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On July 7, the Japanese Hoshi Matsuri (star festival) called Tanabata is celebrated. The streets of Hiratsuka in Kanagawa Prefecture will be lined with food carts visited by young women in yukata (traditional summer clothes) and the young men escorting them.

Millions of Japanese people all over Japan will enjoy one of the first festivals of the summer. Children will hang tanzaku (wishes written on strips of paper) on tree branches, and adults will nostalgically recall the summer festivals of their own youths.

If the sky is cloudless, those with romantic inclinations will look expectantly at the sky to see two specific stars on opposite sides of the milky way galaxy.

Star-crossed lovers
Photo: iStock/ SenryuIt is an illustration of a Tanabata illustration.
The legend behind the Japanese star festival is that a herder boy, Hikoboshi, and a weaver girl, Orihime, fell so deeply in love with each other that they neglected their jobs causing great trouble in their respective professions a..

With relatively cool temperatures and many spectacular natural landscapes, Japan's Tohoku region is the perfect destination for a summer getaway! Consisting of six prefectures in the country's northeast – Aomori, Akita, Iwate, Yamagata, Miyagi, and Fukushima – this area is filled with hidden gems.
Here we'll introduce some of Tohoku's top scenic summer spots, from dynamic cliffs to quiet coves where you can swim in the sea.
1. Miyagi: Saigyo Modoshi no Matsu Park, Matsushima
Photo courtesy of Miyagi Prefecture Tourism Association
Located in Miyagi Prefecture is Sendai, the largest city in the Tohoku Region. Matsushima, famous as one of Japan's Top Three Scenic Views, is a mass of nearly 260 islands, big and small, that float in and around Matsushima Bay.
Since ancient times, people have been fascinated by this beautiful natural landscape. In recent years, it has become one of Japan's leading tourist destinations.
Saigyo Modoshi no Matsu Park, located ato..

When arriving in Japan, many make a beeline straight for Osaka. With its vibrant gourmet scene and bustling shopping centers, it’s easy to see why! To help you find the best of the city, we present our first timer's guide broken down by sightseeing, food, shopping, and hotels. Osaka’s awaits!
Top 10 Fun Things to do in Dotonbori Osaka According to Die-Hard Fans!
A lively, fun, and delicious spot, Dotonbori is one of Osaka's most prominent downtown areas. The area overflows with attractions and entertainment not found anywhere else in Japan. There's plenty to see, and even more to eat!
From classic attractions to hidden experiences, here are the top 10 things to do in Dotonbori, as recommended by a die-hard Osaka fan.
Top 10 Fun Things to do in Dotonbori Osaka According to Die-Hard Fans!
Low-Budget Travel: 10 Fun Free Things to do in Osaka!
Osaka is packed with free experiences and sightseeing perfect for the traveler on a budget. From ancient temples to tranquil parks, w..

Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost region, is one of the country's leading areas for seafood. So it makes sense that it's a famous region to go for fresh and delicious sushi at affordable prices.
If you want to “Eat delicious Hokkaido sushi until you're full to bursting,” Uoppshu Sapporo store is a restaurant where you can do just that. Here, we'll look at some of the fantastic dishes Uoppshu has to offer.
We'll be going through all the recommended dishes you can't miss from their wide variety of fish and sake on their all-you-can-eat menu!
Uoppshu: Seasonal fish for reasonable prices
Uoppshu is located on the first basement floor of the NC Kita Sen Kita 3 Jonishi Building, which is a 3-minute walk from JR Sapporo Station and a 1-minute walk from Sapporo Subway Station Exit 24. Outside the building's entrance is this fish sign (above), so you can use it as a landmark when looking for the restaurant.
Uoppshu is located on the first basement floor of..

Umeda is the name of the area surrounding both Umeda Station and Osaka Station. Umeda is considered the transportation hub for sightseeing in the Kansai Region, which includes popular destinations such as Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe.

Umeda Station Train Lines
A number of train lines utilize Umeda Station.

Non-JR Train Lines
As it is not itself a JR Station, you will not be able to use your JR Pass at Umeda Station. Umeda’s primary lines include the Midosuji, Yotsubashi, Tanimachi, Hankya, and Hanshin Electric Railway Lines.

JR Lines
If you wish to use your Japan Rail Pass, you can do so at nearby JR Osaka Station. This station is a short walk away.

Shinkansen Lines
Neither Umeda Station nor the JR Osaka Station host the Shinkansen bullet train. To access the Shinkansen, first, walk to JR Osaka Station. Then, take a ride to the next station, Shin-Osaka Station.

