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It sure had us at “Hello.” Standing on a nondescript platform at Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station in Fukuoka’s bustling shopping district, a pair of lights resembling round anime eyes grew brighter as…
By Yeo Kwee Chuan
If you’ve yet to get acquainted with ICHIRAN Ramen, you might want to remain tight-lipped about your naivety. I didn’t. And I got ramen-shamed. “What do you mean you don’t know ICHIRAN?”…
Chuhai, lemon sour, umeshu … one thing ties all of these drinks together, and it isn’t merely their prevalence in Japan. Rather, they are all made with shochu, arguably Japan’s true national…
By Kirsty Bouwers
Whoever said Japan is a homogenous country has obviously never been to the Amami Islands. The Amami archipelago is scattered across the Pacific Ocean in an almost straight line that starts 380km…
By Lisa Wallin
Hot on the heels of Tokyo and the Kansai trifecta (Kyoto, Nara and Osaka), Fukuoka is gaining a reputation as one of Japan’s must-see cities. Home to delicious tonkotsu (pork broth) ramen…
By Lisandra Moor
Journey around three prefectures using Kyushu-Saga International Airport as a starting point for your northwestern Kyushu adventure. This modern airport offers easy access to some of the region’s most fascinating destinations, each…
Hotel Associa Shin-Yokohama sits right on top of Shin-Yokohama Station and is operated by JR-Central Hotels, part of the Japan Railways Group. It makes sense, then, that the hotel’s first-rate rooms, service…
By Rebecca Quin
THE BLOSSOM HAKATA Premier is not the only hotel in Japan to reference blooming flowers but it is one of the few that does it consummately well. Rising out of Fukuoka’s cosmopolitan…
There are a few things that always come to mind when one thinks of Japan. Sushi is one. The Shinkansen, or bullet train, is another. But perhaps the most obvious is Mt…
By Jordan Green
Andaz Tokyo offers the ultimate spring sensory experience at the rooftop Scented Sakura Garden, where guests are surrounded by brilliantly pink cherry blossoms and stunning night views from the 52nd floor. Immerse yourself in…
By Weekender Editor
Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan’s four main islands, is a fascinating destination offering a diverse range of sights and experiences. Indeed, diversity is a watchword for Kyushu in ways that no other…
By Vicki L. Beyer
If you’re a group of five remote islands lying on the westernmost edge of Kyushu, a name like Five-island Archipelago (Goto Retto) probably isn’t going to help your case. Fortunately, Goto (as…
While Tokyo is known for – and loved – for its hustle and bustle, its never-ending energy and its high-end shopping and dining options, some might say there is more charm to…
Nearly 30 million international tourists visited Japan in 2019 and with the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games scheduled for this summer the number of visitors is expected to break records. That many more…
What do you think when I say the word, Chiba? Call me presumptuous but I assume Tokyo Disneyland and nothing more. But after spending two days in Chiba dressed as a samurai, making…
There are only two things you need for an authentically Japanese hanami flower viewing experience: sakura cherry trees in bloom and good food, both of which you will find at the Grand…
By Cezary Jan Strusiewicz
Throughout the ages spring has been welcomed in Japan with joy and celebration. Since as long ago as the Nara Period, Japan residents have recognized the beginning of the rice-planting season with…
By Nick Narigon
When sakura season rolls around, Tokyo’s top hanami spots can become a tad overwhelming. So how do you plan a romantic stroll among the blooms that’s away from the crowds? We’d like…
