Travel guides to help you plan your trip to different destinations in Japan
Kinosaki Onsen is a hot spring town in northern Hyogo Prefecture, near the coast of the Sea of Japan. It’s been a hot spring town since the 8th century and is considered one of the top onsen destinations in the Kansai region.
Hidden in the mountains of Wakayama Prefecture, Koyasan (Mount Koya) is one of Japan’s most sacred destinations. It’s the center of Shingon Buddhism, an important Buddhist sect introduced to Japan in the early 9th century by Kobo Daishi (aka Kukai).
Based on people’s reviews, most tourists seem to love Hakone, while a few others have called it overrated and overpriced. In this article, I hope to shed more light on exactly what Hakone is, and what you can expect from this popular resort town in Kanagawa Prefecture.
On an overcast morning in the chill of winter, seeing Matsumotojo’s jet black walls against a backdrop of the Japanese Alps made my heart race, even for just a moment. It was imposing and intimidating, like Darth Vader in castle form. It looked badass.
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 was more than just a convenient place to rest my head. It’s old town is one of the most well-preserved in Japan and serves as an ideal backdrop for one of the country’s most beautiful festivals – Takayama Matsuri.
Planning a trip to Tokyo can be daunting, and a lot of that has to do with its size. It isn’t just one city but a massive metropolis that’s home to 23 wards, 26 cities, 5 towns, and 8 villages. How can you possibly fit all that in four, five, even six days?
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?
With its 23 wards, 26 cities, 5 towns, and 8 villages, the Greater Tokyo Area is home to dozens of interesting neighborhoods. You’ve probably heard of well-traveled areas like Shinjuku and Shibuya, but what about less-trodden neighborhoods like Jiyugaoka and Jimbocho Book Town?
A forested sanctuary revered as sacred since ancient times, I’ve read Miyajima described as “the island where God lives”. Away from the tourist crowds, with only the occasional deer to keep me company, it wasn’t hard to see why.
Entering the alleyway into Nagamachi District instantly took me to a different era. Everything looked different, even the light seemed to change. Walking into what felt like Edo-period Japan reminded me of why I was so enthusiastic to visit Kanazawa in the first place.