Japan has one of the leading economies in the world and has one of the highest average costs of living. Many people get worried before visiting or moving to Japan, thinking that it would be...
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Top 8 Underrated Places in Tokyo to Visit in 2025
We all know the famous neighbourhoods in Tokyo, like Shinjuku, Harajuku and Shibuya. If you’re anything like me, you might have been to these areas a lot and want to discover some new...
Japan Travel Tips 2025: 33 Insider Hacks for Making the Most of Your Trip
Whether it’s your first trip to Japan or you’ve been more times than you can count, the country has a magical way of always feeling fresh and surprising. One minute you’re buying hot coffee in a...
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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...
The Best Zoos in Japan, From a Penguin Walk in Hokkaido to a Safari Park in Kyushu
Choosing between the best zoos in Japan is a bit like choosing a favourite ramen shop: everyone has an opinion, and half of those opinions are based on nostalgia rather than reality. The internet...
Best Things to Do in Karuizawa, Japan’s Upscale Mountain Town
Karuizawa is essentially the Hamptons of Japan. If you are expecting a rugged, untouched mountain village where you might stumble upon a lonely monk, you are in the wrong place. Instead, it is more...
The Best Aquariums in Japan to Add to Your Summer Adventure
Travelling in Japan during the summer months, you’ll realise soon enough that the humidity in this country is not a joke. You will find yourself looking for any excuse to stand in front of a...
Before You Watch Sanno Matsuri, Read This Essential Guide!
Sanno Matsuri is one of Tokyo's three great festivals, yet a lot of visitors end up watching it from the wrong street, at the wrong hour, with no idea what they're actually witnessing. Held every...
Gion Geisha District: Everything You Need to Know Before You Visit
The way I see it, Gion gets overhyped and underexplained at the same time, which is a frustrating combination when you're trying to actually plan a trip. Yes, it's beautiful. Yes, you might spot a...
The Best Free Things to Do in Kyoto According to Locals
Kyoto has a reputation for being the kind of city that slowly drains your wallet. Every time you turn a corner, there is another beautiful temple charging an entry fee, another famous garden with a...
Stunning Japanese Flowers to See in May
Everyone talks about cherry blossom season, and fair enough, it is spectacular. But if you ask long-term residents here which month is their favourite for flower-chasing in Japan, we bet a...
The Basics of Filming in Japan: Laws, Permits, and Locations
Filming in Japan is an amazing opportunity to capture serene beauty, unique crafts, and some truly novel experiences. However, it also comes with plenty of rules. Regulations are shaped by both the...
Want the Best Matcha in Kyoto? Read This Expert Guide
Kyoto is the historical centre of Japanese green tea, and if you care about matcha at all, this is THE city to visit. In fact, with too many to choose from, it is almost a challenge to find the best...
How A Professional Japan Travel Planner Builds Your Custom Japan Itinerary From Scratch
Planning a trip to Japan is exciting, but it can turn into a real headache fast. There is just so much information out there, and a lot of it is the same recycled advice copy-pasted across a hundred...
Complete Guide to Being a Vegan in Kyoto (and 15 Best Restaurants)
Planning a trip to Japan and wondering just how possible it is to be a vegetarian or vegan in Kyoto? We have good and bad news. The bad is that Japan is not exactly the most vegan-friendly country...