Japan Travel Stories

Sep 3, 2019 • 6 min read

To help you make the most of this friendly Japanese city as a family, here are our top recommendations for both big and little kids exploring Osaka. 

Sep 2, 2019 • 5 min read

The 2019 Rugby World Cup takes place in Japan from 20 September to 2 November. Here’s our guide to the best things to see, do and eat near the stadiums.

Aug 26, 2019 • 5 min read

Oita boasts the highest number of natural hot springs in all of Japan. Here’s where to find them and how to prepare for the adventure.

Aug 23, 2019 • 4 min read

From seasonal sights and arts events to traditional festivals and tech expos, there is a lot happening in Tokyo in autumn.

Aug 23, 2019 • 5 min read

Toyama in central Japan is home to exquisite traditional handmade crafts. Visit artisans and pick up a rare souvenir on a craft tour of the region.

Jul 9, 2019 • 5 min read

Tokyo is a huge, sprawling city that can seem impossible to tackle – especially when you’re short on time – but you can cover a lot with a little planning.

Jun 24, 2019 • 6 min read

In Japan, there’s a drive to create and experience things that are bigger, better, faster and stronger than anywhere else in the world. Shibuya Crossing…

Jun 23, 2019 • 12 min read

Anticipation is well and truly building for the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan. And while fans scramble to scoop up any last remaining tickets, the country…

Jun 21, 2019 • 5 min read

Summer in much of Japan is hot and can be unrelentingly humid, but it’s also the season for top festivals, mass folk dancing, mountain hikes, and enjoying…

Apr 17, 2019 • 7 min read

From its winding mountain trails to its charming, pristine beaches, Wakayama Prefecture is an ancient gem waiting to be discovered. Steeped in history and…

Feb 27, 2019 • 7 min read

Spring in Japan means sakura (cherry) blossoms. And that's just one of the reasons to visit Tokyo at this time of year: there are also traditional…

Feb 26, 2019 • 5 min read

There’s a reason the Japanese call Osaka tenka no daidokoro, or ‘the nation’s kitchen’. If your fantasies of a trip to Japan involve flashing neon lights,…

Feb 12, 2019 • 6 min read

After more than 80 years at Tsukiji, Tokyo’s wholesale market – famous for its tuna auction, exotic fish and breakfast sushi – moved to a new, purpose…

Aug 28, 2018 • 5 min read

Oita, a prefecture on Japan's southern-most island of Kyūshū, is world-famous for its incredible hot springs. Towns like Beppu host bathers from around…

Jun 6, 2018 • 6 min read

There is no denying that Nagasaki’s intense and turbulent history has forever marked it as a distinct destination. And while taking a journey there grants…

Apr 25, 2018 • 6 min read

At the heart of Japan lies Wakayama-ken, a prefecture rich in spirit, history and natural beauty. Here, lesser-tread paths lead to rugged hiking trails,…

Mar 29, 2018 • 5 min read

So you came to Tokyo to eat? You'd need a whole month just to make it through the highlights of this world-class – some would say world's best – food city…

Mar 25, 2018 • 6 min read

Tokyoites often say that the best way to get to know their city is to travel station by station around the Yamanote line, the city's iconic elevated loop…

Jan 5, 2018 • 7 min read

Japan’s ‘deep north’, the largely rural Tōhoku region is home to craft traditions that have been handed down over generations. A trip to this little…

Dec 12, 2017 • 5 min read

Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaidō is best known for two things: winter sports and Sapporo beer. But the little-known eastern side of the island is a…

Nov 28, 2017 • 5 min read

Tokyo's winter charms include a festive atmosphere and clear days perfect for hot springs soaking and spotting Mt Fuji, enjoy Tokyo with fewer crowds.

Jun 15, 2017 • 7 min read

Manga comics, blazing neon, speeding trains, supersized pedestrian crossings – Japan might not immediately inspire a vision of traditional romance, but…