Travel Tips

Osaka is Japan's third-biggest city. It offers all the pleasures of a port city, including great food, historical buildings, and even theme parks. Osaka is an excellent place to stay and has convenient access to the smaller port city of Kobe, the famed deer-filled city of Nara, and of course, Kyoto.
1. How to select where to stay in Osaka City
Photo: PIXTA
Osaka being a massive city means it is essential to think about what you want to do, where you want to go, etc., when considering where you want to stay. Osaka City itself is the capital of Osaka Prefecture, the second-smallest prefecture in Japan by size.
It is important to remember the difference when selecting accommodation in Osaka Prefecture rather than Osaka City. Given the city's proximity to sightseeing areas in Japan's Midwest, some visitors prefer to fly in to Osaka instead of Tokyo.
a. Ease of access to/from the airport
Kansai International Airport opened in 1994 on an artificial island in Osaka Bay, and la..

Kyoto is a popular sightseeing spot amongst overseas visitors and Japanese tourists alike. In fall, the time when the colors of the leaves change to reds and yellows is as popular as the cherry blossom around the streets during springtime. Arashimaya is set aflame with color, and Nanzenji Temple is the place to enjoy the brightly colored maple and cedar trees. In Okazaki, there are many cultural institutions and temples, and plenty of spots to catch autumn leaves.
Alongside its exclusive fall cuisine, the autumn leaf period in Kyoto is a fantastic time to visit. The best places to spot autumn leaves tend to be crowded, so we’ve picked three of the best hotels to avoid the crowds and enjoy the foliage from the comfort of your own room, each one steeped in history.
1. Yamashina Genhouin (Okazaki): Appreciate the autumn leaves from the comfort of your own private garden
The exquisite front entrance
Yamashina Genhouin is located in the east of Kyoto, in Okazaki – about 20 minutes by taxi ..

Kyoto is a popular tourist destination, but Japan often gets a reputation as being expensive – so is it hard to budget? One of the simple solutions to the budget problem is to sprinkle your itinerary with some free sightseeing spots!
So here are 10 places in Kyoto where you can do just that, and experience some history and tradition along the way.
1. Imadegawa: Rich Nature and Historic Buildings at the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden
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Kyoto Gyoen is the location where the Emperor resided for over a thousand years after the Heian period. It is a vast national park spanning 0.7km from east to west and 1.3km north to south.
In addition to historic buildings, such as the Kyoto Imperial Palace and the Kyoto State Guest House, there are also many restaurants, souvenir shops, and areas where you can take a break for free.
In the spring, you can enjoy the plum and cherry blossoms. It is also a famous spot for the major festivals of Kyoto, including the Aoi Matsuri an..

Japanese stationery has become one of the most famous Japanese souvenirs, along with sweets, snacks, and cosmetics. Thanks to their excellent quality, longevity, and attractive design, these products have even developed a cult-like following overseas. And whether you're a fan or just looking for something cool and practical, Japanese stationery items make the perfect gifts or suitcase stuffers.
We sat down with the staff at Daimaru Fujii Central, a giant shop specializing in Japanese stationery that's in Sapporo, to find out some of their best-sellers and what they recommend for visitors!
Stationery specialty shop Daimaru Fujii Central: Largest selection of products in Hokkaido!
Daimaru Fujii Daimaru Fujii Central, located in the heart of Sapporo, is a specialty store with about 200,000 Japanese stationery items, miscellaneous goods, and Japanese art supplies. Here you'll find a wide variety of products, from character stationery to high-end fountain pens and leather pro..

