If you grew up in a country where trick-or-treating is the norm during Halloween, Tokyo is going to mess with your head a bit. No kids are wandering the streets after dark ringing doorbells here....
Is Japan Stroller-Friendly? The Blunt Truth From a Local Mum
There's a certain video format doing the rounds on Japan TikTok right now. You've probably seen it: a couple dragging an enormous suitcase (or two) up three flights of station stairs, sweating,...
Where to Go for Halloween Afternoon Tea in Tokyo This 2026
Here are my favourite Halloween Afternoon Tea Tokyo hotels and cafes are running this year, with actual menus, prices and dates, so you know what’s worth booking.
Guide to Cosmos in Japan (Best Places to See Them in 2026)
There's a patch of cosmos growing wild along the river near my apartment in Yokohama. It’s just a strip of pink and white someone probably planted years ago that the whole neighbourhood now treats...
Yanagawa Guide: An Honest Look at Kyushu’s Dreamy Canal Town
Yanagawa is a historic canal town in Fukuoka Prefecture, best known for its network of waterways and traditional boat rides. Often called the "Venice of Japan", it offers a slower side of Kyushu...
Sports Experiences in Japan That Are Worth Booking For Your Trip
I’m not going to lie. The first few times I came to Japan, doing something explicitly related to sports did not even cross my mind. And that’s not just because I can’t hit a ball, even if my life...
Centuries-Old Wellness Experiences in Japan You Must Try At Least Once
Ask anyone why they want to visit Japan, and food comes up within about ten seconds. Then someone brings up otaku culture or Harajuku fashion, all these exciting little worlds that Japan somehow...
Japan Hotel vs Airbnb: How to Actually Choose Where You Stay
The Japan hotel vs Airbnb question comes up on nearly every trip we help plan, and like any good agency, we don't steer clients toward one by default, because the right call depends entirely on...
Japan Museums for Kids: 10 Local Picks Worth the Trip
What I've learned through the years is that Japan museums for kids come down to two categories: places built to be touched, climbed on and shouted at, and places where you're quietly steering a...
Luxury Kyoto Trip: A Boutique Travel Agency’s Guide to Doing It Right
As a Japan-based boutique travel agency, we spend a lot of time with guests who've done the five-star circuit elsewhere first. Luxury in places like Dubai or Paris tends to mean scale: bigger...
10 Best Craft Workshops in Japan to Try on Your Trip
My first attempt at one of the craft workshops in Japan left me with a slightly wonky finished object, but an odd sense of pride I hadn't expected from an hour in a small shop. Nobody warns you...
Types of Performances in Japan: A Guide on What They Are and How to Book
When most travellers think of Japanese performing arts, they picture a silent, dimly lit theater in Kyoto watching a Noh play they barely understand, or a ticket to a high-speed Kabuki show in...
Kyoto vs Osaka: Which City Should First-Time Visitors Choose?
Kyoto vs Osaka is a classic dilemma for anyone planning their first trip to Japan. The two cities sit a fifteen-minute Shinkansen ride apart, close enough that people assume the choice barely...
Lake Biwa Things to Do and Relaxing 2-Day Itinerary
The first time I saw Lake Biwa properly, from the window of a Biwako Line train pulling into Otsu, I was surprised by how big it actually is. You hear "Japan's largest lake" and your brain still...
Best Indoor Play Areas in Tokyo (Perfect for Kids on Hot and Rainy Days!)
Tokyo in summer does something to a family holiday that nobody warns you about. The humidity sits on your chest before nine in the morning, and by midday even the most enthusiastic six-year-old is...