Alternatively, this station can be reached on a six-minute ride on the Midosuji Line from Umeda Station.

Umeda Station Layout
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Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido is the perfect destination for travelers seeking a different side of the country. Home to some of the country's most breathtaking scenery, this land also avoids the kind of sweltering summertime humidity found further south, making it a prime destination in the warmer months.
Enjoy a relaxing getaway while being able to connect with locals, by staying at a holiday rental. As many traditional-style Japanese homes have been renovated into holiday rentals, you can enjoy a unique experience first-hand. Plus, staying close to local residents and exploring the city from their perspective will give you an insight into the area you might not get otherwise.
Read on to hear our recommendations for vacation rentals in Hokkaido.
1. Hakodate Classic Hotels: Relax at the historic Western-style hotel in Hakodate
The renovated old Wajima residence (Photo courtesy of Hakodate Classic Hotels)
Hakodate opened its doors to the world as a trading port in 18..

The number of foreign tourists visiting the city of Sapporo is increasing. In addition to various events held throughout the year, such as the Snow Festival and the YOSAKOI Soran Festival, the city has many other tourist attractions.
Here, one of our local writers introduces sightseeing spots in the Sapporo city area that you can visit in a single day!
1.10:00 – Visit the Sapporo Clock Tower2.11:00 – Stroll around Odori Park3.12:00 – Visit Sapporo TV Tower4.13:00 – Gourmet seafood lunch at Nijo Market5.14:30 – Go to the Shiroi Koibito Park, a good place for Instagram photos6.16:30 – Tea time at the popular cafe FAbULOUS in Soseigawa East7.18:30 – Take in the night view from Mt. Moiwa8.20:00 – Enjoy Hokkaido delicacies & local sake in Susukino1.10:00 – Visit the Sapporo Clock Tower
The Clock Tower, a proud historical Sapporo landmark, was built in 1878 as a demonstration hall of Sapporo Agricultural School, which was the predecessor of Hokkaido University. Three years after its constru..

Sendai is the largest city in northeast Japan's Tohoku region. Around 90 minutes via Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo and with excellent access to the rest of Tohoku, Sendai is a popular destination to visit.
Here we will introduce some useful tips when traveling to Sendai, including transportation access from Tokyo, the delicious local dishes to try, and the famous historical sites to visit!
Main photo by: PIXTA
1. Quick facts about Sendai
Photo by: PIXTA
Where is Sendai in Japan?
Sendai is the largest city in the northeastern area of Japan’s main island of Honshu, and is located in Miyagi Prefecture.
The history of Sendai began in 1601 when the famous warrior of Japan’s Sengoku Period, Date Masamune, built Sendai Castle as well as the town around it. This history is an important part of how Sendai became the city it is today.
Photo by: PIXTA
One of the attractive features of sightseeing in Sendai is getting to try all of the delicious cuisines.
An example of a Sendai origi..

Clark Little made a splash in 2009 when he self-published “The Shorebreak Art of Clark Little.” The coffee-table book, with forewords from old friends Kelly Slater and Jack Johnson, visually chronicled his story from Northern California to the North Shore and his personal journey from shorebreak surfer, reckless four wheeler and botanical gardener to arguably one of the most famous ocean photographers in the world. Thirteen years later—after countless thrashings in the heavy Hawaiian shorebreak—Clark has saved some of his best work for his third, and perhaps final book, “The Art of Waves,” while also sharing some insights of his craft.

“h2ornado”
North Shore, Oahu

How did your latest, and perhaps final, book come about?

I hadn’t planned on publishing another book but the timing was right. My first two were self-published; it was a lot of work, and worth it, but I wasn’t going to do it again. An editor contacted me right after the Covid lockdowns with the concept for “The Art of Wav..

Hidden away in the mountains of Yamagata is a hot spring town where traditional ryokan are surrounded by forests. Visitors come to Hijiori Onsen to enjoy the famous hot springs, exceptional farm-fresh Japanese cuisine, and a romantic stay at one of the many family-operated inns. The town feels pleasantly lost in time far away from the bright lights of the city.

Of the thousands of hot spring towns and villages throughout Japan, few feel quite so remote as Hijiori Onsen. Buried in the mountainous hinterlands of Okura-mura, this local hot spring resort resides in the heart of a volcanic caldera, from which mineral-rich waters feed the innumerable bathhouses and onsen ryokan dotted throughout the tiny hamlet.

Hijiori Onsen is locally famous for the legendary—and often-thought miraculous—healing waters. Few travelers outside Japan have wandered these streets, while town folk rarely travel beyond the mountains that surround this valley. Yet the residents, nearly all descendants of the ori..