Travel Tips

There are heaps of Japanese snacks to try when you visit Japan. From the seasonal candies to delicious chocolate treats to Japan-only snacks, there is something for everyone. This is the reason why many tourists choose to buy Japanese snacks as souvenirs to bring back home. Rather than magnets or keychains that others might not end up using, edible souvenirs are unique, delicious and also affordable.
We asked Erika, a staff at Okashi-no-Machioka, one of Japan’s popular candy and snack shops, to show us 10 snacks in their Shinjuku store that are popular with foreign visitors. Let’s take a look!
1. Green Tea Kit Kat (Nestle)
It is no longer a secret that Japan has the most variety of Kit Kat flavors in the world!. Therefore it didn’t come as a surprise when Erika led us to the Kit Kat section. One of the most popular Kit Kat flavors for foreign travelers is the green tea flavored Kit Kat.
Because the matcha flavor is so popular, there are actually variations of the green tea Kit Kat that..

Imagine: peeling a soft Wakayama mikan orange peel, the refreshing citrus scent filling the air. Take a piece of the fruit. With every bite, the sweet juice excites your taste buds. Now, picture this moment of delight taking place in the grove where you just picked the ripe mandarin orange yourself!
Located on the west side of the Kii Peninsula, Wakayama Prefecture has a mild climate and with its thriving fruit industry, and is Japan’s leading producer of mandarin oranges. So let's take a look!
What is a “Wakayama mikan” and why are they so popular?
Wakayama not only produces “satsuma mandarin oranges,” which are generally called “mikan,” but also large hassaku oranges and that have a refreshing sweetness and aroma. They even produce Valencia oranges, too.
Wakayama mikan are characterized by their thin, easily removed peel. Compared to typical oranges which often have a thick peel, the smaller mikan are easy to eat. If you've ever had a satsuma before, you'll know what w..

Nikko is located in the northwestern part of Tochigi Prefecture, best known for its vast and rich nature and the many famous sightseeing spots, including historical shrines and temples.
As it used to be the sacred land of mountain worship, many people visit Nikko for its distinctive mystical atmosphere.
Guide to Nikko area's famous sightseeing locations and activities…
1. Kegon Falls: One of Japan's Highest
The Kegon Falls has an impressive height of 97 meters and is a representative natural landmark of Nikko. Legend goes that Kegon waterfall was named after the Kegon-kyo (Avatamsaka Sutra) which is one of the Buddhist scriptures. You can feel its mystical energy just by looking at the powerful waterfall.
With its stream coming from Lake Chuzenji, Kegon Falls is one of the Three Great Waterfalls of Nikko, next to Kirifurinotaki Falls and Uraminotaki Falls, making the area a major sightseeing spot.
If you take the elevator down to the waterfall viewing spot, you'll b..

Yamagata Prefecture is located in northern Japan’s Tohoku region, where the autumn colors begin to appear around the end of October every year.
The natural beauty of the area, where the magnificent mountains are dyed red and yellow, is perfect for setting your heart and mind at ease.
This year, why not relax and stay at a ryokan inn where you can appreciate the spectacular autumn leaves from the privacy and comfort of your room or an open-air bath?
1. Miyamaso Takamiya: 100+ year-old ryokan overlooking the vivid mountains (Zao Onsen, Yamagata City)
Zao Onsen is located at the western foot of the Zao mountain range in the southeastern part of Yamagata City. The long-established Miyamaso Takamiya Ryokan, founded in 1716, is built on a hill in this hot spring resort.
The building is a solid Japanese-style wooden building that’s over 100 years old, and the combination of white walls and bold wood hues is an iconic image.
Access
From Yamagata Station, take the Yamako Bus bound for Zao On..

The Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, has announced that Japan is lifting the majority of its remaining COVID entry restrictions for tourists from October 11.

Kishida revealed the long-awaited news during a press conference in New York on September 22. He confirmed that Japan will open its borders to individual tourists and resistate visa exemptions. The cap on 50.000 daily arrivals will also be lifted, he said.

At the New York Stock Exchange later that day, Kishida said that Japan “will relax border control measures to be on par with the US”. The announcement received rapturous applause from the audience.

Nevertheless, Japanese government sources confirmed that foreign tourists will still need to submit a negative COVID-19 test result for the time being (unless they have been fully vaccinated) before they can travel to Japan.

Package tour requirement to travel to Japan removed
The reopening will mark the first time that Japan will allow individual tourism in over 2 and a hal..

