Collection
Japan Essentials
Everything we would tell a friend before their first trip to Japan.3 storiesUpdated 11 Oct
Publisher
Sakura Journeys
Slow, seasonal journeys through Japan: temples, food alleys and ryokan nights.
Collections
Stories
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
Article7 Oct
Tokyo's Food Alleys After Dark
From Omoide Yokocho to Golden Gai, a short guide to eating your way through Tokyo's narrow lanes.6 minBe the first to review
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.4 min
2.0 out of 5(1)
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.9 min
4.5 out of 5(2)
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.7 min
4.5 out of 5(2)
Guide27 Aug
Busan by the Sea
Korea's second city is all coastline. From Haeundae's crescent beach to Gamcheon's pastel lanes, how to spend three days in Busan.8 min
4.0 out of 5(3)
Guide12 Aug
The Japan Rail Pass, Explained
After the 2023 price rise the national JR Pass is no longer a no-brainer. We run the numbers on classic routes and show when a regional pass is the smarter buy.10 min
5.0 out of 5(2)
Guide28 Jul
Eating Through Seoul's Markets
From the food alleys of Gwangjang to the night stalls of Mangwon, Seoul's traditional markets are the best restaurants in the city. A route for two hungry days.8 minBe the first to review
Restaurant8 Jul
Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki: Osaka's Two Great Griddles
Octopus dumplings from a street window and savoury pancakes built at your table: a short, opinionated list of where to eat both in Osaka.4.0 out of 5(2)
Guide13 Jun
Osaka Street Food: Eat Until You Drop
Osaka has a word for eating yourself into ruin. Here is how to do it properly, one skewer, one dumpling and one ball of molten octopus at a time.8 min
4.7 out of 5(3)
Activity14 May
Hiking Kamikochi: The Easy Walk into the Alps
A flat, beautiful trail along a glacier-blue river, with the Hotaka peaks above you. Kamikochi is the most rewarding easy hike in Japan.Be the first to review
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.7 minBe the first to review
Event13 Feb
The Sapporo Snow Festival
Every February, Odori Park fills with snow sculptures the size of buildings. What to see, where to warm up and how to plan a winter trip around it.3.0 out of 5(2)
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.9 minBe the first to review
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.6 min
4.0 out of 5(1)
Stay16 Sept 2025
Stay the Night on Miyajima
Day-trippers see Itsukushima's great gate at noon. Overnight guests see it lit at dusk, standing in the tide, with the island to themselves.4.5 out of 5(2)
