Exploring Japan one destination at a time
Everyone told me to skip Japan in June. Even my own wife. The first time I went during tsuyu, I’d booked the trip months earlier without realising. People warned me to push the dates, particularly the second half of June when tsuyu hits its peak. I didn’t budge. And it ended up being one of … Read more
If you’ve just landed in Tokyo and your eyes are already watering, or you’re about to fly in and wondering why everyone’s wearing masks, welcome to kafunshō season (花粉症). Hay fever in Japan is serious business. It affects roughly 40% of the population, and plenty of unsuspecting tourists get caught out every year. This guide … Read more
Japan’s Greatest Convenience Food (And Why You Need to Try One) I must have eaten hundreds of onigiri over the years. Maybe thousands. And I’m not even slightly embarrassed about that. My personal ritual? Two onigiri and a cold beer on any long train journey. Every single trip, without fail. This particular photo below was … Read more
15–17 May 2026 | Asakusa, Tokyo | Free entry Two million people. A hundred portable shrines. Taiko drums you can feel in your chest. And a crowd that’s about as local as Tokyo gets. Sanja Matsuri is held every May in Asakusa, and it’s unlike any other festival in Japan. It’s loud, it’s physical, and … Read more
A few months back I was at a tiny gyoza restaurant in Yokohama, proudly ordered my food, when the waitress asked me something. She was standing there clearly waiting for an answer. I smiled and nodded (classic) but she asked again and again… I tried to work it out without reaching for my phone, my … Read more
Planning to be in Japan over Easter? Here’s the short version: Japan doesn’t really do Easter. No long weekend, no hot cross buns at every bakery, and you won’t find supermarket shelves stacked with foil eggs. But it’s not a complete chocolate wasteland if you know where to look. Easter Is Not a Public Holiday … Read more
Best late-blooming Sakura Spots in Japan if you have missed sakura in Tokyo If you’re in Japan in April and worried you’ve missed cherry blossom season, you haven’t. Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka peak early. But sakura moves north and into higher elevations, which means there are still places in full bloom, more coming into peak, … Read more
Cherry Blossom Season in Tokyo with Kids Cherry blossom season in Tokyo is genuinely one of the most spectacular things you can witness in Japan. Pink clouds of sakura, people picnicking under the trees, convenience store shelves stacked with cherry blossom snacks – it’s hard not to fall in love with it. If you’re planning … Read more
My very first hanami was at night. I was walking along the Meguro River in Tokyo, hundreds of paper lanterns, thousands of people, cherry blossoms glowing pink overhead, canal reflections shimmering below. Food stalls everywhere. People were laughing, eating, drinking, taking photos. I had no idea what I was experiencing had a specific name. Years … Read more
Cherry blossom season in Japan is a wonderful experience for the whole family. The colours, the atmosphere, the feeling that the whole country has stopped to notice something beautiful together. Kids can absolutely feel that magic too. But let’s be real about what hanami with children actually looks like. It looks like more snacks than … Read more