot of visitors end up watching it from the wrong street, at the wrong hour, with no idea what they're actually witnessing. Held every...
Gion Geisha District: Everything You Need to Know Before You Visit
The way I see it, Gion gets overhyped and underexplained at the same time, which is a frustrating combination when you're trying to actually plan a trip. Yes, it's beautiful. Yes, you might spot a...
The Best Free Things to Do in Kyoto According to Locals
Kyoto has a reputation for being the kind of city that slowly drains your wallet. Every time you turn a corner, there is another beautiful temple charging an entry fee, another famous garden with a...