Experiences
Japanese Tea Ceremony Etiquette: A Beginner’s Guide to Being a Good Guest
In this article: The Spirit Behind the Ceremony Before the rules, the point. The Japanese tea ceremony — chado or sado, the...
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In-depth guides and local insights from our team in Japan.
Experiences
Geisha in Kyoto: How to See Geiko and Maiko Respectfully, and What’s Real
In this article: Geiko, Maiko, and What the Words Mean Start with the vocabulary, because in Kyoto the word “geisha” is not...
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Experiences
Zazen: A Beginner’s Guide to Zen Meditation and Temple Etiquette in Japan
In this article: What Zazen Actually Is Zazen, which translates roughly as “seated meditation,” is the core practice of Zen Buddhism. It...
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Experiences
How to Play Pachinko: A First-Timer’s Guide to Japan’s Strangest Pastime
In this article: What Pachinko Actually Is Pachinko is a Japanese game that sits somewhere between a vertical pinball machine and a...
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Experiences
Tokyo Photography Tour: The Best Spots, Times, and How to Capture the City
In this article: Introduction Tokyo is one of the world’s great photography cities — not because it has the most dramatic natural...
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Experiences
Shibuya Bar Crawl: The Best Bars and Neighborhoods for a Tokyo Night Out
In this article: Introduction Shibuya is where Tokyo’s contemporary culture concentrates — music, fashion, youth culture, and the particular energy that comes...
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Experiences
Geisha Dinner in Tokyo: What a Private Ryotei Evening Actually Involves
In this article: Introduction A geisha dinner — an evening at a traditional Japanese ryotei with geisha entertainment — is one of...
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Experiences
Bonsai Workshop in Tokyo: Learning from a Master and Taking Your Tree Home
In this article: Introduction Bonsai is misunderstood outside Japan in a specific way: it’s treated as a product — a small, shaped...
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Experiences
Zen Meditation in Tokyo: Where to Practice and What to Expect
In this article: Introduction Zazen — seated Zen meditation — is not a relaxation practice. It’s a discipline. The posture is precise....
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