Travel Tips

Japan's cherry blossom season, which goes from late March to early April, is one of the most popular times to visit the country. This period is so popular that in 2019, around 5.7 million people visited from abroad, according to data from the Japan National Tourism Organization.
Needless to say, when traveling to Japan to enjoy the blossoms, it's essential to plan ahead and make hotel reservations at least 4-5 months in advance for popular areas. Here are some suggestions on where and when to stay in Japan for cherry blossom season.
When is cherry blossom season in Japan?
Japan's cherry blossoms bloom from west to east in what's come to be known as the Cherry Blossom Front. Cherry blossom season starts from around mid-March to the end of April. Areas in higher elevations and toward the north see later blooms. Be sure to check out our Cherry Blossom Forecast for the latest bloom times.
Blooming times
Western Japan (Kyushu – Fukuoka)・Flowering: Around March 17
・Full b..

Some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Japan are actually not far from Tokyo. But when asked to picture Tokyo, most people tend to visualize a high-tech, urban environment teeming with people forever on the move. While this isn’t entirely inaccurate, the greater Tokyo area has so much more to offer those less inclined to city life.
Travel just a few hours from the city center and you can find yourself surrounded by some of Japan’s most stunning natural beauty. For those looking to experience the great outdoors without venturing far from the city, we’ve put together a list of breathtaking waterfalls in Japan that can all be visited as day trips from Tokyo!
1. Kegon Falls – Tochigi Prefecture
Image courtesy of Tochigi Prefecture Tourism & Local Products Association
Roughly two hours north of Tokyo sits the picturesque mountain city of Nikko. The area has long been famed for its natural beauty; at one time being the go-to destination for European diplomats building homes in Japan. With..

Beautiful Tohoku scenery can make a wonderful memory of your trip. The nature-rich Tohoku region has numerous magnificent views, such as the crater lake with emerald green water and a pond that looks like a dragon’s eye.
Tohoku Japan is an area where you can see uniquely Japanese views that change with the season or truly experience Japanese culture, such as the traditional activity “kamakura” and the natural “snow monsters.”
Here we want to introduce you to carefully selected magnificent views of Tohoku Japan. How about stopping by these locations these magnificent view spots during your trip here?
1. Mototaki Fukuryusui Underflow (Akita)
“Motoaki Fukuryusui Underflow” is located in Mt. Chokai, Nikaho City Akita Prefecture. It is a subtle and profound waterfall with various streams that emerges from mossy stones.
It is about 5 meters tall and about 30 meters wide. While it isn’t huge, it is a beautiful spot with the contrast of the green mossy stones and delicate white flow of the wa..

One of the great joys in work is creation—we’re all building something. Some people construct homes and offices. Others make beautiful art and music and delicious food. Some people are in IT and create software that makes our lives easier. We’re all creating.

This month, I wanted to feature a few professions that occupy more creative space: engineers, finance pros, wordsmiths and marketers.

1. Investor relations wordsmith wanted
When it comes to job listings in Japan, I enjoy the rare post that avoids talking about salary upfront. Often, it means there is significant room for negotiation, and when it comes to salaries in Japan, that is an excellent thing. Case in point: Tokyo’s e-Associates have urgent calls for investor relations pros who translate and do native checking.

If you live in Japan, have some experience working in finance, possess JLPT certification (preferably an N1), and are looking for a freelance opportunity in an industry that’ll only continue to grow, applying woul..

The deliciousness of Japanese rice: A flavor born of artisan perfectionism
Rice is Japan’s staple food. Rice cultivation is thought to have begun in Japan some 3,000 years ago, during the Jōmon period. With temperate, rainy weather, and lots of soil great for making rice paddies, rice cultivation has always thrived in Japan.
But growing rice takes a lot of work: one must plant their rice, weed their fields, then harvest and thresh the fine crop. With rice cultivation at the center of human lives, it fostered a culture of teamwork in agricultural communities. During the Edo period, annual taxes were paid in rice, and it was valued as currency. The people with the most rice had prosperity and power.
Later in the early Meiji period with the implementation of coinage, rice settled as a purchased product, rather than purchasing power. In the wake of World War II, rice shortages spurred the improvement of rice strains to increase harvests.
After that, bread and noodles joined rice to become ..

