Writer Profile

Wakaba Oto

Japanese writer based in Tokyo and New York City. Raised across three continents, she’s flown to Morocco to meet a stranger for a first date, worked undercover as a hostess in Tokyo’s red-light district, and completed a seven-day trek to Machu Picchu without any prior training — all in the name of a good story. Contact her on Instagram @wakabss.

Search

Dates

Articles by Wakaba Oto

Japan Has a Holiday for Everything, Including Drinkable Olive Oil

japan mountain day origins and history

How Japan’s Mountain Lovers Created a National Holiday

matsunoya tonkatsu accused of gender discrimination over mom discount

Tonkatsu Chain Matsunoya Accused of Discrimination Over "Mom Discount"

Why You Now Need a Face Scan To Buy Pokémon Cards in Japan

tokyo arrest over deepfake ai pornography

Hyogo Man Arrested Over AI-Generated Nude Images Exposes Legal Gray Area

Japanese World Cup Fans Are Having the Best Time in Texas

Japan’s Architectural Masterpieces, Far Off the Beaten Path

sado island

Sado Island: Japan's Most Mysterious Island Escape

japan pilgrimage routes

Pilgrimage Routes in Japan: Walking Ancient Paths of Faith

japan mountain huts

Where Hikers Sleep at 3,000 Meters: Japan’s Mountain Huts

shuzo hamachi

Shuzo Hamachi Is Reconstructing Bonsai From the Pot Up

Two-Tier Pricing in Japan: Why Tourists Are Paying More