「Travel Smart, Explore More！」
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…
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…
If you think a racecourse is only for horse racing, then you probably haven’t heard of Tokyo Mega Illumi! Every autumn and winter, Oi Racecourse (大井競馬場) transforms into a dazzling wonderland of lights. It’s not just a perfect date spot for couples or a fun evening stroll for families, even…
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…
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…
When it comes to Tokyo’s top-ranked tonkatsu spots, Mochi Buta Tonkatsu Taiyo (もち豚とんかつ たいよう) is practically a regular on every must-try list. Since opening in 2008, this humble tonkatsu shop has not only earned a place in Tabelog’s “Top 100 Tonkatsu Restaurants” year after year, but has also been recognized…
XEX Atago Hills Salvatore Cuomo Bros has always been one of Tsubaki’s treasured picks when it comes to Tokyo Tower view restaurants. Interestingly, it became a favorite of mine all thanks to work. My very first visit was actually for a client dinner organized by my boss. The moment I…
While researching for my article about how to eat tsukemen, one of Japan’s most unique noodle dishes, I stumbled upon an unexpected discovery: the birthplace of tsukemen is hidden right in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, at a shop called Taishoken. The moment I found out, I immediately saved the spot on Google…
Every spring, Tokyo is wrapped in a dreamy haze of pink cherry blossoms. When it comes to famous hanami spots in Tokyo, most people immediately think of places like Meguro River, Ueno Park. But today, Tsubaki is going to introduce a hidden gem that rivals Meguro River in beauty but…
Hi! I’m Tsubaki (287), a Japan-based travel writer who’s been living in Japan for over 10 years. Whenever people visit Tokyo, chances are they’ll post at least one photo featuring Tokyo Tower on social media, whether it’s the tower glowing outside a hotel room window, a romantic dinner with a…
In recent years, photos taken at the Tokyo Tower parking lot stairs have gone viral across Instagram and Facebook, so much so that this once-local spot has now gained international fame. After all, Tokyo Tower is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, and for many first-time visitors, a Tokyo…
