Travel Tips

Ikebukuro, easily accessible by the Yamanote loop line, is considered one of the greatest entertainment districts in Tokyo. It is lined with shopping malls, music venues, game centers, and a plethora of places for anime-lovers to enjoy.
Ikebukuro is great for people of all ages, as well as families, because of its entertainment that stretches from aquarium to planetarium, museums to shrines, and endless dining options as well.
Not only is it easily accessible from central Tokyo, but it is also conveniently accessed from neighboring prefectures such as Saitama, making for a great day trip no matter where you are. From morning to night, there’s never a dull moment in Ikebukuro with its options at hand for anyone who comes through.
Main image: PIXTA
1. Sunshine City
Photo: PIXTA
Sunshine City is one of the greatest symbols of Ikebukuro. The four-building complex boasts shops and restaurants, as well as a plethora of entertainment. Sunshine 60, the main and tallest building, has an obser..

When it comes to tradition, Kyoto festivals stand out, and you’ll definitely want to see them if you have the chance. The city also has a variety of other festivals depending on the season, and we’ll be checking out a couple here.
Photo：Vlastimil Kuzel / Shutterstock.com
Aoi Matsuri: Like a beautiful court mural (May 15)
Kobby Dagan / Shutterstock.com
May 15th
The Aoi Matsuri is held every May 15th at Kamo-mioya-jinja (the Shimogamo Shrine) and Kamo-wakeikazuchi-jinja (the Kamigamo Shrine). Kyoto festival-goers donning the garb of Heian nobles march down the city’s main road, going from the Kyoto Imperial Palace to Shimogamo Shrine, then to Kamigamo Shrine. The group of over 500 look like something out of a beautiful Heian picture scroll as they gracefully move down the road.
The carriage with its bamboo blinds is decorated with hollyhock (aoi) leaves, hence the name Aoi Matsuri – although its actual name, Kamo Matsuri, is said to have come from how this Kyoto festival was performed t..

Connecting Kansai International Airport with Osaka and Kyoto is the adorable Hello Kitty HARUKA. Featuring the internationally beloved character Kitty White, this “kawaii” train has garnered attention worldwide!
Read on to discover its full charm and how to get tickets.
What Is the Hello Kitty HARUKA?
HARUKA is a limited express train service run by JR West, connecting Kansai International Airport with Tennoji, Shin-Osaka, and Kyoto. It began running to coincide with the opening of Kansai International Airport in 1994 and is known for its distinctive long, simplistic white body.
As more people began using Kansai International Airport, the number of passengers on the HARUKA train also increased. To welcome visitors from overseas to Japan, JR West decided to decorate this now popular train with Hello Kitty in 2019. Donning a dazzling long-sleeved kimono, many have visited just to snap photos of it.
The first Hello Kitty HARUKA train was just six carriages; however, a surge in popularit..

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!

Security OfficerCompany: 株式会社エグゼクティブプロテクション (EXECUTIVE PROTECTION Inc.)Salary: ¥3.0M ~ ¥5.5M / YearLocation: JapanEnglish: Business levelJapanese: ConversationalApplication: Must currently reside in JapanYour main duty will be patrolling data centers, offices and escorting customers when needed.
You will be working at foreign-affiliated companies and facilities. Training is provided.
Share this Job Apply Here
Localization and International Marketing OfficerCompany: 株式会社セルシスSalary: ¥4.5M / Year NegotiableLocation: Tokyo, JapanEnglish: Business levelJapanese: Business levelApplication: Must currently reside in JapanCelsys, an IT development company is looking for a native French to help develop their graphic solution softw..

Gion is one of Kyoto's most visited areas, and for a good reason. Gion is one of the oldest geisha districts in Japan; it exudes tradition, is stunningly beautiful, and is filled with streets, temples, shops, and entertainment to explore.
Although a beautiful area to wander during the day, Gion really comes alive at night. Staying in Gion will let you enjoy everything this traditional district offers.
Main image: PIXTA
Getting to and around Gion and Higashiyama
Hanamikoji Shopping Street in Gion. Photo: PIXTA
From Kyoto Station
・By Train: Take the Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line to Shijo Station and transfer to Karasuma Station on the Hankyu-Kyoto Line (3-minute walk). From Karasuma Station, travel to Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station (2 minutes, 380 yen). From here, it is around a 10-minute walk to many destinations in the Gion area.
・By Bus: Busses 100 and 206 will both take you there in roughly 20 minutes from Kyoto Station (get off at the Gion bus stop).
Getting Around Gion
The b..

