All About Japan

How to Ninja-Proof Your Castle

Ninja and other assassins were a serious problem for high-ranking officials and royalty back in the day. Here we take a look at how they managed to thwart these silent killers.

Riding the Rails from Top to Bottom

You'll never believe how long it takes to travel from the northernmost Shinkansen station to the one furthest south.

Amazing Aerial Video of Western Japan

Discover Western Japan as you have never seen it before from a breathtaking birds-eye view!

4 Phrases to Help You Speak 'Kansai-Ben'

Speak like a local in Osaka, Kyoto or Kobe with these four simple phrases from the Kansai Dialect.

How to Enjoy Studying Abroad in Japan

Follow this dancing girl all through her amazing study abroad experience in Japan, and be sure to watch for some stunning respect from a well-antlered deer!

Top 5 Sakura-Viewing Sites in Osaka

From castles to riverbanks, Osaka has some amazing spots for viewing cherry blossoms with your friends and family. Check out these sites during your next visit!

Tour Ise-Shima with the KINTETSU RAIL PASS

While the Ise-Shima area is best known for Ise Jingu, the area also offers picturesque scenery and gourmet food. And you can access this resort region easily from Osaka using the KINTETSU RAIL PASS!

4 Purrfect Kansai Cat Cafés

Tired of running around, trying to see all the beautiful temples and castles in the Kansai area? Recharge your batteries at a cozy cat café!

Five Days in Kansai

Take a graphics-enhanced tour of Nara, Kyoto and Osaka!

The 11 Spookiest Spots in Japan

Whether they’re haunted, abandoned or just plain old creepy, these spots will definitely show you a chilly side of Japan you may never yet have known.

Fear the Ninjaguar!

Ninjaguar battles evil spirits in the night, defending the Shiga Prefecture town of Shigaraki as its citizens sleep.

Himeji Castle Reborn

In March 2015, Himeji Castle completed its first major renovation in 50 years, leading it to be reborn in resplendent white befitting of the "White Heron Castle."

5 Tasty 'Omiyage' Worth Lining Up For

Orderly lines outside everything from chic coffee shops to blue-collar ramen shops are a common sight in Japan, and food-based specialty 'omiyage' (souvenir) stores are no different. But are these snacks really worth lining up for?

7 Great Train Passes to Save Money on Transit

There are a number of passes you can buy to get unlimited transit in popular tourist areas. Here are seven great picks, with a focus on the Tokyo and Kyoto areas!

47 Souvenirs from All 47 Prefectures!

Traveling around Japan but don't know what souvenir to buy from each region? We've got you covered with this crazy list of our Top 47 'omiyage' from each of the nation's 47 prefectures!

Visiting 5 Landmarks of Haruki Murakami

Explore five Hanshin-area locations that appear as settings in Haruki Murakami's novels, as well as the landmarks of his life.

Take Home Historical Memories from Nara

Win friends and score brownie points with your family by giving them these souvenirs from Nara as gifts!

Top 10 Cheap Activities In Osaka

A city with a long history as a merchant center, Osaka has a bit of a reputation for wheeling and dealing. So it's only natural that there would be plenty of cheap things to do in the city!

Full List: Japan’s UNESCO Shrines & Temples!

Japan is home to thousands of historic shrines and temples, and a good few of them are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A visit to just one can give insight into Japanese culture.

Sssssip With Care At These 4 Reptile Cafés!

In a country where sipping tea with cats and boozing it up with penguins aren’t (so) out of the ordinary, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that coffee with reptiles is also now an option.

know-before-you-go