My favourite Tokyo autumn walk starts beneath the golden ginkgo trees of Meiji Jingu Gaien, then winds through Sendagaya and Harajuku before finishing at Yoyogi Park. The route is roughly five...
The Nakasendo Trail and Historic Stops Along the Kiso Valley
The Nakasendo Trail cuts through the Kiso Valley in central Japan, following sections of an old highway once used by travellers moving between Edo (now known as Tokyo) and Kyoto. The...
The 5 Best Nationwide Yakiniku Chains in Japan
Call me dramatic, but sitting in front of a charcoal grill, with smoke curling towards the extractor and the smell of meat just beginning to char, is one of my favourite food rituals in Japan. And...
Fukushima Travel Guide and Itinerary
Fukushima. For many first-time visitors to Japan, the name probably brings one thing to mind before anything else: the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster of March 2011. It is understandable....
Accessible Travel in Japan
I won’t sugar-coat it: accessible travel in Japan takes extra planning. While major cities have made progress with accessible transport and public facilities, getting around isn’t always...
Camping in Shizuoka (Guide and Recommended Campsites)
Our family fell down the Japanese camping rabbit hole about three years ago after binge-watching Yuru Camp together on Netflix. Apparently, watching anime girls cooking outdoors and waking up to...
8 Cultural Kid-Friendly Activities in Japan Your Family Will Remember
If viral social media is anything to go by, Japan is practically one giant theme park. To say there is a surplus of kid-friendly activities in Japan is an understatement. You’ve got zoos with...
Kyoto Food Guide (What and Where Locals Actually Eat!)
Ask ten people what to eat in Kyoto and nine will probably say kaiseki. That is great advice if you have deep pockets and can book a table months in advance. But some of my favourite meals here...
Nagano Guide With Itineraries for Every Season
It really bugs me that most tourists treat Nagano as a stopover. There. I said it. They ride through to a ski resort, suffer through a miserable and winding line to photograph the snow monkeys (only...
Where to Go Trick-or-Treating in Tokyo This Halloween 2026
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...