Travelling to Japan during Golden Week gets bad press. Yes, the crowds are real, the sold-out trains are real, and the queues snaking outside Kyoto's most popular temples are very real. But the...
Japan Culuture & Language
Dive into the heart of Japanese culture. These blogs cover everything from ancient traditions to pop culture and language learning.
What to Expect from Golden Week in Japan: The Complete 2026 Traveller’s Guide
Every year, for roughly ten days between late April and early May, Japan collectively exhales and goes on holiday. All at once. Around 40 million people take to the roads, railways, airports, and...
The Best Ryokan in Kyoto: A Complete Guide for Every Budget
If you are finally going on that dream Kyoto trip, you will probably spend your days walking miles to see those famous shrines and temples. By the time the sun goes down, your feet will be tired,...
Our Nijigen No Mori Guide for Visiting Awaji Island Anime Park
Nijigen no Mori is easily one of the most underrated otaku experiences in Japan. The anime- and video game-themed adventure park is located on its own island (hence being also known as Awaji Island...
Where to Spend Valentine’s Day in Tokyo: 25+ Romantic Date Night Spots
It’s that time of year again, when couples start getting excited for a romantic day or evening together. If you’re spending Valentine’s Day in Tokyo, then you’re in luck! The city is overflowing...
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...
Sapporo Snow Festival First-Timer’s Guide: 10 Tips to Know Before You Go
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...
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...
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...
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...