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Words by Robert Morel & Brooke Jackson One of the first ports to open to the West, Nagasaki was once a center of industry and Christianity — a legacy that can still…
By Weekender Editor
Japan has produced a procession of world-class writers and many of these outstanding literary figures have museums dedicated to their work and lives. These museums are dotted across the nation, often found…
By Ciaran Lawler
In 2017 you might have found me at the top of Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh’s adorable 251-meter-tall extinct volcano. If you had told me then that in five years’ time, I’d be up…
By Cassandra Lord
Did you come straight here after watching our other softcream adventures on YouTube? Or are you just finding us for the first time? Either way, welcome to the local softcream flavors exploration…
Tochigi Prefecture and I have unfinished business. A while back, I found myself staying the night in Utsunomiya, the prefecture’s largest city. I decided to grab a strawberry daifuku sweet and a…
By Phoebe Amoroso
Airplanes arrive on the sea, on the brink of the Chita Peninsula, a backwards J curling south from Nagoya. And halfway down it, there is a small city facing the gentle blue…
By Eric Margolis
Shochu is often a curiosity to foreigners. A distilled spirit made from up to 53 government-approved crops in order to be honkaku (genuine), it gives rise to a diverse range of flavor…
By David McElhinney
Ibaraki remains largely unexplored by travelers, despite being readily accessible from Tokyo and boasting a plethora of cultural and scenic charms. Tours are an easy way to optimize your trip, focus on…
On a sunny cool spring morning on April 9, an age-old tradition took place in Suwa, Nagano Prefecture again after six years. (Locals, however, will tell you it happens every seven years…
By Patrick Murphrey
In Japan, a country that measures its seasons by its colorful nature, nothing says spring has sprung quite like a park full of bright blooms. From cherry blossoms to hydrangeas and morning…
By Kim Kahan
Sakura season may be over for another year in the Kanto region, but there’s still an opportunity to enjoy the precious little pink flowers in the north of the country. They are, of…
By Matthew Hernon
One of the great pleasures of traveling in Kyushu, whether you’re interested in art, history, shopping or all three, is delving into its heritage of fine ceramics. Kyushu has one of the…
By Alice Gordenker
Despite being Japan’s third-largest city, it still feels like Osaka is somewhat overlooked as visitors head out of Tokyo along the so-called ‘Golden Route’ that takes them to Hakone, Kyoto and Hiroshima.…
By Mac Salman
Tucked away amongst the narrow streets of Sapporo’s entertainment district Susukino lies Ganso Ramen Yokocho. Lit up by a cyberpunk-esque neon entrance sign, the small alleyway is home to 17 ramen shops,…
By Andy Cheng
With Japan’s varied regional climates there are always beautiful flowers blooming. Despite the cherry blossoms often stealing the show, other Japanese flowers are also both beautiful and steeped in history and culture.…
There’s something special about train travel. Suspended between destinations, train cars are micro-worlds of their own. Elevate your Kyushu trip by hopping on one (or more) of JR Kyushu’s immersive railroad adventures.…
By Lisa Wallin
The team behind Tokyo Weekender is proud to share the 2022 edition of Kyushu Weekender. Every year, we travel to Japan’s southwestern region to bring you travel inspiration revolving around Kyushu’s seven prefectures: Fukuoka, Kagoshima,…
Because Nagano is situated within the Japanese Alps, spring comes a bit later than around Kanto, so you can enjoy various blossoms after they have passed in Tokyo. Aside from cherry blossoms,…
