Japan Travel Stories

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…

May 10, 2017 • 6 min read

Secluded in the mountainous Hida region of central Japan, Takayama is a place where Japanese history and tradition flourish in the 21st century…

May 9, 2017 • 6 min read

Tokyo is dazzling, frenetic and fashionably cool, but there are times when the population crush and non-stop energy turns this urban paradise into a…

May 26, 2016 • 6 min read

With so much keeping travellers occupied in nearby Kyoto and Osaka, it’s not surprising Matsusaka is often overlooked. But while Japan’s star cities may…

Jan 5, 2016 • 7 min read

With its wide-open spaces, national parks, active volcanoes, forests of silvery beech, forlorn coastlines and remote fishing towns, Hokkaidō is ideal for…

Oct 2, 2015 • 5 min read

Japan is warm and welcoming to travellers, but its unique culture can be as inscrutable as it is intriguing for the first-time visitor. To help create a…

Sep 29, 2015 • 6 min read

The Japanese love to eat out, and the profusion of culinary options, even in the smallest towns, can be overwhelming. There’s something for every taste…

Aug 10, 2015 • 5 min read

Okinawa and the Southwest Islands comprise one of Japan's pretty little secrets – a side of Japan that differs from the mainland in culture and pace. They…

May 27, 2014 • 7 min read

I'd been in Japan for only three days when my friend and tour guide (who is fluent in Japanese) delivered the bad news. 'I need to return to the US…

Jan 6, 2014 • 5 min read

The nighttime lights in Tokyo are overwhelming. Billions of bright bulbs and bulletins begging for your attention, yearning for your yen. You think: ‘With…

Oct 31, 2013 • 5 min read

Japan seduces and dazzles travellers with its buzzed-up, sprawling, ultra-convenient big cities. But if you’re weary of crowds and vending-machine-packed…

May 31, 2013 • 6 min read

Friendly, picturesque and a paradise for foodies. This description might not spring to mind when you hear the word 'Hiroshima', but word is starting to…

Apr 5, 2012 • 5 min read

Beyond the usual selection of hotels from five-star to budget, Tokyo has plenty that fall off the spectrum entirely. These are places particular to the…

Mar 15, 2012 • 3 min read

At the end of a long day, a hot sento public bath can wash away your troubles, and that’s a pleasure worth sharing. Sento are a fading tradition but still…

Mar 14, 2012 • 6 min read

Tokyo is blessed with one of the world's most efficient public transportation systems. It's a city of 'paper drivers' - those who have licences but haven…

Jul 16, 2010 • 3 min read

From multistorey computer stores and back-alley discount camera shops to anime-themed cafes and the latest in cosplay fashions, Akihabara is Tokyo's…

Jul 15, 2010 • 3 min read

Lacking the geometric precision of gridded streets, the dense sprawl of Tokyo can be mind-blowing to the uninitiated. But the key to breaking down this…

Jul 13, 2010 • 4 min read

Hot water percolates up out of the ground from one end of Japan to the other. The Japanese word for a hot spring is onsen, and there are more than 3000 of…

Mar 24, 2010 • 2 min read

In this extract from the Lonely Planet guide Discover Japan, Taga Kazuo, founder of Kyoto Cycling Tour Project and author, tell you the sights to hit on a…