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Kansai, a diverse, cultural and historical epicenter of Japan, is one of the world’s most visited and talked about geographical locations. Tourists flock to this area of the country for its temples,…
By Weekender Editor
I’m not sure whether I should tell you this. I feel like my relationship with Yonago is a dirty little secret, an exultant affair that I had behind Tokyo’s back, and that…
By Phoebe Amoroso
Museums in Japan don’t necessarily have to be boring slogs through yawn-inducing historical tomes and shrug-producing arcane art. Here’s a sampling of some truly intriguing institutions bound to pique interest and raise…
By Ciaran Lawler
For much of Japan’s rich history, nihonshu, or sake, has been at the forefront of beverage production. Historically wine did not suit the rice-centric diet of Japan but the shift toward the…
By Andy Cheng
Old habits die hard. Whenever I travel, I take at least one carefully selected book with me. Either one of my unread volumes at home, or one bought especially for the trip.…
By Andreas Neuenkirchen
It’s official: Tokyo’s cherry trees are expected to be in full bloom by the end of March, according to the recently released 2022 Cherry Blossom Forecast, courtesy of the Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC). The…
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 mission. This month…
No trip to Japan, even if it’s your second or third time, is complete without a stop in Kyoto. As travel returns to Asia over the next few years, the ancient capital…
By Terin Jackson
Far from just a quick soak in the tub, onsen (hot springs) have long been part of Japan’s natural and cultural landscape. Every year millions of people make their way to famous…
By Rebecca Saunders
Situated in the mountains along the western border of Iwate Prefecture, close to Morioka, the small town of Shizukuishi can be reached in three hours from Tokyo on the Akita Shinkansen. Its…
By Louise George Kittaka
The brick-laid signage blends in so well with the row of trees behind that we almost missed it amid the falling snow. Rolling scenes of rice fields-turned-snow blankets streaming through our car…
By Yeo Kwee Chuan
Banking the Mikuma and Kagetsu Rivers in a large basin in western Oita Prefecture and wreathed by verdant mountains on all sides, lies Hita, a historical town steeped in local folklore. The…
By David McElhinney
Oita is best known for its onsen havens, but the prefecture in Kyushu has quite a few areas worth exploring on the way to and back from the hot springs. One must-visit…
By Lisandra Moor
Itoigawa is located in the westernmost part of Niigata Prefecture, with Nagano to the south and Toyama to the west. Taking the shinkansen, the trip from Tokyo is a comfortable two hours.…
Stained glass with camellia motifs and pictures of sunlit churches greet visitors at Fukue Airport, on the biggest of the five Goto Islands which are located in Nagasaki Prefecture. I’m immediately given…
By Zoria Petkoska
From a limited, largely domestic market a couple of decades ago, Japan’s winter sports scene has exploded in global outdoor activity consciousness. Today, connoisseurs of the global skiing and snowboarding community know…
By Julian Ryall
With the end of the year just around the corner, taxpayers around Japan are filing their annual contributions to furusato nozei which is the name given to Japan’s hometown tax program. Many…
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 mission. In this…
