Tokyo, Japan’s lively capital, is an amazing mix of old traditions and modern attractions. And in spring, the city comes alive with beautiful cherry blossoms! This three-day itinerary takes you to...
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Ultimate 10-Day Japan Itinerary: Tokyo to Kyoto and Beyond!
So, you’re heading to Japan—lucky you! It doesn’t matter if it’s your first visit or your fifth, figuring out how to fit everything into 10 days can feel like a challenge. There’s too much good food...
Epic 1-Week Japan Itinerary as Featured on Emmy-Winning Show
After two and a half long years, Japan’s borders have finally reopened! You may have already packed your suitcase and be ready to set off to the land of the rising sun. But even after all the time...
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Kyoto vs Osaka: Which City Should First-Time Visitors Choose?
Kyoto vs Osaka is a classic dilemma for anyone planning their first trip to Japan. The two cities sit a fifteen-minute Shinkansen ride apart, close enough that people assume the choice barely...
6 Refreshing Summer Day Trips From Kyoto to Escape the City
There are so many reasons to visit Kyoto during the summer…but the weather probably isn’t one of them. It’s always crowded, but when it’s also super hot and unbelievably humid, the city can become...
Lake Biwa Things to Do and Relaxing 2-Day Itinerary
The first time I saw Lake Biwa properly, from the window of a Biwako Line train pulling into Otsu, I was surprised by how big it actually is. You hear "Japan's largest lake" and your brain still...
The Best Special Dining Experiences in Japan: Which One Fits You?
Omakase, wagyu, kaiseki, or temple cuisine? This guide rates special dining experiences in Japan by seasonality, cost, and flexibility.
Best Indoor Play Areas in Tokyo (Perfect for Kids on Hot and Rainy Days!)
Tokyo in summer does something to a family holiday that nobody warns you about. The humidity sits on your chest before nine in the morning, and by midday even the most enthusiastic six-year-old is...
Our 7-Day Hokkaido Summer Itinerary for the Ultimate Road Trip
Thinking about a summer trip to Japan’s northern island? Well, it’s an incredible idea. And one that the locals in Tokyo and Kyoto will envy, with Hokkaido being one of the most desirable summer...
Sake Experiences You Should Try to Taste and Understand Japan’s National Drink
For years, sake for me was just the stuff arriving in a small ceramic flask at the end of an izakaya dinner. It was something I drank because it was there rather than because I understood it. Living...
Tourist Traps in Japan: What to See, What to Skip, and Where to Go Instead
We at Flip have spent years building itineraries for people visiting Japan, and we keep watching the same pattern play out. Someone lands in Tokyo with a list of spots pulled from some old blog...
6 Amazing Summer Day Trips From Tokyo to Escape The Heat
Visiting Tokyo during the summer can be amazing. There are non-stop festivals and fireworks displays, and who doesn’t love eating kakigouri (shaved ice) on a hot afternoon in the sun? But we also...
Travelling Kyoto with Kids: An Honest Family Travel Guide
Kyoto tends to get filed under "serious" travel, the place you go for history and culture rather than fun, and I think that reputation puts a lot of parents off before they have even looked...
20+ Best Things to Do in Japan with Kids
When parents start researching things to do in Japan with kids for their trip, they usually end up frustrated, staring at a list of temples and shrines that look stunning in photographs but are...
The Complete Gion Matsuri Guide for First-Timers
Summer in Japan means two things: hot weather and festivals! And as the country’s biggest summer festival, Gion Matsuri is worth suffering all the heat and humidity just to experience it. The...
Step-by-Step Guide to Planning a Nature-Focused Japan Trip (Tried and Tested by an Agency)
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...
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...