Planning your first-ever visit to the Sapporo Snow Festival? Well, firstly, that’s amazing! You’re going to have an incredible time! But, that being said, it is a big event that can seem a little...
Nagamachi Samurai District Guide and 5 Must-Visit Spots
Ever wanted to walk the streets of Japan as the samurai did centuries ago? Well, I have good news for you. In Kanazawa, you can. Specifically, in the Nagamachi Samurai District, an area famous for...
PokéPark Kanto: Everything You Need to Know to Get Tickets and Visit
PokéPark Kanto is easily one of the most anticipated openings of the year in Tokyo, with people planning entire trips around the experience. But what does a visit to PokéPark Kanto actually look...
Visiting Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine and the Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall
Takayama is famous for many things: its scenic beauty, the amazing preserved historic buildings, and the nationally renowned Takayama Festival. Well, did you know these three things have something...
6 Unmissable Japanese Snow Festivals to See Amazing Snow Sculptures in 2026
Did you know that Sapporo isn’t your only option when it comes to Japanese snow festivals? Believe it or not, but between December and March, there are places in Japan that get some of the deepest...
New Year’s Fireworks in Tokyo: Where to Welcome in 2026
Are you looking for New Year’s fireworks in Tokyo and…struggling? Don’t worry, it’s a rite of passage for Westerners spending the holidays in Japan to discover that things are done a little...
The Ultimate Omicho Market Food Guide: 6 Must-Visit Stalls
Tsukiji and Nishiki are cool, but have you heard of Omicho Market in Kanazawa? It’s been around ever since the Edo Period, has close to 200 food stalls, and gives you the chance to try the very best...
Exploring the Higashi Chaya District, Kanazawa
As a historic castle town in Japan, Kanazawa is filled with history from top to bottom, and this includes the chaya districts. These are areas filled with geisha houses (the chaya), where...
Is Visiting Mount Shosa Ropeway and Engyo Ji Temple Worth It?
As part of a Japanese travel agency, I’ve had the pleasure of exploring Japan from top to bottom, and that includes visiting hundreds (maybe thousands) of temples. So, when it comes to Engyo Ji, the...
How to Experience Pop Culture in Japan: The Complete 101 Guide
I think it’s safe to say that pop culture in Japan isn’t like anywhere else in the world. It incorporates an incredible kaleidoscope of things and is somehow both one of Japan’s most defining...
7 Amazing Tokyo Winter Day Trips: Fuji Views, Onsen, and Ski Resorts
There are so many great reasons to want to plan a trip to Tokyo during winter: the comforting (and delicious) food, long onsen visits, the beautiful winter illuminations that light up the city…and,...
The Only Tokyo Food Guide You Need: Restaurants, Markets, and Districts
It’s no secret that Tokyo is on pretty much every foodie in the world’s travel bucket list. And for good reason. Japan just has so many incredible things to eat, and in Tokyo, you can try them all....
15 Ancient Japanese Cities That You Can Visit
I know that Japan’s amazing history and culture are huge reasons that so many people dream of visiting. If this is true for you, then you might be delighted to learn that many ancient Japanese...
Ultimate Guide to Otaku Culture in Japan
These days, being an otaku has gone global. Fans and hobbyists all over the world have proudly taken on the title, joining the online community of their particular special interest. But, what does...
The 13 Most Scenic Places in Japan for Breathtaking Natural Beauty
If you ask the average person where the most scenic places in Japan are, I’m guessing they’ll say one of the following: Kyoto, Hakone, or Mount Fuji. Now, I’m not going to dispute how beautiful...