Food & Restaurants
Hokkaido Food Guide: Seafood, Soup Curry, Ramen, Crab and Dairy Delights
Hokkaido is Japan's most exciting food destination — home to Sapporo-style miso ramen, soup curry, Genghis Khan grilled lamb, the freshest seafood…
Akita
Nyuto Onsen Guide: Akita’s Remote Mountain Hot Spring Paradise in the Heart of Tohoku
Nyuto Onsen is a cluster of seven historic ryokan inns scattered through the beech forests of Akita in northern Tohoku, where milky…
Hidden Gems
Shiretoko National Park: Exploring Japan’s Last Great Wilderness in Hokkaido
Shiretoko is Japan's last great wilderness — a remote UNESCO World Heritage peninsula in northeast Hokkaido where brown bears outnumber tourists, sea…
Culture & Customs
Hiraizumi Guide: Iwate’s UNESCO World Heritage Temples and the Golden Hall of the Northern Fujiwara
Hiraizumi in Iwate Prefecture is one of Japan's most surprising hidden treasures — a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring the dazzling 12th-century…
Culture & Customs
Aizu-Wakamatsu Travel Guide: Samurai History, Sake and Feudal Japan in Fukushima
Aizu-Wakamatsu in Fukushima Prefecture is one of Japan's most historically compelling cities — home to the stunning red-roofed Tsurugajo Castle, the moving…
Aomori
Oirase Gorge Complete Guide: Aomori’s Stunning Autumn Forest Stream Walk
Oirase Gorge in Aomori Prefecture is one of Japan's most spectacular natural landscapes — a 14-kilometer forested ravine carved by the crystal-clear…
Culture & Customs
Kakunodate Travel Guide: Japan’s Best-Preserved Samurai District in Akita, Tohoku
Kakunodate is one of Japan's most perfectly preserved samurai towns, tucked into the mountains of Akita Prefecture in the Tohoku region. This…
Aomori
Hirosaki Castle Guide: Japan’s Most Beautiful Cherry Blossom Spot in Aomori
Discover Hirosaki Castle in Aomori — home to 2,600 cherry trees, one of Japan's 12 original castle towers, and the famous hanaikada…
Culture & Customs
Ginzan Onsen Guide: Yamagata’s Fairy-Tale Snow Village and Japan’s Most Photogenic Hot Spring Town
Ginzan Onsen in Yamagata Prefecture is one of Japan's most beautiful and atmospheric destinations. This fairy-tale village of historic wooden ryokan, gas…
Culture & Customs
Noboribetsu Onsen Guide: Hokkaido’s Most Famous Hot Spring Resort
Discover Noboribetsu Onsen, Hokkaido's most famous hot spring resort. This complete guide covers the nine spring types, Jigokudani Hell Valley, the best…
