Travel Tips

Matcha – powdered green tea – is a traditional Japanese drink used in the tea ceremony, but recently it has also been used in sweets and lattes and is loved by people of all ages. Its slightly bitter flavor seems to be well accepted by foreigners as well.
In this issue, we asked foreigners who live or have lived in Japan what surprised them about matcha. We asked them to tell us what they thought of matcha when they first tried it, their favorite matcha sweets, and other surprising episodes related to matcha. (The following is the personal opinion of those who responded to our survey.)
main image: PIXTA
Matcha flavor and real matcha, too much of a taste gap!
Image: PIXTA
The most common reason was the gap between the “matcha flavor” in sweets and other products and the “real matcha tea” taste. Some said it was too bitter or too sweet compared to their imagination.
“I've had matcha-flavored chocolate before, so I thought the real matcha tea would taste similar, but I was surprised ..

Hotel Sowaka Kyoto opened in the Gion Yasaka area of Kyoto in November 2018. Located in a refurbished old tea house built more than 100 years ago, this small Kyoto luxury hotel has only 23 guest rooms.
All rooms are fully furnished with traditional Japanese elements, such as fusumae paintings on sliding paper doors, lacquer, and Japanese paper, and each has its own layout.
During autumn when the foliage is at its brightest colors there is also a special plan for visiting a temple. If you are going to visit Kyoto, then make it a truly memorable experience by staying in this very Kyoto-like hotel!
We highly recommend it for individuals interested in immersing themselves in the traditional culture of Kyoto.
Located in the Higashiyama area, a convenient place to stay in Kyoto
Higashiyama, in which Sowaka Kyoto is located, is one of the most famous sightseeing spots in Kyoto.
Close by are famous Kiyomizu Temple, famous for its highly elevated and large veranda, Heian Shrine, and Yasaka Sh..

Lots of new tourist attractions have appeared throughout Japan in 2022, with plenty more planned for the near future. From Ghibli Park, to a theme park based on Harry Potter, to new shopping centers, you can expect lots of new landmarks to appear around Tokyo and beyond. Despite the unfortunate closings of several other locations, these new attractions give much to look forward to!
Here we introduce the latest on upcoming tourist attractions that are set to open, close, or renew in 2022 and beyond.
Main image: ©Studio Ghibli
Newly Opened Attractions in 2022: Tokyo Area
NAKED FLOWERS FOR YOU: An Evolutionary Flower Art Exhibit (Opened March 19, 2022)
NAKED FLOWERS is an experiential art exhibition. With all kinds of flowers on display, this event has made a name for itself both in Japan and overseas, including Kyoto's World Heritage Site Nijo Castle, Tokyo's Nihonbashi, Hong Kong, and South Korea. This new location, opening in Yurakucho, marks the first permanent facility in T..

The Japanese town of Inakadate has become famous for its rice field art (called Tanbo Art in Japanese) held from early June to October.
Rice paddy art is the use of a rice paddy as a gigantic canvas by planting different rice varieties of different shares. It's said that rice paddy art originated in the town of Inakadate in Aomori Prefecture.
The designs change every year and have included such themes as Star Wars and Roman Holiday. What is it about Inakadate's rice field art that draws visitors from all over the world?
Photo provided by: Inakadate Village Planning and Tourism Division
Exactly what is rice field art in Japan?
Photo provided by: Inakadate Village Planning and Tourism Division
Rice paddy art, or Tanbo Art, is the creation of pictures and letters made by planting different color types of rice.
Inakadate Village in Japan, located in the middle of Aomori Prefecture, was the first place to create rice paddy art and currently, there are two locations in the village..

Autumn in Japan is almost as famous as spring. Visitors can't get enough of the Japanese maple leaves and other vivid fall foliage colors! Plan a trip to Japan between October and December, and you can enjoy many beautiful places with autumn colors.
The peak season for autumn leaves in Japan varies by region. Check our fall foliage forecast and make the most out of autumn in Japan!
When is autumn season in Japan?
Image: Japan Meteorological Corporation
Autumn in Japan is from September to November. Foliage starts to change from Hokkaido southward by mid-October. By the end of November, the leaves in many areas will be at their best. This is the best time to visit Japan for foliage.
Japan has two foliage waves: one for yellow leaves and the other for red-colored leaves. From the end of October to early November, ginkgo trees will turn yellow in greater Tokyo. This is followed by Japanese maple trees and their red leaves.
Depending on elevation and weather conditions, the autumn c..