Biwako Terrace is a popular spot from where you can get a breathtaking bird's eye view of the magnificent Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake. Here we'll show you around the Biwako Terrace area so you can see why it's such a fun place to visit!
Where is Biwako Terrace?
Completed in July 2016, Biwako Terrace is an observation terrace with a cafe. Biwako Terrace was constructed at the summit of Biwako Valley where a variety of activities can be enjoyed all year round.
It takes about 40 minutes by car from the Kyoto Higashi IC of the Meishin Expressway and if you go by train, about 10 minutes by bus from the JR Kosai Line Shiga Station.
Japan’s fastest ropeway takes you to the 1,100-meter summit
To get to the Biwako Terrace you must first take the ropeway at the foot of Biwako Valley.
It only takes about 5 minutes to reach the 1,100-meter summit. Moving at a speed of 12 meters per second it is the fastest ropeway in Japan! (Winter only. Between spring and autumn, the spe..

Fresh Hokkaido sea urchin is an incredible, creamy sushi delicacy. Known as uni in Japanese, these spiny creatures can get a bit pricey at restaurants. If you're as much a fan of eating uni sea urchin as we are, you'll want to head right over to Hokkaido's Rishiri Island!
Here you can do what the local fishermen do when harvesting sea urchins: crack open those that you caught and eat them on the spot.
You don’t need to get into the water to do it, either. No need to change clothes and no special preparations are required, so you don’t need to bring anything. At the Kamui Seaside Park on Rishiri Island, you can have such an easy-going and enjoyable experience. Freshly harvested sea urchins are exceptionally delicious!
Here you will find limited edition “exotic sweets” made with fresh sea urchin and Rishiri kelp that certainly should be tried.
Visit Hokkaido's Kamui Seaside Park!
At Kamui Seaside Park you can experience harvesting sea urchins yourself (1,000 yen [aro..

If you’re looking to work in Japan, check back here each week as we look through our database of top jobs in Japan posted to GaijinPot and showcase some of the most interesting ones.

You can apply directly to these companies by creating a profile on GaijinPot Jobs!

Game TesterCompany: Lionbridge JapanSalary: ¥1,050 ~ ¥1,200 / HourLocation: Kanagawa, JapanEnglish: Business levelJapanese: ConversationalApplication: Must currently reside in JapanLionbridge is looking for Game Testers to carefully validate games' quality of functionality and gameplay.
Your main duties will be running test cases, reporting bugs and ensuring customer satisfaction.
You must have business-level English, extensive gaming experience and up-to-date knowledge of various genres. Students and Working Holiday visa holders are very welcome.
Share this Job Apply Here
Operating Staff for “teamLab Planets” Art MuseumCompany: PlanetsSalary: ¥1,200 ~ ¥1,450 / HourLocation: Tokyo, JapanEnglish: Business levelJapane..

Cats have a long history of being considered lucky animals in East Asian folklore. They are associated with bringing good business and fortune to people. And if you have ever been to a Chinese restaurant or shop anywhere in the world, you may have come across statues of often golden cats that seem to be beckoning you inside. Those who watch Japanese anime or play Japanese video games may have also come across depictions of this beckoning cat. But did you know that the beckoning cat, or maneki neko, has its origins in Japan? What is maneki neko, what’s the meaning behind this lucky cat, and what is its origin […]

In the birthplace of instant chicken ramen, there is the CUPNOODLES MUSEUM Osaka Ikeda. From the first chicken ramen ever made to the creation of “Space Ram”, instant ramen eaten by astronauts in outer space, and the cup noodles that have taken the world by storm, you can enjoy learning about the history of cup noodles.
At the “My Cup Noodles Factory”, you can even make your own original cup noodles!
What kind of place is the CUPNOODLES MUSEUM?
Andō Momofuku, the inventor of instant ramen, created the world’s first cup noodles, and became the founder of Nissin Foods. Ikeda City in Osaka, the birthplace of cup noodles, CUPNOODLES MUSEUM Osaka Ikeda was started in 1999 to detail the invention of instant ramen, with the hopes of spreading the message that everyone has the chance to be an inventor.
The museum is five minutes by foot from the Hankyu Takarazuka Line’s Ikeda station, which is 20 minutes away from Osaka Umeda station.
When the museum first opened in 1999, there was only an e..