Activities Sendai's Aoba Matsuri 2026 Justin Velgus The Aoba Matsuri is Sendai's largest festival after Tanabata. A samurai procession, dancers, and various events can be enjoye...
Culture NIIGATA ULTRA SPARK 2026 Kim Bergström Niigata City is set to host its largest-ever citywide celebration this summer with the debut of NIIGATA ULTRA SPARK, a two-da...
Transportation Higashiyama Subway Chris Glenn Of Nagoya’s 4 subway lines, the Higashiyama Line is the city’s oldest, having opened in November of 1957 and connecting 20.6 ...
Culture Exploring Zuihoden Laura Welch A beautiful monument to mark the resting place of Sendai's founder, Date Masamune, surrounded by nature that marks the passin...
Culture Uchiko's Sasa Matsuri 2026 Ingrid Lezar Uchiko's main street is decked out with colorful paper and bamboo decorations for three days. Teams dress in yukata or other ...
Culture Akita Kanto Lantern Festival 2020 Hitoshi Kawai Dokkoisho! The multiple meanings of this word are a reflection of the complex emotions going through the lantern bearer’s min...
Shopping Masumida Jinja Chris Glenn Ichinomiya’s Masumida Jinja, with nearly 1,400 years of history, is a combination of spirituality and celebration.
Beauty & Spa Echigo-Yuzawa Alena Eckelmann From Tokyo to the ski resort in less than 80 minutes-Echigo-Yuzawa is calling all snow enthusiasts in Tokyo!
Beauty & Spa Yukiguni & Takahan Ryokan, Yuzawa Rufus Starbuck A museum dedicated to the novel Yukiguni by Yasunari Kawabata. The museum is housed in Takahan ryokan where he wrote the book...
Culture Kiyamachi Dori, Kyoto Hugo Kempeneer Kiyamachi Dori: One of Kyoto’s favorite Cherry blossom spots! With a bit of patience you can spot some Maiko strolling along ...
