Author: Japanfromwithin
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Best Souvenirs
Best Souvenirs to Buy in Japan (And Where to Find Them): Japan makes souvenir shopping genuinely easy, with high-quality, well-packaged options available at nearly every price point, from convenience store snacks to serious craft purchases. This guide covers the categories worth prioritizing, organized by where you’ll actually find them. Snacks and Food-Based Souvenirs Beauty and…
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Food Halls “Depachika”
Depachika: Japan’s Department Store Food Halls Explained: If you haven’t visited a depachika, the basement food hall found in nearly every major Japanese department store, you’re missing one of the most enjoyable, low-effort food experiences the country has to offer. This guide covers what to expect and how to make the most of a visit.…
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Japan’s 100 Yen Shops
A Complete Guide (Daiso, Seria, and More): Japan’s 100 yen shops are a genuine tourist favorite, and for good reason: well-designed, surprisingly high-quality goods at a price point that makes browsing risk-free. This guide covers the major chains, what to actually look for, and how to make the most of a visit. What a 100…
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Hidden Ways to Enjoy Japan
Beyond the Usual Sightseeing: Not every memorable experience in Japan involves a temple, a meal, or a shopping district. A few genuinely underrated activities, easy to overlook if you’re only following a typical sightseeing itinerary, are worth carving out time for. Here are three worth considering. Hair Salons Japanese hair salons have earned a real…
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Japan’s Sweet Side
The Desserts Worth Seeking Out: Japanese desserts have a genuinely distinct character, often lighter, less sweet, and more focused on delicate texture than many Western sweets. From the country’s iconic strawberry shortcake to matcha-flavored treats found everywhere from convenience stores to specialty shops, here are the sweets worth prioritizing during your trip. Japanese Strawberry Shortcake:…
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Luxury Onsen Ryokan
Luxury Onsen Ryokan Worth Experiencing at Least Once: If there’s one type of accommodation worth experiencing at least once during a trip to Japan, it’s a luxury onsen ryokan. Beyond the hot springs and celebrated cuisine, many of these properties offer rooms with their own small private bath, and soaking in an open-air bath (rotenburo)…
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Climbing Mt. Fuji
A Complete Guide for First-Timers: Climbing Mt. Fuji is one of the most popular bucket-list experiences for visitors to Japan, and it’s genuinely achievable for reasonably fit travelers without technical mountaineering experience, provided you plan around the right season and pace yourself properly. This guide covers what you actually need to know before attempting it.…
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Japanese Festivals (Matsuri)
When and Where to Experience One: Matsuri, Japan’s traditional festivals, offer some of the most vivid, atmospheric experiences available to travelers, from massive citywide celebrations with elaborate floats to smaller neighborhood shrine festivals with food stalls and fireworks. If you can time your trip around one, it’s genuinely worth the effort. This guide covers what…
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Sake and Japanese Whisky
A Beginner’s Guide: Japan’s drinking culture goes well beyond the umeshu and lemon sours popular at izakaya, and two categories in particular, sake and Japanese whisky, are worth understanding if you want to drink like more than a casual tourist. This guide covers the basics of both, so you can order (or shop for a…
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Famous Onsen Towns
Famous Onsen Towns in Japan: Hakone vs. Kusatsu vs. Beppu vs. Kinosaki: Japan has hundreds of hot spring towns, but a handful have earned a reputation as the best overall destinations, each with a genuinely different character and appeal. This guide compares four of the most popular options so you can decide which fits your…
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Escalator and Elevator Etiquette in Japan
Which Side Do You Stand On?: It’s a small thing, but standing on the wrong side of an escalator is one of the quickest ways to feel like you’ve made a rookie mistake in Japan, and it’s genuinely one of the more commonly searched practical questions from first-time visitors. This guide covers escalator sides, elevator…
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Search Like a Local
Japanese Phrases That Unlock a Different Side of Japan: Most travelers search for things in English, which makes sense, but it also means you’re only seeing the slice of Japan that’s already been translated, reviewed, and written up for an international audience. A huge number of genuinely great local spots, especially small, independent shops, simply…