Travel Tips

Kamodashi Chukasoba ROKU, located in Kawaramachi, Kyoto's premier shopping district, features high-quality ramen made by celebrated chef Yuji Iwasaki, who opened the Chinese restaurant VELROSIER and received a star in the MICHELIN Guide Kyoto Osaka 2022.
Kamodashi Chukasoba ROKU was also awarded the MICHELIN ranking of “Bib Gourmand,” which indicates reasonably priced yet high-quality food. Using expert Chinese cooking techniques, the irresistible “kamodashi” duck broth is worth savoring to its final drop.
Read on to learn the secrets of this delicious ramen, and add one more restaurant to your Kyoto must-eat list!
Chinese Noodles With a Modern-Japanese Twist
Kamodashi Chukasoba ROKU – Keep an eye out for the stylish lantern and curtain.
Kamodashi Chukasoba ROKU is located on the 2nd floor of GOOD NATURE STATION, a shopping complex directly connected to the Kyoto Takashimaya Department Store in Kawaramachi.
Taking the escalator, you'll find yourself on a floor hosting five..

At the center of Niigata Prefecture, in the wide open Echigo Plains, is an accumulation of more than 400 years of metallurgy and craftsmanship excellence in the artisan city known as Tsubame Sanjo. Heralded as producers of some of the finest tools and crafts across Japan—and the world—this city is a leading producer of metalware including prized Japanese chefs knives, teapots, utensils and more. Travelers intrigued by Japan’s never ending obsession with perfection can explore the open factories here and even take home some prized Japanese crafts.

In the face of an aging population and ever increasing pressure from mass production and global competition, the master artisans of Tsubame Sanjo came up with an innovative open factory system where visitors from around the world are welcome inside with some of Japan’s most famous artisans.
The Origins of Tsubame Sanjo’s craft heritage started from nail production to meet the needs of a burgeoning Edo (the ancient name for Tokyo) during the e..

At the center of Niigata Prefecture, in the wide open Echigo Plains, is an accumulation of more than 400 years of metallurgy and craftsmanship excellence in the artisan city known as Tsubame Sanjo. Heralded as producers of some of the finest tools and crafts across Japan—and the world—this city is a leading producer of metalware including prized Japanese chefs knives, teapots, utensils and more. Travelers intrigued by Japan’s never ending obsession with perfection can explore the open factories here and even take home some prized Japanese crafts.

In the face of an aging population and ever increasing pressure from mass production and global competition, the master artisans of Tsubame Sanjo came up with an innovative open factory system where visitors from around the world are welcome inside with some of Japan’s most famous artisans.
The Origins of Tsubame Sanjo’s craft heritage started from nail production to meet the needs of a burgeoning Edo (the ancient name for Tokyo) during the e..

Intrepid surfers are known for traveling to the far reaches of the globe to find quality waves. While Kochi Prefecture, in southern Shikoku Island, may not qualify as remote, it is far away from the frenetic pace of Osaka, Tokyo and other large cities in Japan. Bruce Dillon, an avid Australian surfer, laid roots in Kuroshio, a town located in the Hata District of Kochi, and has built a “surf dojo” where aspiring surfers can get their feet wet and get a taste for the surfing lifestyle. The Hata area has numerous surf breaks, delicious local cuisine and a laid-back culture that is ideal for extended holidays or remote work away from the crowds.

It takes just an hour by plane to leave behind the dense cityscape of Tokyo for the lush mountains and expansive view of Tosa Bay. When you emerge, the inviting warm air and relaxed atmosphere feels like you just landed in Hawaii. Locals’ friendly demeanor reinforces the vibe. It’s a two-hour drive from Kochi Ryoma Airport to Kuroshio Town. This ..

Adventure traveler and photographer Norio Sasaki is out to push his limits on solo travel. His expeditions have taken him from Prudhoe Bay, at the tip of North America, to “the end of the world” at Ushuaia, the southernmost tip of South America. He is a self-proclaimed fuukei (landscape) hunter, walking for miles across every type of terrain and weather, dragging along his nearly 80-kilogram bicycle-drawn cart—with a big smile on his face. Sasaki shares his unusual ways of travel and what adventure travel means to him.

