Your complete guide to traveling in Japan
Discover the best travel guides, tips, and experiences
Japan often gets flagged as a high-cost destination in the travel world—a final boss that many budget travelers feel unprepared to face. But after spending...
As I stood in the shadow of Matsumoto Castle's imposing black walls, a gentle autumn breeze carried the scent of roasting chestnuts from a nearby...
Standing at the crossroads of Dotonbori, where centuries-old culinary traditions collide with hyper-modern neon spectacle, I found myself mesmerized by the architectural dialogue playing out...
After decades of tracking down missing persons across America, I've developed a knack for finding things others overlook. Perhaps that's why Okinawa's hidden beaches called...
Standing at the edge of Lake Ashi, watching the morning mist dance across the surface while Mount Fuji's perfect silhouette emerges from the clouds, I...
The first time I stepped off the train at Shibuya Station, I felt like I'd been tossed into a human-sized pot of boiling water—chaotic, overwhelming,...
Standing at the iconic Shibuya Crossing as thousands of people surged past me in perfect choreographed chaos, I experienced that rare moment when reality exceeds...
The morning mist clung to the ancient cedars as I made my way up the stone pathway, camera in hand, breath visible in the crisp...
There's something profoundly humbling about standing before the vermillion gates of Nikko's Toshogu Shrine at dawn, knowing that within four weeks, you'll be capturing the...
My first encounter with Tokyo's legendary metro system was both exhilarating and overwhelming—a labyrinth of color-coded lines, Japanese characters, and the most punctual trains I've...
Tokyo hit me like a sensory tsunami the moment I stepped off the plane—a captivating chaos of neon lights, impeccable street style, and convenience stores...
There's something profoundly humbling about standing before Mount Fuji for the first time. This perfect volcanic cone has captivated artists, poets, and now photographers for...
As someone who's spent the better part of two decades exploring the architectural wonders of our world, I've developed a particular fondness for destinations that...
The first time I stepped into a Tokyo izakaya, I was completely lost. The cacophony of Japanese conversations, the smoke-tinged air, and menu items I...
When I traded my correctional officer uniform for travel clothes last fall, I never expected to find myself deep-diving into the tech ecosystems of Asia's...
When my husband's medical conference in Tokyo wrapped up last fall, I seized the opportunity to extend our Japan trip with a solo adventure to...
There's something magical about Yokohama during cherry blossom season that takes me back to my first visit six years ago. Japan's second-largest city offers this...
The first time I stepped into Shinjuku Station after a twelve-year absence from my father's homeland, I felt simultaneously at home and utterly bewildered. The...
When I first visited Nara six years ago, I made the classic mistake of treating it as a hasty day trip from Kyoto. This time,...
When most travelers think of Nara, Japan, they immediately picture the famous bowing deer of Nara Park. While these adorable creatures are absolutely worth meeting...