If you’re coming to Japan for the first time, I can almost guarantee you’ve put Kyoto somewhere on your itinerary. Now you need to figure out how long to spend in Kyoto, so you’re confident that you’re making the most of your…
In case you haven’t realized I’m fairly geeky about a lot of things, Japanese video games included. I don’t think I’m lying when I say a lot of you guys are as well, and one of the main reasons why so many…
While I don’t claim to be a custom keyboard expert, I do type a lot. While I’m traveling, most of that typing is done on some form of the magic keyboard by Apple, but when I’m at home I use my incredibly…
I don’t know about you, but whenever I travel or go on vacation, I always consider two possible forms of accommodation: Airbnb and Hotels. After a brief bit of research and asking some of you guys, it seems you’re exactly the same.…
In February of 2023, I fulfilled a lifelong dream of Skiing in Japan. I was lucky enough to ski in Niseko with its epically deep powder, and damn was it good. Of course, before setting foot on those legendary slopes, I had…
Having recently got back from a trip to Niseko, which was epic by the way, I realized Japanese snow tends to lend itself a little better to snowboards rather than skis. In any case, there were definitely more snowboards than skiers on…
Whenever I write these ‘Is it worth visiting’ type of articles, my decision usually lines up with what most people think. However, this wildly popular district in Western Kyoto makes things a little more difficult. So, is Arashiyama worth visiting? In my…
The route that first-time visitors to Japan usually take is from Tokyo – Osaka (and surrounding areas) – Tokyo. Of course, there are trips in between and often the chance to venture further into Japan. As one of the most popular add-ons…
I often consider the questions ‘Why is Japan so photogenic?’, and ‘Why is Japan so beautiful?’. I’ve been in Japan for a year now, and I’ve taken more photos than I’ve taken in the previous five years of my life combined. So…
So, you know how some people love getting spooked by horror movies, right? Well, I’m not exactly one of them. Horror movies often leave me more bored than scared, but Japanese horror films seem to hit differently. Japan is so good at…
Would you believe it if I told you that I love Japan? I thought you might! Was it the fact I’ve literally built an entire website about the country that gave it away? In any case after spending a year living here,…
Living in Japan has had such a huge impact on my life for a number of reasons. Not only have I based my entire career around this country, but I’ve also questioned much of what I once thought to be true about…
If you’ve already taken the ‘Should you live in Japan‘ quiz and decided that ‘Yes!’ you probably should, your next step is to compare the country you live in now to Japan. It’s a great way to see the challenges you might…
Life in Japan is great. I wholeheartedly suggest anyone thinking about living here to make that leap of faith and do it. However, it’s not all sunshine and roses and that’s something that a lot of you should take into account before…
I’ve lived in Japan for a long time, but for some reason, I’ve only ever seen Mount Fuji a handful of times. Most of those have been from relatively far away, so when the opportunity came to visit Lake Kawaguchi and the…
I’ve never really been into Halloween, but I quite enjoy occasions that mean I get to dress up in stupid clothing. So when the opportunity to visit one of the most famous fancy dress street parties in Japan came up, I couldn’t…
You’ve done it! You’ve planned your trip to Japan, saved up, and finally landed in Tokyo. Now what? Depending on the time your flight arrives (or how tired you are), you can often find yourself with a few hours or just short…
Have you arrived in Tokyo early in the morning and don’t know what to do? Or perhaps you’ve got some time to fill before your plans in the evening. It’s a situation I’ve found myself in many times, so I thought I’d…
Over the year I’ve currently lived in Japan, I’ve spent a good amount of that time watching everyday dramas on Japan’s various TV channels. To be brutally honest, 99% of what I’ve seen is pretty awful (“Pending Train’ sitting near the top…
I think I’d guess correctly if I said that you want to see at least some sort part of traditional Japan, authentic Japan, temples, and Japanese countryside, on your trip. Despite the fact you may be coming all this way to buy…
If you’ve used this quiz to help you decide on where to visit in Japan, and this calculator to make sure it’s affordable, I’ll bet you’ve got one of two visions in mind. The first is probably the loud, noisy, and cyberpunk-esque…
Tokyo is… a lot. It’s overwhelmingly big, loud, and visually noisy. So, I do my best to find as many relaxing places in Tokyo as possible, Yanaka Ginza being the newest entry to that list. Yanaka Ginza is not only a brilliant…
I start lots of these introductions by telling you how I love geeky things, and this is no different. Akihabara is an otaku’s paradise and if there’s one place that summarizes that perfectly, it’s Radio Kaikan. Radio Kaikan is one of the…
With Japan winning the 2023 World Baseball Classic, not only did I find myself wanting to own every single piece of Shohei Ohtani’s memorabilia, but I also spent a considerable amount of time wondering “Why is Japan so good at baseball?”. Japan…
I love researching the best places to go when I go on holiday, especially when it’s in Japan. I love planning, and I love knowing I’ve got the money to do it all. But I can absolutely see that for some people,…
