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...
JAPAN TRAVEL
Planning a trip to Japan? These blogs are your go-to guide for all the practical stuff — the real-world tips that make travelling smoother, smarter, and way less stressful.
Experiencing a Japanese Tea Ceremony: What to Know Before You Book
If your ideal afternoon looks less like a packed sightseeing list and more like a certain tea-loving uncle from Avatar finding his happy place, you’re booking the right thing. Understand the listings, compare the most common formats, and know what to check before you book a Japanese tea ceremony with this guide.
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...
The Ultimate 7-Day Kyushu Itinerary (Without a Car)
Choosing Kyushu for your Japan trip might just be the best decision you could make. Compared to the busyness of Honshu, the region is incredibly quiet and relaxed, but with some of the most amazing...
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...
Our 7-Day Queer Japan Itinerary for First-Timers in Japan
Travelling anywhere for the first time as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community can come with its complications. But we’re happy to tell you that the hardest thing about travelling as a queer person in...
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...
Knife-Making in Japan: What to Know Before You Book
Learn what “knife-making” can mean for bookings in Japan, compare the most common types of listings, and know what to check before you book.
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...
Our LGBTQIA+ Japan Travel Guide for Planning an Unforgettable Trip
As a Japan-based travel agency, we know that the experience of travelling anywhere in the world as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community comes with more complications than it should. There are...
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...
Japan Guided Tour or Plan It Yourself? My Recommendations…
Japan is an amazing place to visit for far too many reasons than I can list in just the intro of one blog post. The food, the history, the culture, the safety, the theme parks, the natural...
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...