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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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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
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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
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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

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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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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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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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
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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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Is Sapporo Worth Visiting?

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to go skiing in Niseko. It’s been a bucket list item of mine for many years now and it felt absolutely awesome to finally be able to tick it off! To get to Niseko,…

18 mins read
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Skiing on Mount Fuji is Possible.

Skiing is one of my top 3 favorite things to do in the world. Skiing in Japan is on another level entirely, and something I’m convinced the majority of my future ski seasons are going to consist of. However, while I pride…

9 mins read
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8 Cheap (and free!) Things to Do in Osaka

Japan is a flipping cool country. Whether you’re here for the food, the scenery, the pop culture, or any number of other things, we all share a love of this place together. You’ll probably agree with me then when I say it’s…

11 mins read
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Keitakuen Garden – The Best Park to Visit in Osaka

Osaka is an incredible city and one that should be on any first-time visitors’ itinerary. The atmosphere is laid back, the small backstreets are heaven for the intrepid explorer, and the whole place (especially Dontonbori) is a visual feast for the eyes!…

9 mins read
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5 relaxing spots in Tokyo

Tokyo got the best of you? In need of somewhere to relax in the big city? I've done the research to bring you the 5 best places to chill out or relax in Tokyo. Whether you're a solo traveller or with a…

19 mins read