Japan Travel Tips & Hidden Gems
Nestled 1,200 meters above sea level in the mountains of Gunma Prefecture, the rustic town of Kusatsu Onsen is a hidden gem that goes unnoticed by many visitors to Japan. Considered to be a top hot spring in Japan, its…
Today we are going to take a look at one of my favorite little hidden gems in Tokyo, Atago shrine. There’s really not that much to see at this centrally located shrine so it will be a relatively short post.…
Most would venture to guess that Osaka is Japan’s second biggest city. But, in fact that title belongs to Yokohama. Yokohama is located a mere thirty minutes southwest of the Tokyo megalopolis and stands in stark contrast to its older…
“A civilization stands or falls by the degree to which drink has entered the lives of its people, and from that point of view Japan must rank very high among the civilizations of the world,” — Yoshida Kenichi Booze, hooch, sauce — call…
When I published my previous piece on Minato Mirai, a friend of mine accused me of selling out and going “mainstream.” This is after all a site dedicated to bringing you the top attractions off of Japan’s beaten path so…
Today, we will be taking a look at something that can easily be added as a one-off to an existing itinerary. The site is known as Happo-en or “Garden of the Eight Views” due to the fact that it is…
Everyone knows about the climactic end of World War II and the atomic bombs yet only a few are aware of the deadly fire bombings of Tokyo. The plan was orchestrated by Air Force General Curtis LeMay and designed to…
Anyone who follows me on social media knows I am very much a fan of the Shonan area and especially Kamakura. I frequently visited this region over the summer months while continuing my quest to source content for this site…
Fall is a most beautiful time of the year to visit Japan. As the seasons change, the heat and humidity of summer gives way to the cool ambiance of autumn. This transition paves the way for the changing color of…
Though very popular with the locals, the island of Enoshima and its neighboring quaint beach town are easy to miss. Overshadowed by alternatives like Kyoto or nearby Kamakura, the area is actually of great historical significance. While Enoshima is mostly…
Located about 45 minutes from central Tokyo in the neighboring prefecture of Saitama, the quaint city of Kawagoe is easy for the average tourist to miss. After all, there is little reason to visit a region that could be considered…
Japan is a vast country with a myriad of things to do. One could spend their entire life trying to experience it all and never begin to scratch the surface. Between ancient shrines, temples, or the ultra modern, there is…
The area of Kamakura is not entirely a tourist trap like Asakusa. Nevertheless it is no stranger to the occasional foreign guest. After all, from 1185–1333 the city was the functioning military capital of the nation (though Kyoto area remained…
Note: Unfortunately, this place closed down in 2019… Have you ever heard of the legendary Kowloon Walled City? Originally a fort for the military, the area became increasingly populated following the Japanese conquest of Hong Kong during World War II.…
All things considered, Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine is an interesting place. Originally founded by the Meiji emperor, the shrine was first established in 1869 following the conclusion of the Boshin War. Since its inception, Yasukuni Shrine has been dedicated to those…