Just an hour and a half by train from Tokyo lies the Miura Peninsula, a fabulous resort area surrounded by seas and mountains, boasting delicious local delicacies made with fresh fish, seafood, and vegetables.
The Miura Peninsula has plenty of popular hotels filled with fun for the entire family, including spas, glamping, and of course, incredible ocean views, making it the perfect place for a hotel staycation! Here are 10 of our favorite spots!
1. Maholova Minds Miura: Satisfying hot springs and spacious sea view rooms
Maholova Minds Miura is a resort that overlooks Tokyo Bay. Located near the Miura swimming beach and a Keikyu railway station, you can see the Bōsō Peninsula on the other side of the bay, beautiful sunrises, and even Mt. Fuji on fair weather days!
Plenty of beach-goers swarm to the area during summer, and visitors also come between February to March each year to admire the 1,000 kawazu-zakura, a type of cherry blossoms that will bloom beautifully along the Keikyu Main L..

Koka Ninja House, located in Koka City, Shiga Prefecture, is Japan’s only remaining “ninja house” where actual ninja lived. It is commonly believed that there were once 49 ninja schools in Japan. The two major powers among them were the Koka and the Iga schools.
At Koka Ninja House, visitors can experience an authentic residence that real ninja actually used, look at shuriken and other tools, and learn the history of the ninja. So let's travel back in time to discover the secrets of these mysterious figures.
Koka – Japan's ninja village
The two great ninja villages were Iga and Koka, with the latter’s headquarters located in a mountainous area adjacent to Shiga and Mie prefectures.
The existence of the Koka ninja became known throughout the country in 1487 during the Battle of Magari as they helped the Sasaki Rokkaku clan defy the Muromachi Shogunate by launching surprise attacks in the mountains and burning the enemy headquarters.
During this period of chaos and continuous ..

All of the hikes in and around Tokyo that we will introduce can be enjoyed as a day trip when traveling from the Kanto region. What’s more, we will also introduce how to choose what to wear on these hikes.
What to Wear and Bring on a Hike in Tokyo
Photo: PIXTA
Even for beginner trails and mountains, it’s important to know what to wear and bring to enjoy the experience fully. Before getting into the recommended spots, we will introduce these items.
●Clothing
No matter the season, hiking causes you to perspire heavily. When clothes soak up this sweat and dry, it can cause you to catch a chill. To avoid this, we recommend wearing thermals made from synthetic fibers both in the summer and the winter. It’s best if you can find quick-drying and absorbent kinds. Furthermore, long-sleeved tops and bottoms are a must when it comes to preventing insect bites or injuries.
Also, jackets should be worn throughout every season. Because temperatures in mountainous areas are quick to change, hiking ..

When you think of gaming these days, you might think of apps you've downloaded on your cell phone, or games you play on devices like PlayStation or Nintendo Switch. A newly-opened café in Shizuoka takes it back to the analog era, however, with a variety of board games on hand for visitors to enjoy.
Board Game Café Anaguma was designed as a fun entertainment option for middle and high school students, adult groups, and parents with children, and there are over 200 board games to choose from. Visitors are also encouraged to bring their own board games from home if there is something specific they'd like to play.
Along with the variety of board games to play, the café serves up a host of eats and drinks to make a visit here even more comfortable. Easy to eat foods like French fries, chicken nuggets, homemade pudding, and honey baumkuchenfeature on the menu, plus various coffees, juice, sodas, and even bubble tea.
If you're planning to visit, do note that the café hours diff..

With the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen in 2016, it has been easy and convenient to access the city of Hakodate via train from Honshu. The fare from Shin Aomori to Shin Hakodate Hokuto Station will set you back 7,520 JPY at the time of writing, but there is a cheaper way to transit between the two cities if you're on a budget. The Tsugaru Kaikyu Ferry runs 8 times a day from Aomori to Hakodate and vice versa (the journey takes 3 hours and 40 minutes), and the standard fare is priced at 2,660 JPY to 3,650 JPY depending on the time of year.
My family opted to take the train one way and the ferry on the return leg several years ago, and I actually preferred the ferry. It's a great option if you have younger children traveling with you, as you can book suite rooms – this is at a higher fee than the standard fare, but we found it worth it for the opportunity to sprawl out and truly relax on the journey.
Other benefits of the ferry include the ability to bring your canine compa..