While Osaka is best known for its food and nightlife, the city carries a deep historical legacy as one of Japan’s most important political and cultural centers. This guide covers three landmarks that trace that history: the iconic Osaka Castle, one of Japan’s oldest Buddhist temples, and a museum built directly atop the site of…
If Tokyo’s temples show its past, districts like Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Akihabara show its restless present. This is the Tokyo of towering video screens, all-night neighborhoods, and subculture found nowhere else in the world. Here’s how to experience the city’s most electric districts, plus where to base yourself for easy access to the action. Deciding…
Hokkaido is Japan’s northernmost major island and its wildest, with vast stretches of open countryside, volcanic lakes, and protected wilderness rarely found elsewhere in the country. This guide covers three of its most striking natural destinations: the caldera lake of Toya, the lavender fields of Furano, and the remote, UNESCO-listed Shiretoko Peninsula. 1. Lake Toya…
Okinawa’s subtropical waters are unlike anywhere else in Japan, with coral reefs, white sand, and a color of turquoise more commonly associated with the Caribbean. This guide covers three of the prefecture’s standout beach destinations: Kabira Bay on Ishigaki Island, Manza Beach on the main island, and the Kerama Islands, renowned for some of the…
Kyoto served as Japan’s imperial capital for over a thousand years, and its temples and shrines remain some of the best-preserved in the country. This guide covers three of its most iconic sites — a mountain shrine famous for thousands of vermillion gates, a centuries-old wooden temple built without nails, and a pavilion covered entirely…
Tokyo is often pictured as a city of neon and skyscrapers, but beneath the modern skyline lies centuries of history. From ancient temples that survived wartime bombing to a working Imperial Palace still home to Japan’s royal family, Tokyo’s historic landmarks offer a quieter, deeply rewarding side of the city. This guide covers three must-see…
Osaka has a well-earned reputation as Japan’s food capital, and its local motto, “kuidaore” (eat until you drop), says it all. This guide covers three of the city’s most beloved food and culture districts — the neon canal-front of Dotonbori, the century-old Kuromon Ichiba Market, and the retro charm of Shinsekai — along with hotel…
Sapporo, Hokkaido’s capital, blends 19th-century Western-influenced architecture with a lively modern food and nightlife scene. This guide covers three of the city’s central highlights — the historic Clock Tower, the festival-hosting Odori Park, and the Susukino entertainment district — a good foundation for any Sapporo visit. 1. Sapporo Clock Tower Built in 1878 as a…