What got you started in adventure travel?
I used to be in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, traveling around Japan and overseas. The biggest thing I discovered is if you have tairyoku (endurance) and konjo (guts), you can set your mind to do anything. I learned from my mistakes, gained a lot of experience taking on jobs such as lifesaving in Okinawa, ocean guiding, ski patrolling and outdoor guiding.
When I was 25-years-old, my mother sent me a book by Naomi Uemura..

Hidden in the evergreen forests and deep valleys of the Kii Peninsula is an exciting new canyoning experience. Crystal clear streams and gushing waterfalls beckon active travelers and adventure seekers to Kiho, home of Kansai’s best canyoning experience.

Travelers and outdoor enthusiasts have long been coming to the southern part of the Kii Peninsula to explore the sacred Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails and the three Kumano Grand Shrines. The outdoor and adventure experiences within the vast area of what is referred to as kii-no-kuni (land of trees) are still a fairly well-kept secret
Mike Harris, founder and owner of Canyons, who has pioneered many of Japan’s canyoning courses, has spent more than 20 years scouring the peninsula’s canyons with his team and literally testing the waters of countless streams and stunning waterfalls. After many exploratory missions they settled on Kiho, in the most southern part of Mie Prefecture, and opened the first canyoning operation in the area.

Cany..

Hidden in the evergreen forests and deep valleys of the Kii Peninsula is an exciting new canyoning experience. Crystal clear streams and gushing waterfalls beckon active travelers and adventure seekers to Kiho, home of Kansai’s best canyoning experience.

Travelers and outdoor enthusiasts have long been coming to the southern part of the Kii Peninsula to explore the sacred Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails and the three Kumano Grand Shrines. The outdoor and adventure experiences within the vast area of what is referred to as kii-no-kuni (land of trees) are still a fairly well-kept secret
Mike Harris, founder and owner of Canyons, who has pioneered many of Japan’s canyoning courses, has spent more than 20 years scouring the peninsula’s canyons with his team and literally testing the waters of countless streams and stunning waterfalls. After many exploratory missions they settled on Kiho, in the most southern part of Mie Prefecture, and opened the first canyoning operation in the area.

Cany..

The 2022 American Craft Beer Experience (ACBE) Japan is back Nov. 12-13 at the Waters Takeshiba Outdoor Event Space. Organized by the American Brewers Association, the popular event has been absent from the calendar the last two years, but it will be making a triumphant return at this cool venue. Visit waters-takeshiba.jp for access and follow them at facebook.com/ACBEjapan to learn more about the great selection of American breweries participating.
Earlier this year, Yokohama’s TDM 1874 brewery opened the Shimokitazawa Taproom adding another place to enjoy their award-winning brews besides their brewpub location in Tokaichiba, Yokohama. The Shimokitazawa Taproom will be hosting a Craft Beer Festival slated for Nov. 4-6 with other selected breweries. Follow them for more information on the event coming soon at tdm1874brewery.com/pages/brewpub02.
Former Baird brewmaster Chris Poel has been busy at his Shiokaze BrewLab. When not gypsy brewing around Japan he’s serving up a great selectio..

Bar Sick! is only open to English speakers.
In Japanese schools, English is a compulsory subject, but once students graduate it can be hard for them to find opportunities to use the language they’ve spent so many years learning.
Here to help with that is Shibuya-based company Cloud N Co., who’ve come up with the idea to open two bars in Japan — one in Osaka and one in Tokyo — where speaking English is compulsory.
Called Bar Sick! or “Sick!” for short, the new drinking holes are strictly English-speaking only, with staff consisting mostly of bilingual women in their 20s with native-level English conversation skills. Presumably, the name of the bar comes from the slang meaning of “sick”, referring to something that’s particularly great or impressive, rather than the literal meaning of the word.
▼ The Tokyo branch of Bar Sick! (pictured below) will be opening up in Nishi-Azabu, an area that’s home to a large number of foreign residents and embassies.
Japanese is completely banned at both ..