Hakone is one of the most popular day trips you can make from Tokyo. Located two hours southwest of the capital, it’s a beautiful onsen town that offers spectacular views of Mt Fuji. I had seen the Lake Ashi pictures and read about its hot springs and many art museums, but until my visit, I … Read more
I couldn’t wrap my head around Hakone. From the pictures, it was obviously one of the most popular places to take photos of Mount Fuji. I knew it was an onsen town famous for its hot springs, but that was pretty much all that made sense to me. What I found baffling was the “Hakone … Read more
To be honest, I went to Matsumoto for the soba. Nagano Prefecture produces some of the best soba in Japan so that was my main motivation for visiting this city in the Northern Japan Alps. Of course, I had read about its castle, one of just twelve original castles left standing in Japan. But I … Read more
Don’t let Takayama’s size fool you. This mountain town in Gifu Prefecture may be small, but it’s one of the most captivating destinations you’ll visit in the Chubu region. The first time I went to Takayama, I used it as a base to visit Shirakawa-go, but it didn’t take me long to realize that Takayama … Read more
Osaka is an easy destination to plan for. Nagoya is also easy. Fukuoka and Hiroshima are pretty easy as well. Kyoto is a little more difficult but compared to Tokyo, it’s still relatively easy. Planning a trip to Tokyo can be daunting, and a lot of that has to do with its size. It isn’t … Read more
Tokyo is ideal for longer stays. Not only is it a massive metropolis that offers a seemingly endless array of cool things to do and interesting neighborhoods to explore, it also serves as a great base for day trips. There are a few rail passes you can use to explore the Kanto region and nearby … Read more
I was watching a candlemaker at work when my guide told me that I was standing in Japan’s oldest candle shop. The man quietly shaping a candle by hand was the 7th-generation owner of Mishima, a candle shop in Hida Furakawa that’s been in business for over 240 years. The set of candles I bought … Read more
If you’re visiting Tokyo for the first time, then you’ll probably want to see the usual tourist attractions like Senso-ji, Meiji Shrine, Tsukiji Market, and teamLab Borderless. But what about on your second and third trips to Tokyo? Thankfully, Tokyo is massive, and offers lots to do even for people who’ve been to Japan’s capital … Read more
When visiting any new destination for the first time, going to a city’s top tourist attractions is a given. It’s something most people need to do. But do you know what I enjoy more than snapping a few photos at overcrowded temples and shrines in Japan? Visiting its neighborhoods. Exploring a cool neighborhood and wondering … Read more
“Sagano Romantic Train” is a bit of a misnomer. Tourists fight to get tickets to this “romantic” train only to find that it’s anything but. The train is overcrowded, the wooden seats are uncomfortable, the conductor is loud, the ride is bumpy, and the views don’t often live up to expectations. One Reddit user likened … Read more