Accommodation Experience Oarai: A Quiet Fishing Town Blessed by the Bounty of the Sea Joanna Ligon Every journey has its pace. In Oarai, on the Ibaraki coast, that pace is set by the sea—steady and patient.
Accommodation Spa Resort Hawaiians: A Tropical Escape with a Japanese Soul in Iwaki Joanna Ligon Spa Resort Hawaiians in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, brings the tropics to Japan with swimsuit-friendly onsens (hot springs),...
Culture Takatori Castle Festival 2026 Kim Bergström Each November, the historic town of Takatori in Nara Prefecture celebrates its proud samurai heritage with the Takatori Castl...
Activities 7 Destinations for Autumn Color in Okayama Kim Bergström Known for its blend of tranquil hot springs, historic castles, and beautifully preserved gardens, Okayama Prefecture comes al...
Culture Discover Shiga Prefecture: Events at COCOSHIGA in Tokyo Ryan Noble Explore the delicacies and crafts of Shiga Prefecture without ever leaving Tokyo. Visit COCOSHIGA for Shiga-made products and...
Food A Taste of Shiga at COCOSHIGA Tom Roseveare COCOSHIGA offers a literal taste of Shiga, thanks to its souvenir and craft store, sake tasting bar and Omi beef sukiyaki res...
Culture Overtourism in Japan: How Bad Is It? Ryan Noble Overtourism in Japan—how bad is it? What are the effects? What can you do to lessen the effects, and where should you go inst...
Planning Yamagata One of Nat Geo's Best Places to Visit in 2026 Kim Bergström Yamagata Prefecture has been named on National Geographic's Best of the World 2026 list this week, highlighting it as one of ...
Planning Japan on Safest Travel List for 2026 Kim Bergström It's good news for visitors to Japan, which once again ranks among the world's safest countries for travel in 2026, coming in...
Transportation Hokuriku Shinkansen Among World's Best Train Trips Kim Bergström In a recent feature, the BBC highlighted nine of the world's most unforgettable train trips, covering everything from alpine ...
