Japan

Japan’s spirituality is deeply connected to nature, tradition, and quiet reverence. Among the most iconic cultural sites are its many shrines. These sacred places are not just tourist stops. They offer a chance to witness rituals, observe architecture, and understand centuries-old beliefs in a living form. Travelers using an esim for Japan travel can easily…

I’m running around the large room yelling “fish, fish, fish” as the clock is ticking. There’s a dog collar hugging my neck, connected to a small box that, when triggered, threatens to prod me with an electric shock. No, I haven’t been cast in the next Saw movie. This is Immersive Fort, a new Tokyo…

In 2017, aspiring Japanese journalist Shiori Ito went public with the allegation that powerful, and high-profile Washington Bureau Chief of TBS TV station in Tokyo, Noriyuki Yamaguchi, had drugged and raped her after he invited her out to dinner. Yamaguchi was a well-known presence on TV with ties to some of the most powerful people…

If you’re Australian, you know those cute fish-shaped bottles of soy sauce you get with your salmon sushi roll– red cap, white bottle, maybe you even use the tail as a scoop for the wasabi. Google says that they were invented in 2008 by “Little Soya” in the US, but that’s a smokescreen. In fact,…

Ready to explore a new corner of Japan? Or looking to elevate your next Japanese holiday? Discover a side of the country that’s still very much a local secret and take a look at how we spent a few days in Japan’s first national park, Unzen Onsen. Nestled in the heart of Nagasaki Prefecture, Unzen…

Unzen Amakusa National Park is Japan’s oldest national park. While its legacy has had far-reaching international influence, the park still feels like one of Japan’s best-kept local secrets. At the middle of it all is Unzen Onsen, an onsen town home to a landscape of rugged hiking trails, steaming volcanoes, lush forests, and some of…

Tokyo is a mecca for all things delicious, yet if you venture further afield you will discover even more to tantalise your tastebuds. With Japan gradually reopening its borders (guided tours have been available since 10th June 2022), it’s time to get one’s winter holiday planning underway in time for unrestricted travel for Australian visitors….

In recent times, seeing some of the world’s finest pieces of art in the flesh has been impossible. However, you can still travel to Japan (virtually), thanks to the ‘Japan Cultural Expo VIRTUAL PLATFORM’, a platform that will change how we experience the country’s fascinating art scene. This new platform is – as its name…

The creator of the 2020 Olympic/Paralympic centrepiece is building stylish public toilets and looking at the city like a cat. With the Olympics and Paralympics proving a welcome distraction from the current issues impacting our daily lives right now, Kengo Kuma, is a man you should know. He’s the Japanese architectural icon behind the Japan…

Tokyo and all of its food, culture, nightlife and more can be challenging to explore on your own. And if you’re a traveller passing through, there’s also the added pressure of wanting to maximise each moment of your limited time in the big city. Local guides are a great way to experience immersive travelling. Tours…

It’s not often that pebbles and rocks are the main feature of an attraction, but here in Oya, the proverbial gold really does lie at one’s feet. Oya, known as “Stone City”, sits on the fringe of Utsunomiya. This low-key town has seen a small resurgence in popularity, with a number of modern cafes and…

Business hotels are one of the most common types of hotels available across Japan, offering no-frills accommodation with a very affordable price tag. But not all business hotels are created equal, and the hotel boom in Japan has left tourists spoiled for choice, with some now offering a few exciting features. JR-East Hotel Mets Utsunomiya…

Many travelling to Japan may have heard of or been to Nikko, but just an hour south by car lies the prefectural capital city, Utsunomiya. Also within the “Strawberry Kingdom” of Tochigi Prefecture, Utsunomiya offers small city vibes, cultural sights, and as many delicious gyoza as your stomach can handle. Getting there Travel to Utsunomiya…

The mountainous terrain of Japan means nature lovers are spoiled for choice when it comes to trekking. Simply embark on a short one hour train, nature-bound and watch the transformation of metropolitan Tokyo to scenic and serene inaka (Japanese for rural countryside). Even if you’re only traveller passing through, I encourage you to block out…

Now that it’s coming into spring in Japan, the days are getting longer, the sun is somehow shining a little brighter, and the cherry blossoms are about to bloom; in short, it’s the best time of year to be in Japan. Unfortunately, because of ‘you know what’ popping over to Japan for a cheeky visit…