Regarding shrines and temples in Japan, most thoughts go to the Fushimi Inari and Kiyomizudera in Kyoto or the Todaiji temple in Nara. However, if you’re brave enough to stray from the shinkansen to the reaches of Fukui and Mie prefecture, you’ll discover some of the most significant places of worship in Buddhism and Shinto.

So let’s talk about my trips to the Shrines of Ise and Daihonzan Eiheiji, two of Japan’s most atmospheric and historical holy sites.

Okage Yokocho ancient street
Photo: iStock/ SeanPavonePhotoTravel back to the Edo period in Ise city.
Ise is a small city nestled on the eastern coast of Mie prefecture. Before arriving, this was all I knew about the city, besides the fact that it was home to a nice shrine.

I didn’t expect to be greeted by a living, breathing Edo-period town. The streets are lined with beautiful Edo-era buildings, completely open storefronts and restaurants. Even though most of these shops were just the typical assortment of sweets and souvenir sto..

Generally, the weather in Sendai in autumn is pleasant, with refreshing cool breezes and a mild climate. Autumn in Sendai is from around September to November, a period considered one of the best times to visit Japan in.
That said, Japan's Tohoku region is famous for cold spells even during fall, so you might want to take note of some tips about the region's climate and preferred clothing for the season from our writer, a local resident of the area.
We've even included a list of recommended tourist hotspots as a handy reference. Hopefully, this will allay any fears you may have about planning a trip here, and help you to focus on your Sendai sightseeing instead!
TOP image: Kapi Ng / Shutterstock.com
What's the weather like in Sendai throughout the year?
Sendai is the largest city in Japan's Tohoku region. Located on a low plain that opens up to the Pacific Ocean, the area enjoys many fair-weather days because of its proximity to the sea and is very tourist-fri..

Awaji Island is a popular resort destination in Japan’s Kansai region known for its abundant nature, hot springs, and local delicacies. In recent years, the island has had many foreign visitors due to opening anime theme parks such as Ningen no Mori and Hello Kitty Smile . Island visitors are also impressed with the quality of local cuisine and the beauty of Japan’s nature. Here we will introduce the top ten spots you can’t miss on a trip to Awaji Island!
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What’s Awaji Island Like?
Awaji Island is situated between mainland Japan and the Shikoku region-the smallest of Japan’s four major islands, and is the biggest island in the Seto Inland Sea. Surrounded by ocean on all four sides, it’s extremely abundant with seafood. The quality of seafood, such as sea bream, octopus, and pike conger, caught in ocean waters with a powerful current is recognized as some of the best in the country. Awaji Island is also known for its fert..

The Dai-ichi Takimotokan Hotel is a well-established inn in Noboribetsu Onsen. Its hot spring baths are fed by geothermal water from five springs having half of the ten mineral qualities of spring water found in Japan.
You can enjoy the view of Hell Valley, a popular sightseeing spot while relaxing in the hotel's Onsen Heaven. Here we'll introduce all the charms of the magnificent Dai-ichi Takimotokan Hotel!
Dai-ichi Takimotokan Hotel: Onsen Heaven Next To Hell Valley
Dai-ichi Takimotokan overlooks the desolate landscape of Hell Valley
Dai-ichi Takimotokan Hotel is next to Hell Valley, a famous sightseeing destination in Noboribetsu Onsen, a hot spring resort area located about an hour's drive from the New Chitose Airport. Established in 1858, it has the oldest history of any hot spring inn in Noboribetsu Onsen.
The founder, Kinzo Takimoto, heard about a natural hot spring in the mountains that effectively treated skin maladies. His wife had a severe skin disorder, so h..

As wonderful as Tokyo can be, sometimes it’s nice to escape the crowds and explore the less-charted areas nearby. These 10 spots are our favorite hidden gems!
Tokyo may be one of the primary reasons you pack your bags and head for Japan, but just beyond the Japanese capital there are plenty of hidden gems just waiting to be explored. And they're a great way to avoid crowds while staying close to Tokyo, too.
From the mountains of Okutama and depths of Saitama Prefecture to the quiet onsen getaways and the startlingly beautiful seaside towns of Kanagawa, here are 10 of the best ‘undertouristed’ destinations near Tokyo.
1. Kumagaya (Saitama)
Why Kumagaya?
Outside of Japan, Kumagaya is a little-known city, but it’s one of the major urban centers in Saitama Prefecture. It’s only an hour from Tokyo by train, and offers a nice mix of cultural activities to keep you occupied.
What can you do there?
In sporting circles Kumagaya is renowned as one of Japan’s rugby strongholds; the Kumagaya..