I love Tokyo, it’s easily one of my top 3 cities in Japan and definitely somewhere I plan on living longer. However, it does sometimes get a little overwhelming and I often find myself looking for places close by to escape to.…
Tokyo is the biggest city in the world, and it’s almost perpetually busy. My local commuter train pretty much always has 0 seats available despite the day or time of year, and the same is true for a lot of places up…
Questions like ‘Is Nikko worth visiting?’ are some of the most common ones I end up answering every week by email. Some of them make it into an article, and some of them don’t for a variety of reasons, but Nikko, somewhere…
Japanese Shinkansen are famous the world over for being some of the fastest, cleanest, and most reliable trains on the planet. I’d hazard a guess that you already knew that, but what about some of the other, more practical questions you’ve got…
I decided to write a gigantic list of books that are set in Japan which I think are worth reading. This going to be the first (and main) article in a series of book lists I'm writing so the entries on the…
Japan is a huge country with a ridiculously massive amount to see, and often not enough time for the people who visit. So, which method of transport should you choose: Shinkansen or plane? As far as I’m concerned, there’s no better way…
Every time I travel somewhere new in Japan, I always like to look at the possible day trips from that location as well. One well-known place that I recently visited myself (which is perfect for day trips from Hiroshima) is Miyajima. But…
After living in Japan for almost ten months, there are a few things that have become obvious. The food is fantastic, the public transport is beyond convenient, and there are far too many places to visit in a year, let alone a…
There are a few animal-based activities on most people’s itineraries when they come to Japan. No doubt leading that list are the deers in Nara Park. But, is Nara worth visiting just to see these deer, or are you better to spend…
Pretty much anyone I’ve ever met that hasn’t spent a prolonged period of time in Japan has a certain view of the country. Normally, that comes under ‘crazy’, ‘wacky’, and weird. But why is Japan perceived as weird? Many people consider Japan…
I’ve lived in Japan for a while now, and what’s become clear to me over this time is the lack of physical contact I see. While I’m sure that it doesn’t mean people don’t love each other as much, it definitely got…
This is one of those articles I’ve been waiting to write for a long time. I get to help people decide between two of my favorite places in Japan! Both areas you may consider on your trip to Japan, but out of…
I’ve ridden in more trains, flown on more planes, and walked on more streets in Japan without a plan than I’d care to remember. I love the spontaneity of it all, but is this really the best way to explore the country?…
For a lot of people, traveling around Japan without a care in the world is a lifelong dream. Unfortunately, there’s the small issue of the language barrier that makes things a little difficult! So, do you need to learn the language before…
Traveling around and exploring some of the most well-known attractions in Tokyo is a great idea if you’ve never come here before. However, if you’re looking to truly get to grip with what the city has to offer, you’ll want to dive…
Other than Shinkansen and Japan’s last sleeper train, flying is probably my transport method of choice. Unfortunately, there was a chunk of time when the cost of getting over here become almost impossible and left many of us (including me) asking the…
Living in the UK and Japan both have their unique advantages and disadvantages. As someone who has lived next to Tokyo for a long while, as well as spending extended periods of time in London and its surrounding countryside earlier in my…
Moving to Japan was one of the best things I’ve ever done. Yes, it hasn’t always been easy, but I wouldn’t change any of it. My inbox is constantly flooded with people asking if they should move to Japan. People just like…
Like many of you, while I lived outside of Japan I was constantly searching for ways to immerse myself in its culture. One of the best ways to do that, without booking a flight, was to treat myself, every now and then…
Living in Japan has been (and is!) an amazing experience, with many opportunities to explore a new culture and make lifelong memories. But sadly we all need to make money! Tip: Take my ‘Should you live in Japan’ quiz to see if…
The problem with having a holiday in Japan, is that you often don’t have as much time as you like in any one area. Of course, when you make the trip from the your home country to Japan, you’ve probably already decided…
Ever since I visited Japan for the first time, I was acutely aware of the country’s unique relationship with trains. High-speed, luxurious, clean, and sometimes designed for no other reason than to just enjoy the ride, there’s no wonder people travel from…
This is a place consistently ranked as one of the best things to do in Osaka, so I decided to visit it twice to figure out the answer to the question ‘Is Osaka Castle worth visiting?’ Spoiler alert: I don’t think it…
If it sells any form of retro, vintage, or modern geekery, I’m all about it. I’ve visited Akihabara extensively as that is usually my go-to location for things like that, and it’s a great excuse to browse more Japanese Pokemon cards and…
Ahh, Spring. It’s the most popular time of year for visitors flying over to Japan, and certainly one of the most beautiful seasons. Hanami or ‘flower viewing’ is the activity of enjoying the sakura in full bloom while having a picnic underneath…
