The Tennoji Zoo is Japan’s third oldest zoo. The 11 hectare (27 acres) zoo is home to 1,000 animals from 230 species. Families in the greater Osaka region love the place. It attracts 1.5 million visitors each year. The zoo is inside Tennoji Park, and it opened in 1915. Its location in the park makes … Read more
The word Osaka immediately conjures up an image of neon lights, skyscrapers, bustling shopping streets and the city’s friendly and exuberant people. Osaka city is so big and sprawling that it’s hard to believe you can hike through thick forests and enjoy one of Japan’s top ten waterfalls, only half an hour north of Umeda … Read more
Osaka might not have a reputation for clubbing that Tokyo does, but as the major club center in the Kansai region, Osaka’s nightlife brings in huge crowds. Trying to make a list of the top clubs can be tough. Weighing personal preferences against solid crowd-pleasers always presents a challenge. Fortunately, Osaka has some venues that … Read more
Leaving the house when you have young children can be stressful. If you ever find yourself in Osaka with your little ones, check out these 7 things to do in Osaka with kids (babies & toddlers) They all offer nursing rooms and changing areas. You won’t have to worry about finding a place to change … Read more
Want to know one of Osaka’s best-kept secrets? The city has the largest Korea Town in Japan. You have a lot to see and do in Osaka’s K-town. The neighborhood offers much more than just authentic Korean barbeque. The narrow streets and old houses look like something out of post-war Japan. The elderly residents still … Read more
Do you love fresh seafood cooked right before your eyes? Maybe you want to go on a food adventure, or perhaps you’d like to try a new dish? If so, the Kuromon Market is the place for you. The 150 shops and stalls have earned their reputation as Osaka’s kitchen.As you stroll through the market, … Read more
The new Osaka Station City opened in 2011. The architects replaced a crowded and boring train station with a light and airy building complex. It’s now considered one of the most attractive train stations in Japan. It’s not just the station that’s been updated. The surrounding area looks great as well. As part of the … Read more
Don’t take the Japanese summer for granted. The temperatures might look mild on paper, but the high humidity makes the weather dangerous. Thousands are hospitalized from heat stroke each year. Staying in your apartment with the AC blasting might seem like the safest way to spend your summer, but there’s another option. Japan has many … Read more
The Abeno Harukas Skyscraper is the tallest building in Japan. It’s also home to Japan’s largest department store – and it doesn’t stop there. The building complex has a railway station, an observation deck, a hotel, an art gallery, a garden, and lots of restaurants. The Abeno Harukas building offers something for everyone! About the … Read more
Kyoto’s stint as Japan’s capital had a lasting impact on Japanese culture, art, and religion… and especially on Japanese food! The Kyoto area produced some of the best dishes in Japan. The best known is the elaborate kaiseki-ryori, where fresh ingredients are prepared to make the most of subtle nuances of flavor. However, Kyoto is … Read more
Japan has had a complicated relationship with Western culture. Nagasaki is proof. Some of the Japanese-style buildings haven’t changed since the Edo period (1603 – 1868). Other buildings might make you think you’re in an old European village. Why is the City Like This? Japan was isolated during the Sakoku period (around 1639 – 1853). … Read more
The Japan Rail Pass is known for being one of the best deals you can get for traveling in Japan. But….is the Japan Rail Pass worth it for everyone? If you don’t plan on traveling a lot within Japan, or you are short on time, the JR Pass might not be your best option. What … Read more
Nagasaki has the oldest Chinese temples in Japan. The city has some of the finest Ming Dynasty temples in the world. This might seem odd, but the mystery is easy to explain. Nagasaki has a long history of trading with Chinese merchants. Many merchants settled around the port; they built one of the oldest Chinatowns … Read more
Nagasaki has a rich cultural history, but it’s mostly known for one tragic event: the atomic bombing on the ninth of August in 1945. In a few seconds, around 40,000 people died and Nagasaki changed forever. Seventy-two years later, Nagasaki has rebuilt but not forgotten. The number of living survivors decreases each year. The Nagasaki … Read more
Tired of temples? Need to escape Tokyo and reconnect with nature? Or maybe you just want something active to offset all the hours of riding in trains and buses. If so, Lake Kawaguchi (Kawaguchi-ko in Japanese) and the surrounding area is for you. Most visitors only know Kawaguchi-ko as the main approach to Fuji. Actually, … Read more
