Travel
New shinkansen design unveiled
Whether you’re a train fan, an all-around travel buff, or a Japanophile in general, it’s always cool to catch a glimpse of the shinkansen. At the station to pick up/drop off passengers or zooming along the tracks en route to its next destination, Japan’s bullet train is a symbol of the… Read
Geisha house-style vacation rental in Tokyo wins Best of Minpaku award
When traveling in Japan, the first big question most people ask themselves is whether they want to stay in a modern hotel or a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn. However, there’s another type of accommodation that travelers sometimes forget about. Minpaku translates literally to “people’s lodging,” but vacation rental would be the closer… Read
Relax at Haneda Airport’s sky-high hot spring and enjoy a Hololive collaboration
For most travelers, the airport experience revolves around check-in and security procedures, before wandering around duty free waiting for their gate number to be called. After all, no one wants to miss their flight. However, for those looking to unwind a little before or after their journey, Haneda Airport offers… Read
Matsuda Cherry Blossom Festival one of the earliest in Kanto
If you want to see cherry blossoms early in the season, visit the Matsuda Cherry Blossom Festival. The festival is held in Matsuda, Kanagawa Prefecture, to celebrate the vibrant pink kawazu zakura cherry blossoms. As one of the earliest blooming cherry blossoms, it typically flowers from late February to early March. This early bloom period… Read
Supersonic jets are making a comeback – but despite the hype, don’t expect to book yet
In late January, American company Boom Supersonic flew faster than the speed of sound with its XB-1 supersonic demonstrator aircraft. It’s now the first piloted non-military aircraft to break the sound barrier since the Concorde was retired from service in 2003. It’s the first step in Boom’s ambitious goal to have supersonic airliners… Read
Japan’s plum blossom season is here, and after-dark garden is one of the best spots to see them
Japan is currently right in the middle of plum blossom season. Though they don’t get as much attention internationally as cherry blossoms, plum, or ume (as they’re called in Japanese) flowers are also incredibly beautiful, and they come with the advantage of staying in bloom for quite a bit longer than cherry blossoms do.… Read
Kiroro Ski Resort attracts winter sports fans with its great snowfall and variety of terrains
Kiroro Ski Resort is in Akaigawa, 43 kilometers west of Sapporo and 28 kilometers from Otaru. It attracts winter sports fans with its great snowfall and variety of terrains. Known for its abundant “Japow” or Japanese powder, Kiroro has earned a reputation as one of Hokkaido’s premier skiing destinations. Kiroro Ski Resort Image:… Read
Move slowly to enjoy the magic of Miyajima
Photos of a massive red shrine gate that appears to be floating in the sea is one of the most iconic images of Japan. The gate is the great torii of Itsukushima Shrine on the small island in the Seto Inland Sea known as Miyajima. World Heritage-listed Miyajima is indeed… Read
Japanese hotel offering 183-night stay plan for an incredibly low price
When planning a lengthy trip, you’ve basically got two philosophies to choose from when booking hotels. You can either bounce around from one hotel to another every few nights, or you can pick one place to stay for the entire time. There are a lot of advantages to the latter,… Read
Matsue's skyline debate: Will high-rises threaten tourism and tradition?
A wooden notice resembling a kosatsu (signboard that announced official edicts in feudal Japan) was recently erected outside of the city hall in Matsue, capital of Shimane Prefecture. The notice — written in sarcastic old-style Japanese — implored the local mayor not to prioritize “Osaka merchants” over “citizens who hold… Read
