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How Many Days Should You Spend in Kyoto?

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…

16 mins read
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Should you Book an Airbnb or Hotel in Japan?

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.…

25 mins read
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Sapporo to Niseko by Train

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…

18 mins read
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8 Best Japanese Ski Brands

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…

12 mins read
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Is Arashiyama Worth Visiting?

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…

17 mins read
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Is Hiroshima Worth Visiting?

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…

15 mins read

18 Reasons Why Japan is So Photogenic

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…

22 mins read
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Why is Japan so good at Horror?

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…

11 mins read
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12 Reasons Why I Love Japan

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,…

19 mins read

10 Ways Living in Japan Changes You

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…

14 mins read

Living in the US vs Japan: Which is Better?

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…

36 mins read

33 Pros and Cons of Living in Japan

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…

45 mins read
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Is Kawaguchiko Worth Visiting?

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…

14 mins read
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Halloween in Shibuya: Is it worth visiting?

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…

12 mins read
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12 Things You Should Do After Landing in Tokyo

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…

18 mins read
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20 Things to Do in Tokyo in the Morning

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…

24 mins read
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Oshino Hakkai: Japan’s Crystal Clear Pools

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…

19 mins read
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Yanaka Ginza: A Slice of Old Tokyo

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…

15 mins read
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The Complete Guide to Radio Kaikan

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…

27 mins read
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Why is Japan So Good at Baseball?

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…

22 mins read

The Japan Vacation Budget Calculator

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,…

27 mins read
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Hakone vs Nikko: Which Should You Visit?

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.…

39 mins read
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Is Nikko Worth Visiting?

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…

32 mins read
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13 Things to Know Before Boarding Japan’s Shinkansen

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…

28 mins read
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23 Books Set in Japan You Need to Read.

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…

33 mins read
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Shinkansen vs Plane: Which Should You Choose?

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…

23 mins read
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Is Miyajima Worth Visiting?

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…

22 mins read

Quiz: Where Should You Visit in Japan?

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…

19 mins read
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Is Nara Worth Visiting?

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…

24 mins read
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Why is Japan Perceived as Weird?

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…

21 mins read
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Can You Travel Japan Without a Plan? Absolutely!

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?…

39 mins read

10 Ways to Survive Japan Without Japanese

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…

40 mins read

Living in the UK vs Japan: Which is Better?

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…

42 mins read

Quiz: Should You Move to Japan?

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…

15 mins read

20 Ways You Can Make Extra Money While Living in Japan

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…

44 mins read
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The Ultimate 2-Day Hiroshima Itinerary

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…

36 mins read
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Is Osaka Castle Worth Visiting?

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…

14 mins read
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Nakano Broadway: Is It Worth Visiting?

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…

16 mins read
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