Japan is a nation well known for its far-reaching history and passion for keeping culture and traditions alive. From the ancient tea houses of Kyoto to the quaint building styles of Gifu’s Shirakawago, you can practically read the history of the nation through its architecture and city design. One of the more elusive forms of…

When first-time tourists visit Japan, they often take such a well-trodden route that it has a nickname within the Japanese tourism circles. Known in the industry as ‘the golden route,’ this commonly explore circuit travels from Tokyo to Osaka and Kyoto and often Hiroshima. While it’s a stunning and undeniably rewarding path to take, the…

Famous for powder soft snow and fun-tastic slopes, Hokkaido is at the top of most Aussies’ summer travel list. Swapping out thongs for ski boots, it’s common for top ski resort areas like Niseko to turn into mini Australian villages with the sheer influx of tourists. But Hokkaido, technically a prefecture, is home to many…

Many traditional dishes born in Japan’s formative Edo Period still endear in the country today. And they’re found everywhere, like on the central coast of Honshu Island in the historic Ishikawa Prefecture where Japan’s culinary arts are spread from Michelin-starred ryokans to 300-year old food markets. Where better to look for a recipe close to…

One of the absolute highlights of the live music scene in Australia in 2018 was catching Rackett. Their high-energy glam punk rock was incredibly great fun. It was always a night of immense passion, great musicianship, and total commitment. At the core was their lead singer Bec Callender, the driving force behind the band. A…

According to Japan’s tourism organisation, JNTO, Australians were the highest spending tourists in Japan in 2018, dropping an average of 242,050 yen per person (or AUD $3,075) per visit. After 2020, Japan is expected to hit 40 million annual tourists, so we can only expect that number to grow. Us Aussies love to spend in…

Japan is about to get its very first hotel from renowned brand Amari, coming in the form of a 126-room resort nestled in the heart of ski-haven Niseko. Announced today, ONYX Hospitality Group will be opening Amari Niseko in 2024 as part of mixed-use development Aruku-zaka Street, designed to complement the Hirafu area’s unique character…

Melbourne’s legendary songwriter Grand Salvo is making his way around Japan this week, and is teaming up with Tokyo-based music promoter Vaughan as part of part of his ongoing campaign to introduce some of Australia’s greatest talents to his adopted home. With Vaughan a frequent presence in Japan’s music scene, the multi-disciplinarian, and music promoter…

Those who have been to Tokyo before would know that the immense Japanese capital has two airports; one more convenient than the other. Narita, probably the best known and most frequented, is furthest from the city, while Haneda is highly sought by visitors as the most convenient of the two. This is largely due to…

Japan’s largest five-star airline All Nippon Airways (ANA) has today launched their largest sale throughout Asia and Australia to date, greatly reducing prices for flights from 17 different cities to Japan. Aussies who have been enjoying greater access to Japan for the past few years, now have a better chance than ever at heading to…

You know Sunnyside, right? The Melbourne six-piece that bring all kinds of funk and jazz wherever they go, slithering through the pits of sweaty nightclubs and steamy jazz clubs with misshaped textures and hypnotic time signatures. Yeah, those are the guys. And they’re about to make their exciting debut in Japan, heading on over to…

Tokyo may be one of the most popular travel destinations for Aussies right now, but it doesn’t necessarily have a reputation for being a “digital nomad” city. Given that space is a premium, language barriers still very much exist, and Japan’s love of rules and paperwork, it’s a reputation that in the past has been…

It’s an outrageous understatement to say that Japan is a country full of natural diversity. From the snow-capped peaks of Hokkaido’s mountains to the tropical islands of Okinawa, for a nation whose landmass is relatively humble, it doesn’t matter how many times you visit, there will always be something new to discover. Case in point…

When I think about taking a budget flight, I tend to fly for a maximum of 4 hours – about the length of a flight from Perth to Sydney. Anything longer than that and I’d never think twice about flying any budget carrier. But I had a 7 hour flight from Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo…

Kyushu, the southern island of Japan is an excellent destination for tourists who’ve had their fix of Honshu (mainland Japan) and are seeking something a bit more local. Oita is a prefecture within Kyushu that is rarely referenced by travellers outside those who chase onsens, and although that may be a selling point, there are…