The quietest places in Kyoto - The mountains

It hit me, that it was quiet moments such as these that one becomes incredibly candid with yourself;away from the static and noise in the city, away from the he

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Tokyo based atrist Hiroshi Araki 荒木博志

This article is for all art junkies like me, I love seeing art- any kind of it! This exhibition sure was something I have not seen before, keep on reading and a

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Our Top 5 Instagrammable Sights in Oita Japan

Check out our selection of some popular, and some less well-known sights in Japan's hot spring capital prefecture that make for some great photos!

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The quietest places in Kyoto - The mountains

It hit me, that it was quiet moments such as these that one becomes incredibly candid with yourself;away from the static and noise in the city, away from the he

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How to make Bento Boxes like a Japanese Supermarket

In Japanese convenience stores, you often see a lot of affordable prepackaged meals in a box-like format. If you’re in the mood to recreate this in the comfort of your own kitchen, here are some tips and suggestions to get you started

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Artistic Manhole Covers in Japan

When travelling to Japan often people recommend to look upwards since there are many signs on the sides of buildings climbing all the way to the top floors, esp

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5 Essentials for A Bug-Free Summer

I don't know if you're anything like me but I welcome the warmer days. I'm more than happy to shed of my layers of clothing and put away thick bulky comforters.

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Five Critters to Watch Out for When Hiking or Exploring in Japan

Japan has lots of warning signs. Make sure to pay attention to them so you don't end up like this person. ( http://pentecoste-newlife.blogspot.jp/2011/03/blog-

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Samurai Heritage: Asakusa Yabusame Festival

YabusameAny samurai history buff can tell you "The Last Samurai" Saigo Takamori died making a last stand near Kagoshima during the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion. Afte

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Trip Planner

Plan your perfect trip to Japan! Simply click the 'Add to Trip' button on any of the 20,000 sights and hotels featured on this site. With sights across all 47 Japanese Prefectures, we hope to introduce to a number of hidden gems off the beaten track.

Need a little inspiration? Be sure to check out our trip planner overview as well as the pre-made trips below!

Travel

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Rainy Day at Sunshine City

The perfect way to spend a rainy day in Tokyo is at Sunshine City located on the East side of Ikebukuro.

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The 5 Lakes of Fuji

Located in Fujigoku, Fuji's famous lakes offer breathtaking views and serve as a hub for outdoor activities. With plenty of hiking trails, camping spots and even ski slopes, this is the perfect area for those that love the outdoors!

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Day Trip to Kamakura

Kamakura is just South of Tokyo and is an easy getaway destination for anyone living in the city. With its various temples, shrines, beaches, hiking trails, and shopping streets, Kamakura allows you to fulfill a whole day of relaxation.

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Tokyo Record Stores

here's nothing quite like putting on a record. And Tokyo boasts a good number of record stores with wide range sub-genres, old and new.

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Travel

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Intern Ellie's Cycle Kyoto Bike Tour

Our intern Ellie went on a trip to Kyoto and joined a cycling tour! Check out the spots she visited in this handy collection.

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Today's selected sights

Sight in Yamanashi

Miharashi-en

Miharashi-en is a vineyard and orchard where visitors can pick fruits all through summer and autumn and enjoy the blooming trees in spring.

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Sight in Tokyo

Nissan Ginza Gallery

[ NOTE: building currently under renewal ]The Nissan Gallery in Ginza is full of the latest cars and interactive displays for visitors to use. The gallery showc

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Sight in Osaka

EXPOCITY

EXPOCITY is Japan's largest shopping and entertainment complex. Located in Osaka near the former site of the World Exposition. This spot will soon be home to th

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Sight in Tokyo

Zenpukuji Park

Opened in 1961 and located in an upscale area of residential Tokyo, this park features a large pond separated into an upper and lower pond. Other attractions in

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Sight in Tokyo

Korin-in

Korin-in in Hiroo is a temple of the Rinzai school which organizes Zen meditation experience for visitors.

