Matsue: An Underrated Culture Destination

To experience traditional Japan, sometimes you need to leave the city. Considered the second least populated prefecture in the country, Shimane is often bypassed by...

By Suzanne Bhagan
May 21, 2015 | Lifestyle, Out & About

Spend a Night with Godzilla in Shinjuku

Last month, the Hotel Gracery in Shinjuku debuted a handful of new Godzilla-themed rooms, giving visitors to Tokyo the chance to experience a night like...

By Camille Perry
May 14, 2015 | Lifestyle, Out & About

Serene Sleep: Stay a Night in a Koyasan Temple

First appear the mist-shrouded mountains, regally rising from the horizon. Then your train races through a towering bamboo grove, each stalk the width of a...

By Jessamine McHugh
May 7, 2015 | Lifestyle, Out & About

Twenty-Four Hours in Kanazawa

From the moment you step off the train, it is clear how proud Kanazawa is of its new Shinkansen. Shinkansen cakes, Shinkansen crackers, and even...

By Jessamine McHugh
April 23, 2015 | Lifestyle, Out & About

A Few Packed Days in Helsinki

For most travelers, Helsinki is not at the top of must-see lists, often being overshadowed by its neighbors Copenhagen and Stockholm. But take a chance...

By Chiara Pace
March 26, 2015 | Lifestyle, Out & About

Rich Land, History and Culture in the Oki Islands

Spectacular views, horses and cows grazing in the distance, fascinating rock formations and delicious seafood are just some of the things you can find on...

By Bonnie Waycott
February 6, 2015 | Lifestyle, Out & About

Yokohama’s Art Deco Walk

The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 was devastating for the booming cities of Tokyo and Yokohama. In particular Yokohama, which had hitherto seen fabulous growth...

By Cheryl White
January 15, 2015 | Art & Culture, Out & About

Taking It Slow in Hakone

Life in any big city tends to bring with it a whirlwind of business meetings, deadlines, social functions, and other commitments. Tokyo often seems to...

By Kelly Wetherille
December 18, 2014 | Lifestyle, Out & About

Minakami Onsen Weekend Getaway

Minakami Onsen, a region in Gunma Prefecture, about 150 kilometers northwest of Tokyo is the perfect place to do some great and challenging hikes during...

By Katharina von Tschurtschenthaler
November 23, 2014 | Lifestyle, Out & About

Kasama: Getting Crafty in Ibaraki

Japan is a nation of craftspeople: brushmakers, food artists, textile and laquerware masters, papermakers, woodblock carvers, ceramicists. And while Japanese ceramics certainly need no introduction...

By Cynthia Popper
November 6, 2014 | Art & Culture, Out & About

Beach Combing in Uraga

An hour south of Tokyo is the seaside city of Yokosuka. Perhaps best known for the huge United States Naval Base that sits to one...

By Cheryl White
October 2, 2014 | Lifestyle, Out & About