Japan Travel Tips & Hidden Gems
In the spring of 2017 the city of Nikko finally finished refurbishing the Toshogu Shrine where the legendary founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, Tokugawa Ieyasu, is enshrined. The refurbished Yomeimon gate, which is registered as a national treasure, is absolutely…
Japan’s Strangest Celebration MAJOR DISCLAIMER! This post is obviously not safe to read at the office or near your grandmother. I take no responsibility for any of the consequences that might stem from the consumption of the following text. That…
When I tell people that some of the BEST ramen I’ve ever had was actually in the bowels of a monolithic train station, they tend to give a inquisitive look at best. Who can blame them? They must think of…
Today we’ll be exploring of one of Yokohama’s best kept secrets and one that many Tokyoites are oblivious to. Noge is a hidden gem sandwiched between the bustling business and entertainment district of Minato Mirai (a popular date spot) and…
Ever since hitting up Kusatsu Onsen, I’ve been on a real hot spring kick. I have been visiting as many onsen as time allows. As such you can imagine my delight when I found that Azabu Juban, an area I…
Hanami (lit. “flower viewing”) is the traditional annual Japanese custom of enjoying the transience of the country’s legendary cherry blossoms or sakura as the locals call them. Every year, beginning in the latter half of March, Japan’s sakura emerge from…
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…