Stay9 Oct
A Night in a Hakone Ryokan
What to expect from your first ryokan stay, and the Hakone inns we send our travelers to.Be the first to review
Author
Stories by Saki Sakura, newest first.
Saki Sakura
Article3 Oct
Autumn Leaves Forecast 2026
A warm September has pushed this year's peak colour a few days later than average. Our region-by-region forecast for the 2026 momiji season.Guide2 Oct
Kyoto's Temples Without the Crowds
Ten thousand torii, moss gardens and a zen breakfast: how to see Kyoto's great temples before the tour buses arrive.Guide11 Sept
Taipei's Night Markets, Ranked by Appetite
Taipei has more than thirty night markets. Here are the four we take travellers to, and the dishes that make each one worth the trip.
Activity14 Apr
A Tea Ceremony in Kyoto
The Japanese tea ceremony is less about tea than about paying attention. How to choose a ceremony in Kyoto, and what will happen when you kneel down.Be the first to review
Guide25 Mar
Takayama: The Little Kyoto of the Mountains
High in the Hida mountains, Takayama's old town has barely changed since the Edo period. Two days here are the perfect gateway to the Japan Alps.
Destination4 Jan
Nara, Japan's First Permanent Capital
Before Kyoto there was Nara. Its great temples, five-storey pagodas and quiet lanes reward an overnight stay rather than a rushed afternoon.3.0 out of 5(2)
Activity15 Dec 2025
A Day in Nara with the Bowing Deer
Forty-five minutes from Osaka or Kyoto, Nara Park is home to more than a thousand free-roaming deer. Here is how to spend a gentle, crowd-dodging day among them.4.5 out of 5(4)
Guide20 Nov 2025
Kyoto in Autumn: Where to See the Leaves
For three weeks each November, Kyoto's maples turn crimson. Our temple-by-temple guide to the best viewing, including the evening illuminations.
Article15 Nov 2025
Onsen Etiquette: How to Bathe Like a Local
Japan's hot springs are one of its great pleasures, and their rules are simple once you know them. A step-by-step guide for your first onsen.
Article27 Aug 2025
