Food & Culture
Tatami Mats and the Japanese Room: History, Craft, and How to Behave on Them
In this article: What a Tatami Mat Actually Is A tatami mat is a thick, firm floor mat made from natural materials,...
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In-depth guides, local insights, and practical tips from our team on the ground in Japan.
Food & Culture
Nishiki Market: A Guide to Kyoto’s Kitchen, What to Eat, and How to Visit Well
In this article: What Nishiki Market Is Nishiki Market is a covered shopping street in central Kyoto, five blocks long and barely...
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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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Japan Destinations
Japan’s Art Islands: A Guide to Naoshima, Teshima, and the Setouchi Sea
In this article: How the Seto Inland Sea Became an Art Destination Naoshima: Museums and Outdoor Art Naoshima’s Villages and Art Houses...
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Travel Tips
Interesting Facts About Japan: Culture, Food, and Daily Life That Surprise Visitors
In this article: Geography and Deep History Japan is older and stranger than its neon image suggests. Before you get to the...
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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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Food & Culture
Izakaya Tour Tokyo: How to Eat and Drink Like a Local
In this article: Introduction The izakaya — Japan’s informal drinking establishment, closer in character to a British pub than a restaurant —...
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Japan Destinations
Asakusa Walking Tour: Senso-ji, the Old City, and What Most Visitors Miss
In this article: Introduction Asakusa is one of Tokyo’s most visited neighborhoods, and most visitors see the same one-hour version of it:...
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