Travel Tips

Sado Island (Sadogashima / 佐渡島), one of Japan's largest islands, is located off the coast of Niigata Prefecture. With its unique history, Sado Island was once known as a place of exile.
However, today it is a destination for those off the beaten path, famous not only for its stunning natural scenery but also for being one of the few places in which Japan's traditional culture is preserved.
Here we'll introduce sightseeing spots and experiences that you will not want to miss out on when visiting Sado Island, as well as how to get there.
A microcosm of Japan: What kind of place is Sadogashima?
Sado Island, also known as Sadogashima, is the largest island on the side of the Sea of Japan, with a size that is one-and-a-half times that of central Tokyo.
In the surrounding ocean, warm and cold currents intersect, resulting in various types of seafood such as crab, shrimp, squid, amberjack, and tuna being caught, as well as an abundance of products of the sea such as oysters,..

Autumn is the most colorful season of the year in Japan. Mountains are dyed in beautiful reds and yellows. Maples become a blazing crimson hue, and golden ginkgo trees paint the tree-lined roads. You can truly feel the depth of autumn by simply walking around and admiring the colors of the trees.
This tradition is known as momijigari, or “autumn-leaf hunting,” and during the fall season, it's not uncommon to be invited by friends and family to go on an “autumn leaf hunt!”
Here, we talk to Yutaka Miura, an active forest guide who has visited more than 3,000 forests and natural attractions in Japan. Here he will introduce the various ways you can enjoy momijigari and the beautiful autumn leaves of Japan.
What is Momijigari?
The Japanese word momijigari, or “autumn-leaves hunting,” can translate literally to “maple-leaves hunting.” It refers to the activity of viewing the red-and-yellow painted trees while strolling around fields through the crisp autumn air.
Although the word “gari..

The Sapporo Snow Festival (Sapporo Yuki Matsuri) is a popular snow and ice festival in Hokkaido, held from February 4–11, 2023, at Sapporo's Odori Park. One of this delightful festival's charms is getting to enjoy the many strikingly detailed snow sculptures that are exhibited.
Here we'll share what the festival is all about, and how you can enjoy it to the fullest, too!
Book now! Hotels in Hokkaido for the Sapporo Snow Festival
What is the Sapporo Snow Festival?
Since its start in 1950, the Sapporo Snow Festival has been an annually celebrated winter tradition. This year, it's scheduled to be held for the 72nd time. The main attraction at this event is the various-sized snow sculptures.
Welcoming up to five meters of snow yearly, Sapporo is in a region with hefty snowfall. Each year, 30,000 tons of snow are gathered to make impressive snow sculptures using heavy machinery.
Here you can find of range of sculptures with different themes. Some of these include sculpt..

The Osaka Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri, in which giant floats are pulled, is one of the most magnificent spectacles in Osaka and draws over 400,000 spectators every year.
It’s held over two days every September on the weekend before Respect for the Aged Day, on the third Monday of the month. The Saturday (two days before) is called yomiya and Sunday (the day before) is called motomiya.
In 2022, the festival will be held for the first time in three years!
Today we’re visiting Kishiwada, the town where the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival is held, to find out a bit more about its universal charm and appeal.
The Kishiwada Danjiri Festival means fall is on its way to Osaka Bay
Dashi (floats) are used at festivals all over the country, and the danjiri (festival carts) used around the Kinki region are also called dashi. It’s said there are as many as 500 floats in use for local festivals in Nara, Wakayama prefecture and the Kinki region, mainly around the Osaka Bay coastline and Awaji Island.
Accor..

