Travel
“Overtourism” is the keyword for Japan in 2024. With the country fully open and seemingly everyone fulfilling their travel bucket list by heading to the Land of the Rising Sun, popular tourist spots, like Kyoto, are getting pretty crowded. While you could visit beautiful yet out-of-the-way, less popular destinations instead, many tourists wouldn’t dare miss a chance to hike Mount Fuji, Japan’s most famous icon. While there are alreadyplenty of things to keep in mind when planning your Fuji expedition (especially if you’re a first-time Fuji climber), you’ll now have to remember new fees and rul...
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For many visitors to Japan, where ancient traditions harmonize with modern lifestyles, there lies a definitive Japanese experience: The onsen (hot springs). These natural hot springs, praised for their stimulating properties and serene ambiance, beckon travelers to immerse themselves in soothing waters. Yet, it can quickly fade into disappointment for many visitors with tattoos. Despite tattoos not being outright illegal, there is a cultural barrier associated with a criminal history, often barring those with ink from entry into onsen and sento (community bathhouses). Bathhouses in Japan are t...
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Osaka is known for many things that set it apart from other big cities in Japan, with diverse neighborhoods to explore. While common threads like mouth-watering street food and friendly residents are all over Osaka, each area is unmistakably unique. One moment you could be roaming through a modern metropolis, and the next, you feel like you’ve stepped back into the past. Sometimes you might even be caught in the middle of both at once. Osaka Bay has Universal Studios. Morinomiya is where the elegant Osaka Castle resides, surrounded by a lush garden and park. Nakazakicho is a bohemian sanctuary...
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Since Chinese immigrants first modified their noodles for Japanese locals in Yokohama Chinatown in the early 20th century, ramen has spread throughout Japan, with each area changing it to suit local tastes. This has given us the basic soups of shoyu (soy sauce), shio (salt), miso and tonkotsu (pork bones), plus all manner of variations, from toppings to the consistency of the noodles themselves, While local varieties have become popular nationwide, like Tokyo’s shoyu, Sapporo’s miso and Fukuoka’s tonkotsu “Hakata ramen,” there’s a lot more out there. And while you might find a shop serving reg...
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Universal Studios Japan is the city of Osaka’s fun answer to Tokyo Disney Resort. Here, you’ll find the first Super Nintendo World, the world’s last surviving Jaws attraction, and plenty of other lands and rides themed to Universal movie properties like Minions, Harry Potter and Jurassic Park. This is a theme park with some serious roller coasters and a vibe that’s more thrilling and adult-oriented, though there are still kid-friendly areas like Wonderland, with its Snoopy, Hello Kitty and Sesame Street zones. Here are five things to know before you go. 1. Certain rides are exclusive to Univer...
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At portent times such as the new year, Japanese people often wait in long lines at shrines to draw a special kind of fortune known as an omikuji (御神籤). In the past before significant events, lots would be drawn to determine whether the venture would be blessed by the spirits. The final part of the word, kuji meaning a lottery, is apt as omikuji involves drawing a numbered stick from a container. The number refers to the fortune you will be given and how much luck you will receive. These days, other styles also exist, ranging from the relatively common pulling a folded piece of paper from a con...
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It has been a hard time for entertainment as COVID-19 restrictions and economic slowdown have meant that people simply aren’t visiting events in the numbers required. Previously, we looked at attractions no longer around, such as the projects at Palette Town. Still, we wanted to revisit the topic and look at popular events that have disappeared or whose days are numbered. While there is always hope that these events and hot spots might come back one day, let’s pour one out for these unique experiences of Japan that are long gone. 1. Shinjuku’s Robot RestaurantRobot Cafe was formerly one of Tok...
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Driving in Japan is one of the best ways to visit places off the beaten track. Even with Japan’s great public transport, some places are only accessible by car. Renting a car in another country is no walk in the park. You need to consider where to get the car, whether your license will work and a few other things. Not to mention remembering to drive on the left! Not to worry, here we’ll outline all the basics you need to know forrenting a car in Japan so you can do all the exploring your heart desires. License and registrationOne thing that you need to think about before you even leave for Jap...
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The Tokyo DisneySea Hotel Miracosta is currently the world’s only hotel inside a Disney theme park. There are twelve international Disney parks and many more official and unofficial hotels. Still, the Miracosta is uniquely positioned inside the ticket gates at Tokyo DisneySea. You’ll pass through a tunnel right under it on your way into the park’s central harbor from the entrance plaza, where the fountain globe, the Aquasphere, acts as a popular photo op. With Japan’s borders now reopened to individual foreign tourists, here’s what to expect if you’re thinking about booking your own stay on-si...
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Kanazawa is the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan’s Chubu region. A port town on the Sea of Japan, Kanazawa is famously known among the Japanese population as a destination rich with history, culture and—quite literally—gold. The name Kanazawa means “marsh of gold,” a moniker stemming from local legends of gold flakes in the region’s springs. Visitors are drawn to Kanazawa by its beautiful castle remains and the lush Kenrokuen, one of Japan’s “Three Great Gardens.” The city also has a pristine, well-preserved samurai district—former residences of the nobles who once strolled the city’s s...
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