Osaka is the rebellious younger sibling to Kyoto's traditional elder. If Kyoto is where you go to reflect and breathe, Osaka is where you go to let loose and eat. It is loud, friendly, and...
Tokyo Skytree Review: Is Japan’s Tallest Tower Worth the Hype?
Living around Tokyo, I see the Tokyo Skytree constantly. Grabbing coffee in Asakusa or looking out from a hotel window in Shinjuku? That giant silver needle is always looming in the background. It...
Sushi Making Experience: Don’t Just Eat Japan’s Most Iconic Dish, Make It!
If there is one thing I’ve learned from consuming a frankly concerning amount of raw fish, whether off a plastic conveyor belt at a place like Sushiro or the occasional wallet-draining omakase...
Is Shibuya Sky Worth It? A Skeptic’s Guide to the Experience
I usually roll my eyes at "viral" travel spots, but this one earns its reputation. If you have spent five minutes on "Travel Tok" or Instagram lately, you have seen Shibuya Sky. It is the...
Authentic Ramen Making: The Ultimate Foodie Experience
We have all been there. You queue up outside a tiny shop in Tokyo, sit at a wooden counter, and slurp down a bowl of piping hot ramen in ten minutes flat. It almost feels like fast food. But it...
Katsura Imperial Villa: Inside Japan’s Most Exclusive Garden
We know how hard it is to plan a Kyoto itinerary. The city is so dense with world-class history and culture that you could spend a month here and still feel like you missed something. It is almost...
Yabusame: The Complete Guide to Watching & Trying Horseback Archery
When most people think of a samurai, they picture a warrior with a sword. Or at least I did! But after moving to Japan, I learned that for centuries, the true mark of a skilled samurai was not how...
Is the Hakone Freepass Still Worth It in 2026?
So, you’re planning a trip to Japan and looking for a quick escape from the neon lights of Tokyo. You’ve probably heard of Hakone, the hot spring town with the pirate ships, the unique black eggs,...
7 Authentic Cooking Classes in Japan: Our Hand-Picked Favourites
Japanese cuisine is famous across the globe. For many travellers, eating their way through Tokyo or Kyoto is the main reason for the trip. But we find that simply tasting the food isn't always...
Ultimate Iwate Prefecture Guide and Perfect 2-Day Itinerary
Iwate is the second-largest prefecture in Japan, but in our experience, it is still one of the quietest. It covers a massive area, stretching from the Sanriku Coast in the east to the mountains in...
Japan Travel 2026: The Ultimate Guide to New Openings
Japan is one of those places that never sits still. Just when you think you have seen the highlights, something completely new appears. While 2025 was defined by the massive World Expo in Osaka,...
Kintsugi in Japan: Why You Should Experience the Art of Golden Repair
You have probably seen photos of it before: a cracked ceramic bowl that hasn't been thrown away, but instead repaired with a striking line of gold. It looks beautiful, but we think the philosophy...
Guide to Miyama Kayabuki no Sato: Kyoto’s Best Kept Secret
When people are looking for that classic storybook image of Japan, they are probably picturing a thatched-roof village. Shirakawa-go in the Japanese Alps is usually the first name that comes up, and...
Mochitsuki: Trying an Authentic Mochi Pounding Experience in Japan
We always tell our clients: getting mochi from a shop is great, but making it yourself is a completely different experience. To get that perfect texture (warm, soft, and incredibly stretchy!), you...
2025 Tokyo Christmas Market Guide: Where to Find the Best Festive Vibes
If you are visiting Japan in December, you might be surprised by just how seriously Tokyo takes Christmas. But it’s important to know that things work a bit differently here. In Japan, Christmas...