One of Japan’s cultural staples is hot springs (onsen) and public baths. While it’s common for Japanese people, they raise many questions among foreign visitors.
We asked Dr. Yasuaki Goto, a specialist in baths and a researcher with the Japan Health Development Foundation, to answer some questions that foreigners have when it comes to Japanese hot springs and public baths.
Lots of interesting content follows; some things would surprise even Japanese people!
1. What is the correct order of things to do before entering the bath? Should you shower after hot springs?
――Theoretically, any order is fine, but to keep the bath clean, etiquette dictates to wash oneself before entering the bath itself. To get your body accustomed to the heat, you should first take a shower. Washing your body after a bath makes cleaning yourself easier, so the most straightforward might be to “rinse yourself → bathe → wash yourself.”
2. Do Japanese people really drink sake while bathing?
――You may have an idea o..

It’s the middle of summer and I step off the overnight bus from Osaka. I was pleasantly surprised by clear blue skies when I expected another typical muggy day in Japan. The destination is Kawaguchi, on the north side of Mount Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture.

My companions were a bunch of buddies from Kobe, two experienced campers and three amateurs. Wiping the sleep from our eyes, we marched towards the banks of Lake Kawaguchi where we make our camp.

Establishing basecamp
Photo: Fergus GreggThe weary travelers rest after setting up camp.
Situated next to the bridge that spans Lake Kawaguchi, the New Bridge Campsite was where we chose to spend the next three nights. For three nights of camping and access to the amenities, I paid ¥4,000.

As the others were tired from the trip, I elected to go on the first supply run, but I’d need transport. Lucky for me, just down the road from the campsite was the hotel Shiki no Yado Fujisan, which rented me a bike for three days for ¥1,200.

Photo: iS..

It is no exaggeration to say that Kyoto is among the most famous tourist spots in Japan. Many foreign tourists visit Kyoto to buy unique souvenirs such as Japanese sweets and matcha (green tea) sweets every year. Here, we would like to introduce a selection of Kyoto-style souvenirs that can be easily purchased at supermarkets.
You might be able to become more like a Kyoto resident if you eat or take home souvenirs that are filled with “wa (Japanese – spirit, harmony),” which are eaten by people in Kyoto every day.
Let's head on over to “Super Fresco,” which operates mainly in Kyoto City
The “Super Fresco Gojo Ohashi Store” is conveniently located near Keihan Shimizu Gojo Station.
The name of the store means “fresh and lush” in Italian, and the products are lined up with outstanding freshness.
In 1992, Super Fresco began operating as a retail market in Yamashina-ku, Kyoto. This supermarket, which operates mainly in Kyoto City, has introduced 24-hour operation in some stores.
It of..

The architecture of Japan is one of the things that sets the country apart from others. It's very distinctive and immediately recognizable and something whose charm beckons out to many tourists.
While in cities like Tokyo, where landscapes change continuously as older buildings give way to new and modern ones, there are areas where you can take a look at various kinds of architectural gems.
One such place is the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum in Koganei-shi, just about 45 minutes outside the center of Tokyo, which is home to a collection of 30 structures from different periods of Tokyo’s history. Join us as we do a deep dive into this treasure of Tokyo!
About the Edo-Tokyo Open-air Architectural Museum
The Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum is located in Koganei – just 40 minutes from Shinjuku, Tokyo. The museum, which opened in 1993, is a collection of relocated original buildings that date as far back as the mid-Edo Period (1603-1868). Several have undergone resto..

Niseko is known as Hokkaido's go-to place for winter sports lovers. Its world-renowned powdered snow attracts people from across the globe, so you'll meet people from all walks of life. Niseko is also famous for its summer activities, such as rafting, hiking, and bouldering, making it perfect for visiting all year round!
We will introduce everything you need to know about getting to and around Niseko, as well as where to stay.
1. Getting to and from Niseko
(Photo: PIXTA)
a. Ease of access to/from New Chitose Airport
The easiest and most convenient way to get to Niseko from New Chitose Airport is to take the Hokkaido Resort liner bus, which can take you directly to some of the major ski resorts. These run throughout the day from the beginning of December to April. It takes approximately three and a half hours to get to Niseko, and an adult fare costs 4,500 yen and for children 3,500 yen.
Another option is to take the JR Rapid Airport train to Otaru, which costs 2,750 yen one w..