Mt. Fuji: Climbing the Japanese Icon Mt. Fuji looms large in Japan. The mountain’s iconic silhouette appears in everything from Edo-period woodcuts to Hello Kitty charms. The mountain is easy to get to. You can see the massive volcano from Tokyo. Any relatively fit person can manage the climb. It’s not uncommon to see Japanese … Read more
Kushiro is known as “The Town of Mist” due to its atmospheric weather. The fourth largest city in Hokkaido is well known for its natural attractions. Kushiro Marsh is the only known habitat of the endangered red-crowned crane. Lake Akan, a volcanic crater, is one of the few places in the world where the marimo … Read more
Japan may not be the place you associate winter travel with, but then again, does anyone associate the word “winter” with “travel”? I think of winter, and I think of several heavy blankets, made into a mountain-shaped pile under which I remain for four solid months with my laptop, streaming Netflix. Like a bear. A … Read more
Summer in Hokkaido has a lot to offer. The prefecture’s gentle summer climate is perfect for flowers; tourists flock to the colorful displays. Outdoor enthusiasts can’t get enough of Hokkaido’s national parks. They love the active volcanoes and gorgeous lakes. This article focuses on summer attractions you can easily reach from Asahikawa. We suggest using … Read more
If you visit Sapporo, don’t limit yourself to the activities within the city. While there are many fun things to do in town, there’s even more to discover in the nearby area.Mt. Teine, an Olympic ski field visible from Sapporo, is a must-visit in winter. The historic town of Otaru offers scenic canals and warehouses. … Read more
If your idea of heaven is miles and miles of fresh powder, Niseko is the place for you. The ski and snowboard resort is popular for several good reasons. Niseko’s winter coincides with summer in the southern hemisphere. This makes the resort popular with Australians. Many have settled in Niseko and started their own businesses. … Read more
The majority of Sapporo’s visitors come in winter for the city’s famous Snow Festival. Even if your schedule doesn’t allow you to visit in winter, don’t pass up a chance to see this beautiful city. Sapporo has a lot to offer. The historical village gives you insight into Hokkaido’s pioneering past. The iconic markets offer … Read more
Sapporo has a lot to offer. It’s the Prefectural Capital of Hokkaido and Japan’s fifth largest city. Thanks to Hokkaido’s reputation as a skiing and snowboarding paradise, most people visit Sapporo just for the winter sports. This is a shame! Even during Hokkaido’s harsh winter, it’s worth spending some time exploring Sapporo. You don’t want … Read more
Sumo may be Japan’s national sport, but baseball is Japan’s most popular past time. English professor Horace Wilson introduced baseball to Japan in 1872. Since then, the game has become Japan’s favorite form of recreation. Professional baseball started in the 1920s. It’s now firmly established as the most watched sport in Japan. There are a … Read more
As you climb the steps to the Taiyuin Mausoleum, birds replace the sound of traffic. Only a few people walk by. You linger over the delicate carvings gracing the walls of the mountain temple. You feel removed from everything. It’s impossible to believe you’re only a two-hour train ride from Tokyo. Nikko is a popular … Read more
Watching sumo in Tokyo (or anywhere) live is a highlight of any trip to Japan — even if you’re not a sumo fan. Sumo is Japan’s national sport. The number of foreign wrestlers increases each year, yet Japan remains the only country where professional sumo wrestlers compete. Sumo has a deep connection to the Shinto … Read more
By all means, travel to the cities like Tokyo and Kyoto– they’re all spectacular in their own right and for their own reasons. But I hope to offer you a list that might entice you to consider making the trek up to Japan’s northernmost island. And if you’re not much of a winter person or … Read more
Rather than recreating previous Universal theme parks in Orlando and Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan has developed and expanded new and existing rides, incorporates Japanese entertainment franchises and has a more “Japanese” feel to it than the Tokyo Disney parks. It also has a universal appeal that any international visitor would love as well. The official … Read more
One of the best ways to learn the Japanese language and culture is to make Japanese friends.But for many of us, meeting someone new can be hard – and awkward – and it can take us out of our comfort zone.And if you’re still learning how to speak Japanese, it may seem intimidating or even … Read more
Koyasan: Monks, Monasteries, and Mausoleums Koyasan is the closest the modern tourist will come to experiencing the true Japan… or at least, the true Japan as it relates to Buddhism. Koyasan is the home of Shingon Buddhism. Founded by the monk Kukai, Shingon has shaped Japanese thought for well over a millennium. Although Koyasan means … Read more