Sado Island Tarai-bune Boat Ride: Yajima-Kyojima Tickets & Tips
A firsthand guide to the traditional tarai-bune tub boat ride at Yajima-Kyojima on Sado Island, including 2026 fares, buying tickets, transport and photography tips.
seven x seven Ishigaki Hotel Review: Rooms, Pools, Parking & Prices
My seven x seven Ishigaki hotel review after traveling with an 11-person group: spacious four-person rooms, rooftop infinity pool, free parking, family facilities and booking tips.
Karasawa Cirque Camping Guide: Fees, Tent Rental, Packing List & Facilities
My Karasawa Cirque camping guide: the hike from Kamikochi, campsite fees, rental tents, gear, hut facilities, drinking water and fall foliage.
nine hours Narita Airport Capsule Hotel Review | A Lifesaver for Early Morning Flights
Narita Airport has quite a few flights departing as early as 7 or 8 a.m. The fares and schedules can look pretty tempting, but once you actually book one, another question immediately comes to mind: How early do I need to leave Tokyo to catch my flight? If you’re staying…
How to Get to the Ogasawara Islands: Ferry Schedule, Booking, Prices & the 24-Hour Journey from Tokyo
Hi! I’m Tsubaki, a freelance contributing travel journalist who has lived in Japan since 2016! Located about 1,000 kilometers south of Tokyo, the Ogasawara Islands are home to Japan’s only Natural World Heritage Site that can only be reached by a 24-hour scheduled ferry journey. Before planning your trip, however,…
Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise: Tickets, Access, Show Times & Discount Pass Guide
Hi! I’m Tsubaki, a freelance contributing travel journalist who has lived in Japan for 10 years! When it comes to family-friendly attractions and aquariums near Tokyo, many people immediately think of Shinagawa or Ikebukuro. But if you’re looking for a destination where you can easily spend an entire day, from…
Nezu Shrine Azalea Festival & A Sweet Stroll at Tsutsuji Café | A Spring Azalea Spot in Tokyo
Hi! I’m Tsubaki, a travel writer who has been living in Japan for over 10 years. Even after cherry blossom season comes to an end, spring in Japan doesn’t simply fade away. Instead, it changes into something far more vivid and colorful. One weekend in mid-April, my boyfriend and I…
Senbutsu Limestone Cave Adventure Guide: Fukuoka’s Most Thrilling Natural Hidden Gem!
Hi! I’m Tsubaki, a Japan-based travel writer who has been living in Japan for over 10 years. When people think of traveling to Fukuoka, most probably picture Hakata gourmet food, Dazaifu, or the nostalgic streets of Mojiko. But hidden away in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, lies an incredible natural adventure…
Strolling Along the Kanda River at the Tail End of Cherry Blossom Season
Hi! I’m Tsubaki, a freelance contributing travel journalist who has lived in Japan for 10 years! One weekend in early April, Ugo and I spontaneously decided to head out for a cherry blossom walk along the Kanda River. It happened to be right at the tail end of the season, and…
Zao Access Guide: How to Get from Tokyo to Zao Onsen in Yamagata
When people think of Zao, they think of the surreal winter landscape of the famous “Snow Monsters” and the nostalgic hot spring street tucked deep in the mountains, filled with the scent of sulfur. Every snow season, it becomes a must-visit destination in the Tohoku region. For most travelers flying…
Must-Eat in Zao Onsen, Yamagata TOP 5 | Beyond Ice monsters and Hot Springs
Hi! I’m Tsubaki, a freelance contributing travel journalist who has lived in Japan for 10 years! When people mention “Zao Onsen” in Yamagata Prefecture, the first things that come to mind are usually the spectacular winter “Zao Juhyo” (Snow Monsters) and the 1,000-year-old highly acidic sulfur springs that leave your skin…
Shiga Kogen Yama-no-Eki Complete Guide: Access, Facilities, and On-site Services
Shiga Kogen is one of the largest ski resorts in Japan, and Yama-no-Eki (志賀高原 山の駅), located in the Hasuike area, serves as the heart of the entire resort. Whether you’re arriving from outside the region or traveling between ski areas while staying nearby, this is an essential transportation hub you’ll…
What Happened to Fukushima After the Nuclear Disaster ? From The Days to a Field Visit with Local Businesses
Sometimes the world works in a strangely fascinating way. It’s as if there’s an invisible thread quietly pulling you toward a certain place. My boyfriend and I finished watching the Japanese drama The Days, and the shock stayed with us for a long time. It’s a dramatized, record-based portrayal of…
BEB5 Tsuchiura by Hoshino Resorts | Japan’s Only Hotel Where You Can Bring Your Bike Into the Room
Did you know that Tsuchiura is one of only two regions in Japan officially recognized as a National Cycle Route (NCR)? It’s also home to the country’s only full-circuit lakeside cycling path, the Kasumigaura Ring Ring Road (つくば霞ヶ浦りんりんロード). Thanks to this unique geographic advantage, Hoshino Resorts opened a bike-friendly hotel…
Ōmuroyama Transportation Guide: How to Get There from Atami Without a Car｜Train, Bus, and Chair lifts
When it comes to Ōmuroyama Transportation on the Izu Peninsula, I remember the last time I drove there with friends from Tokyo. Unfortunately, we were met with bad weather, and the summit was completely covered in fog, we couldn’t see a thing. But this time, I was incredibly lucky. It…
Momoyama-kan Retro View Café | A Retro Showa-style Restaurant in Atami with a Scenic View
A few years ago, I traveled to Atami for a solo trip. At the time, I only knew about the city’s hot springs, coastal views, and art museums, I had no idea there was a charming Showa-era style café called Momoyama-kan Retro View Café (展望レトロ喫茶 桃山館). It wasn’t until I…
Tokyo Mega Illumi 2026–2027: Final Season, Tickets & Highlights
Tokyo Mega Illumi 2026–2027 at Oi Racecourse: the final season before a break, with dates, ticket prices, access, horse encounters and light shows.
Kawagoe Festival – UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage｜Festival Details, Access & Travel Tips
If you’re visiting Tokyo in mid-October, don’t miss the Kawagoe Festival (Kawagoe Matsuri) in Saitama Prefecture, an incredibly vibrant celebration that rivals Tokyo’s three major festivals in excitement and atmosphere. More than just a traditional festival, the Kawagoe Festival transforms the entire city into a “festival village”, filled with energy,…
Ikegami Honmonji Oeshiki Lantern Parade – One of Tokyo’s Biggest Autumn Night Festivals
When visiting Tokyo in autumn, most people think of chasing red maple leaves, but there’s another dazzling experience you shouldn’t miss: the Ikegami Honmonji Oeshiki Lantern Parade (お会式｜Oeshiki), a grand Buddhist festival held every October. The scale of this event is truly incredible. According to official records, more than 300,000…
The National Museum of Western Art – A World Cultural Heritage Site in Tokyo
When people think of Ueno, the first things that often come to mind are the Ueno Zoo, Ameyoko shopping street, or cherry blossom viewing in Ueno Park. But what many may not realize is that right inside Ueno Park stands a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site: The National Museum of…