Food & Culture
Bonsai Styles: How to Recognise and Train the Traditional Tree Shapes
In this article: Why Bonsai Styles Matter A bonsai is not a small tree pruned at random. It is a deliberate composition,...
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In-depth guides, local insights, and practical tips from our team on the ground in Japan.
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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Food & Culture
Osaka Food: A Guide to Dotonbori Street Snacks and the City’s Best Eating
In this article: Why Osaka Lives to Eat Osaka’s relationship with food is different from the rest of Japan’s, and the city...
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Food & Culture
Shinjuku’s Omoide Yokocho: How to Eat, Drink, and Behave in the Memory Lane Alleys
In this article: The History of Omoide Yokocho Omoide Yokocho — the name means “Memory Lane” — is a cluster of cramped...
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Travel Tips
How to Order Food in Japan: A Practical Guide from Entering to Paying
In this article: Entering and Being Seated The moment you step into a Japanese restaurant, a small choreography begins, and knowing the...
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Japan Destinations
Harajuku: From Kawaii Street Fashion to the Quiet Luxury of Omotesando
In this article: The Fashion That Made Harajuku Famous Harajuku is the neighbourhood that taught the world how Tokyo’s young people dress,...
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Food & Culture
Torii Gates in Japan: What They Mean, How to Read Them, and Five Worth Traveling For
In this article: What a Torii Gate Actually Marks A torii is a threshold. When you walk under one, you are crossing...
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Japan Destinations
Shin-Okubo: A Guide to Tokyo’s Korea Town, From K-BBQ to the Backstreets
In this article: What Shin-Okubo Is and How It Got Here Shin-Okubo is Tokyo’s Korea Town: a few hundred metres of streets...
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Planning Your Trip
Tax-Free Shopping in Japan: How the System Works, What’s Changing, and How to Claim Your Refund
In this article: How Japan’s Consumption Tax and Tax-Free System Work Japan charges a consumption tax on almost everything you buy, and...
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