Luggage Delivery in Japan: How to Send Bags Between Hotels & AirportsNew!!
Traveling around Japan with a large suitcase can be exhausting. Whether you are taking the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto, navigating busy train stations, or sightseeing after checking out of your hotel, heavy luggage can make your trip less enjoyable. For practical advice on navigating stations and rail journeys, see our How to Use Trains […]
How to Use an Onsen in Japan: Bathing Etiquette, Private Baths & 5 Famous Hot Spring DestinationsNew!!
Japan's hot springs, known as onsen, are much more than places to take a bath. They offer a chance to relax, appreciate nature, and experience one of Japan's most distinctive cultural traditions. From open-air baths surrounded by mountains to historic hot spring towns and unusual sand baths, Japan offers an extraordinary variety of onsen experiences. […]
Japanese Breakfast in Japan: What to Eat and Where to Try ItNew!!
What comes to mind when you think of a Japanese breakfast? Steamed white rice, miso soup, grilled fish, and tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelet) are familiar elements of a traditional Japanese breakfast. Small dishes arranged around a bowl of rice create one of Japan's most recognizable food traditions. But breakfast in modern Japan is much more […]
How to Visit a Hospital or Clinic in Japan: A Guide for TouristsNew!!
Feeling sick or getting injured during a trip to Japan can be stressful, especially when you are unfamiliar with the country's healthcare system. Do you need an appointment? Will the staff speak English? What should you bring, and how much will treatment cost? This step-by-step guide explains how international visitors can visit a hospital or […]
Akihabara for Beginners: Discover Tokyo's Anime and Otaku CultureNew!!
Step outside Akihabara Station in Tokyo, and you will find yourself surrounded by colorful anime billboards, electronics stores, game arcades, and shops filled with character figures and collectibles. But what if you are not a dedicated anime fan? What if you have heard about Japan's otaku culture but have no idea where to start? The […]
How to Use Chopsticks in Japan: A Beginner’s Guide to Holding Them and Dining EtiquetteNew!!
During a trip to Japan, you will encounter chopsticks in many places, from ramen shops and soba restaurants to traditional Japanese restaurants and izakaya pubs. Chopsticks are one of the most recognizable parts of Japanese food culture. But if you have never used them before, picking up food with two slender sticks may feel surprisingly […]
Japanese 100-Yen Shops: What to Buy, How They Work, and Why They're Worth VisitingNew!!
While traveling around Japan, you may notice stores with names such as DAISO, Seria, and Can★Do. These are known as 100-yen shops, a popular part of everyday shopping in Japan. They sell a surprisingly wide variety of products, including stationery, kitchen tools, storage containers, cleaning supplies, and everyday essentials. But their appeal goes beyond low […]
Yakiimo in Japan: Discover the Sweet, Warm Comfort of Japanese Roasted Sweet PotatoesNew!!
When traveling around Japan in autumn or winter, you might notice warm roasted sweet potatoes for sale at supermarkets, specialty shops, or street stalls. They are called yakiimo (焼き芋), a simple Japanese treat made by slowly roasting sweet potatoes. There is usually no need for sugar, syrup, or cream. Just a sweet potato, carefully cooked […]
Japanese Fireworks Festivals: A Year-Round Guide to Hanabi in JapanNew!!
If you are planning a trip to Japan, watching a fireworks festival could become one of your most memorable experiences. Fireworks are called hanabi (花火) in Japanese, literally meaning "fire flowers." Imagine brilliant colors spreading across the night sky, powerful sounds echoing over a river or lake, and crowds gathering to enjoy a special evening […]
Japanese Vending Machines & Canned Coffee: A Small Taste of Everyday JapanNew!!
Many travelers visit Japan looking forward to sushi, ramen, temples, shrines, and cherry blossoms. But some of Japan's most interesting experiences are hidden in everyday life. Even an ordinary vending machine on a street corner can offer a small cultural discovery. As you explore Japan, you may notice drink vending machines near train stations, in […]