Category: Planning
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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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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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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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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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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…
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Japanese trains run on time
Ekiben Culture: Japan’s rail system isn’t just a way to get from A to B, it’s an experience in its own right, from the almost eerie punctuality to the small ritual of picking out a bento box before boarding. This guide covers two things worth knowing: how seriously Japan takes its train schedules, and why…
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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…