Summers are hot and humid in Japan, and they’re not cooling down anytime soon, so this summer’s Heatwave Countermeasure Exhibition in Tokyo was the perfect place to admire the fashions of the future. Gathering from around Japan and the world, people from a variety…

Japan is a land of convenience, or convenience stores at least (let’s not mention the ongoing love of fax machines), and anywhere you look you’re likely to find a Seven-Eleven or Family Mart. A recent analysis revealed one very surprising fact when it came to…

The parfait might have originated across Europe and the United States, but in recent decades Japan has taken this classic treat and its simple layers to the next level. Order a parfait in Japan, and you might not recognize the sweet surprise that appears before you. You’ll probably get layers…

The Shrine of the Meiji Emperor Tokyo is a surprisingly grey city full of concrete office buildings, bustling crowds, and glass-lined highrises, and yet one of the most popular attractions at the heart of the city is actually nestled into a quiet urban forest. The Meiji Jingu Shrine takes up a surprisingly large chunk of the…

2023: Year of the Water Rabbit Were you born in the year of the dragon? Or maybe the rooster? Those with an interest in astrology might understand that we’re talking about the 12-year system of the “Chinese zodiac,” but did you know that this system is not only included in traditions spanning all throughout Asia…

New at the Sushi Shop: AI Tech Sushi has a long history, and in Japan the dishes haven’t changed all that much from what was eaten in the Edo period (1603–1868), but the restaurants serving the food have gotten some serious modern-day upgrades, now including artificial intelligence. Of course, for travelers visiting Japan, even common conveyor…

The Yokohama Air Cabin Head to a scenic mountainside, or hike your way to the base of one of Japan’s many volcanos, and it’s not uncommon to find a ropeway or cable car carrying sightseers slow and steady up an incline to enjoy the view. In the hilly Japanese countryside, tourists might expect…

After three years of closed borders, Japan is open again and ready to welcome back the world. But a lot has changed over this long interval, destinations have opened and closed, and a lot of pandemic habits are sticking around longer in Japan than elsewhere. If you’re heading to Japan…

Day 2 ・ In the Mountains: Exploring Jade Gorges & The UNESCO Global Geopark Onward from the pebbly beaches and precarious cliffs of Itoigawa’s coast, the second day brought us further inland, to hike into the jade realms of the mountains, and the core of the Itoigawa UNESCO Global Geopark. The Takanami-no-Ike Pond & Mount Myojo Campsite