Minoh City, located in the north of Osaka Prefecture, is a nature-rich getaway easily reachable via train from Osaka City.
Within Minoh City is Minoh Park, most famous for its dazzling array of fall foliage, along with the walking trail by the Minoh River to Minoh Falls. The park is also particularly refreshing during the hot and humid summer months.
With the waterfall an easy 2.8 km walk from the station on a paved trail with little steep undulation, it’s a comfortable, pleasant walk.
This article will show you how to make the most of a day at Minoh, including its famous maple leaf tempura, riverside dining, and hot springs!
What Sort of Place Is Minoh Park?
Minoh Park is a spacious 83.8-hectare forest in the mountainous northern regions of Minoh City. For its abundant wilderness, it was recognized by the Forestry Agency of Japan as one of the “100 Spots For Forest Bathing” in 1986.
It has long been adored as a popular hiking spot close to Osaka City, and is noted for the unique f..

Try something off the well-worn path on your trip to Shinagawa. At Yogyoku-in Temple you can experience the meditative peace of sutra copying or shakyo. Yogyoku-in Temple is famous for the Five Dhyani Buddhas (wisdom Buddhas) and shrine to Hoteison, one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune. This delightful temple also allows reservations for copying various sutra; a unique and peaceful experience for any visitor.
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The shakyokai, or sutra-copying, takes place at Yogyoku-in Temple, every month—on the first Saturday at 2 pm. The practice of copying sutra has a long history and offers peace to people. Despite your religious background, why not try a shakyo session to find serenity in your heart. This is an especially good practice for people living today as it allows you to cherish the time spent copying sutra as a calm prayer time. The event session is casual and the proper tools and paper will be provided for the reservation fee of 1000 yen.
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When you get off at Oimachi Station in Shinagawa, one of the first things you will notice are the department stores and shops you are used to—but if you walk 30 seconds from the station, you will encounter a place where you have slipped back in time.
Some areas of Oimachi have not changed much since ancient times. Small shops line the narrow alleys and you can hear lively voices. Here, small shops began to line up shortly after World War II. The area has since expanded but it retains its old-time charm. Join the locals in the pub alley (Azumakoji), where about 200 restaurants lined up during the peak period of the Showa '40s (1965～1974). The area has changed little since then.
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Treat yourself to a good old Showa-era fun night out at Oimachi Yokocho! Yokocho is the Japanese word for any side street, but—more often than not—it also envisions a narrow, often pedestrian-only alley lined with small pubs and shops that can seat only a handful of patrons a..

The city of Aomori is home to one of Japan’s most popular and lively summer festivals, the Nebuta Festival. While the festival is a big part of the city’s rich culture, there’s more to Aomori than this annual event.

Just across from Aomori station, the bayside area, in particular, holds several spots worth visiting, and they’re all within close distance of each other along the water.

1. Miso Curry Milk Ramen
Photo: Joshua MeyerChow down on a local delicacy.
Foodies know Aomori best for its miso curry milk ramen. The pleasures of miso ramen topped with butter may be well known to anyone who has visited nearby Hokkaido, but adding curry powder and milk to the miso base gives the soup its own delectable Aomori flavor.

Some attribute its origin to the ingenuity of schoolkids experimenting with different noodle toppings thirty-plus years ago. Others cite the influence of Kiyoshi Satoh, a Sapporo ramen chef who moved to Aomori and ran a shop there in the late 1960s. Whatever the case, mis..

Summer time in the Tohoku Region is the time of year when the normally quiet and tranquil communities of the north explode in vibrant colors, with the passion of the locals on full display. After three years of painful cancellations many of Tohoku’s most famous summer festivals were finally able to be celebrate the season and the the traditions, bringing back a much needed sense of community and excitement to the people here.

The Yamagata Hanagasa Festival
山形花笠まつり
The Yamagata Hanagasa Festival is the flagship festival of Yamagata Prefecture. Thousands of performers fill the streets of downtown Yamagata City for a night of festivities. Learn more about the festival at thehiddenjapan.com/kizunafestival.

Akagawa Firework Festival
赤川花火大会
This grand firework festival, regarded as one of the Top 10 firework festivals of Japan, features tens of thousands of fireworks shot into the night sky during the two-hour performance.

The 2022 Akagawa Firework Festival even featured a surprise drone..