Osaka is one of Japan's most popular tourist destinations, welcoming visitors worldwide. There are countless tourist attractions in Osaka, from famous amusement parks and delicious foods to the latest shopping spots; there is bound to be an activity that will get everyone excited!
Just to make planning easier, here is a list of some of the best things to do in Osaka, sorted by the best season to do them.
Main image: PIXTA
Things You Can Do During Any Season in Osaka
Image: PIXTA
Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan: Visit one of Japan’s largest aquariums
The Osaka Aquarium, Kaiyukan, is one of Japan’s largest aquariums. Kaiyukan is known for its iconic huge tank dedicated to whale sharks and adorable seals. What makes Kaiyukan so remarkable is the care they take to showcase their marine lives.
They have 15 fish tanks! Each replicates the environment of a specific region of the Pacific Rim. Their central tank is one of the most well-known, representing the Pacific Ocean; it is an impressive ni..

So you’ve heard of how amazing Japan’s winter is but never stood on skis or a snowboard in your life?
That’s alright – skiing in Japan for beginners is great. Many of the country’s winter sports resorts offer everything you need as a ski and snowboard beginner! Your lack of experience won’t stand in the way of having an amazing winter vacation in Japan.
Here is everything you’ll want to know before hitting the snow, from how to choose where to go-to equipment and life on the piste. (“Piste” is the word for a ski run. There, you learned your first snow-related term!)
Why Ski in Japan?
You might be surprised but Japan is an excellent choice to learn how to ski or snowboard. One big reason for that is the climate and topography of the country. Japan’s mountains aren’t all tall as famous ski areas in Europe and North America, which means that many offer gentle terrain and thus equally gentle slopes.
Because of this, Japan’s mountains also boast amazing powder snow. The snowfall doesn’t s..

For travelers in search of a different side of Japan, Hokkaido is where it's at. Sapporo – a bustling metropolis on the frontier of Hokkaido’s wilderness – is the first destination for many, thanks to its convenient access to New Chitose Airport.
Meanwhile, some visitors will start their journey in Hakodate, which is connected to the main island of Honshu via Shinkansen bullet train and ferry.
To help make a decision on where to stay in Hokkaido, we’ve waded through the wide selection of accommodations on offer to bring you our picks. Whether you decide to stay in Sapporo or in one of the nearby cities, combining bang for the buck with location, we’re sure you’ll find the perfect hotel for your next Hokkaido adventure here!
Main image: PIXTA
1. How to choose where to stay in Hokkaido
Image: PIXTA
Choosing where to stay in Hokkaido depends on the season you go, the kind of environment (urban or rural) you enjoy, and how long you have got.
The seven areas mentioned in this piece w..

You may not know it, but there are several high-end postings on GaijinPot each month that could use your attention. And, if this column is new to you and you’ve been racking up experience outside education, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what’s available out there.

IT gigs are a-plenty, and benefits and salaries are shifting along with the shifting demand for the marketplace to pay attention to these two very important markers of good work.

I’m also seeing a lot of available remote opportunities and negotiable salaries (which are always good to see). But, most of all, I’m seeing well-paying jobs that don’t require a decade of experience and N1 Japanese skills.

This month, let’s take a look at a few of ’em. Stay tuned for more.

Innovate full-time as a Web Engineer
Senior Web engineer with a desire to architect with a fully distributed team? The U.S. headquartered Scopic needs a full-timer with a penchant for multitasking across various projects to come aboard and get cook..

Most people who visit Japan like to play it safe and stick to the cities in the country’s so-called “golden triangle” of tourism: Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. While there isn’t anything wrong with the hustle and bustle of Japanese megacities, it would be a true disservice to your itinerary to skip the natural scenery, one-of-a-kind cultural experiences and traditions only found in the heart of Japan’s countryside.

Such an example of beauty and heritage is in Yamagata Prefecture and its sacred Dewa Sanzan, or Three Mountains of Dewa, near the coastal city of Sakata. These mountains—Mount Haguro, Mount Gassan and Mount Yudono—are not only magnificent points of beauty in Japan’s wilderness but sacred to Japanese Buddhism and the Shugendo sect of Shinto monks that traverse these mountains.

To open the door for visitors to these sacred sites, Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has updated the latest version of the official Japan Heritage webs..