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Sight in Tokyo

Akasaka Tan-tei

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Sight in Yamaguchi

Karato Market

This fish market sells a variety of fresh seafood. The fishermen are selling themselves and offer their products for affordable prices. Visitors can buy pieces

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Sight in Aichi

Cormorant Fishing On The Kiso River

Take a cormorant fishing tour on the Kiso River and witness a 1300-year-old way of fishing. Cormorant fishing season is from June 1st to October 15th. The dayti

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Sight in Tokyo

Hiromart Gallery

Open since 2010, this independently run, commercial gallery shows works by upcoming and mid-career contemporary artists from Japan and abroad. The gallery's art

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Today's selected articles

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A Peek Into Tokyo's Top Restaurants

Tokyo is a treasure trove for foodies and a heaven for those with luxury dining tastes. Home to more than 200 Michelin-star restaurants, you can find gourmet fo

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How to Use Japanese Honorifics

In my previous article about being polite in Japan I went over simple ways in expressing politeness through actions. This article will go over being polite thro

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Day trip to Inuyama

Earlier this year I did a day trip to Inuyama from Nagoya. Everyone on the train got off at Inuyama station, so I was alone for the next few minutes until Inuya

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The beauty of Torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine at Miyajima island

Just a short trip away from the Hiroshima city, you can see one of the most iconic views in Japan, which is on the Miyajima island called the Torii gate of the

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How to Spend Perfect 3 Days in Kyoto? A Complete Itinerary for the First Timer

Kyoto is the most popular tourist attractions in Kansai region, which is Japan cultural capital. There have a lot of temples, shrines and ancient palaces to exp

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Earthquake: Being Prepared When You Visit Japan

Japan lies along the Ring of Fire, an area located around the Pacific Ocean with a lot of tectonic activity, making it prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptio

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Sanjusangendo - The hidden gem in Kyoto

Sanjusangendo (三十三間堂) When visiting Kyoto, most visitors have included Kinkakuji, Kiyomizudera and Fushimi Inari on their must see list. If there are traveller

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All About the Sapporo Snow Festival

The Sapporo Snow Festival was originally started as a way to help residents get through the long, gloomy days of winter. Nowadays it's one of the largest of its

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What is McDonald's Like in Japan? A Complete Guide

Tired of Japanese food? Well... You came to the right article! I will teach you how to order food at McDonald's. For Japanese, I am going to write the readings

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Today's selected Regions

Prefecture

Aomori

Aomori prefecture is surrounded by the sea and boasts amazing natural beauty and opportunity for outdoor adventures. It is the home of Lake Towada, the Hakkoda

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Prefecture

Yamaguchi

Yamaguchi is on the westernmost tip of Honshu, and because of its proximity, historically it has been an important center of cultural exchange with the Korean P

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Prefecture

Osaka

As the second largest city in Japan, Osaka is often compared to the capital city Tokyo—both popular travelling destinations in Japan. But some would venture to

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Prefecture

Hokkaido

If your idea of a perfect vacation involves majestic forests, clear blue lakes, pillowy powder snow, and amazing, farm-fresh food, Hokkaido is an absolute dream

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Prefecture

Nara

A cradle of traditional Japanese history and culture, Nara breathes the spirit of Yamato - the Japanese nation. Formerly known as “Heijyokyo", Nara was the firs

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Prefecture

Niigata

Niigata prefecture has a long coastline facing the sea of Japan, because of this it was a critical port area during the Edo period in the 17th and 18th centurie

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Prefecture

Gifu

Gifu prefecture, known as the unofficial “center” of Japan, was and is very important to Japan in many aspects. For starters, it holds the record for most open

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Prefecture

Okinawa

There’s a reason why over 10 million people visit Okinawa every year – Japan's southernmost island is a natural wonder, with pristine beaches, friendly people a

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Prefecture

Ibaraki

If you're a nature person, you’ll fall in love with Ibaraki, a scenic coastal prefecture northeast of Tokyo. With up to 15% of its land area dedicated to natura

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