Category: Before You Visit Japan
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Autumn Is One of the Best
Why Autumn Is One of the Best Times to Visit Japan: Spring gets most of the international attention thanks to cherry blossoms, but autumn foliage season, known as koyo, deserves just as much consideration, and in some ways makes for an easier trip to plan around. If you haven’t seriously considered a fall trip to…
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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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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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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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Capsule Hotels
What to Expect and Whether They’re Right for You: Capsule hotels are one of Japan’s most distinctive accommodation styles, offering a compact, affordable place to sleep that’s genuinely unlike anything most international travelers have experienced before. This guide covers exactly what the experience involves, so you can decide whether it fits your trip. What a…
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Japan’s Rainy Season (Tsuyu)
What Travelers Need to Know: Japan’s rainy season, known as tsuyu, tends to get skipped over in most travel planning, sandwiched awkwardly between the cherry blossom rush and peak summer heat. But if your dates happen to fall during this window, it’s worth understanding what to actually expect, since it’s a genuinely different travel experience…
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Eating Alone in Japan Isn’t Embarrassing
Eating Alone in Japan Isn’t Embarrassing, and Here’s Why: In a lot of countries, eating out alone can feel a little self-conscious, like something you’d rather avoid or apologize for. Japan works completely differently. Solo dining isn’t just tolerated here, it’s built into the design of countless restaurants, and plenty of the most popular food…
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How to Stay at a Ryokan
What to Expect: A ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn, is one of the most memorable overnight experiences you can have in Japan, but the format is different enough from a typical hotel stay that first-timers often aren’t sure what to expect. This guide walks through the full experience, from check-in to check-out, so you can…
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What to Pack for Japan
A Practical Packing Guide by Season: Packing for Japan is less about bringing everything you might need and more about packing light and smart; you’ll be walking a lot, navigating train stations with luggage, and likely buying things along the way. This guide covers what actually matters, organized by season and by the situations first-time…
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Been to Japan Before?
Here’s How to Plan a Second Trip That’s Even Better: If your first trip to Japan covered the classic route, such as Tokyo, Kyoto, maybe Osaka, you’ve already done the essential groundwork. A second trip is where Japan really opens up. Instead of racing between must-see landmarks, you get to slow down, go deeper into…
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First Time in Japan?
Here’s Your Complete Pre-Trip Planning Guide: Planning a trip to Japan can feel overwhelming. Between the language barrier, the transportation systems, and the sheer number of things to see, it’s easy to get lost before you even book a flight. This guide breaks down everything a first-time visitor needs to know: from when to go,…