All About Japan

AKITA

Top 10 Castles in Tohoku

Spared many of the fierce territorial battles of the Warring States Period, the castles of northeastern Japan are a little different from those you'll find to the south and west.

Top 7 Weirdest Festivals Across Japan

While it's estimated there are 600,000 festivals in Japan, some are decidedly weirder than others!

Sakura & Samurai Houses in Kakunodate

Check out one of the Three Famous Cherry Blossom Spots of Michinoku, including the centuries-old weeping cherry blossoms of Kakunodate's samurai district.

Japan's 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Every traveler to Japan should be sure to visit at least a few of the nation's stellar World Heritage Sites, ranging from 1,000-year-old temples and shrines to breathtaking natural biospheres.

The Oldest Beech Trees in Asia

With bright blue ponds and an 8,000-year-old biosphere, we invite you to witness the unspoiled splendor of one of Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Shirakami-Sanchi!

Discover the Beauty of Tohoku

Japan's northeastern Tohoku region offers the comforts of refreshing nature, beautiful scenery and time-tested traditions—concentrating the best of Japan into a single incredible area!

Super Cheap Japan's Top Fall Spots in Tohoku

Places in Tohoku can be quite spread out, so if you're traveling through a number of spots in the area, a train pass or bus pass is your best bet.

The Oldest Extant Wooden Theater in Japan

Come with us on a journey to Akita Prefecture to see an incredible wooden theater, the oldest one in existence in Japan.

How Akita Warms the Winter

See life in Akita through the eyes of elementary school students as this snowbound town prepares for its winter balloon festival. If you've ever lived in small-town Japan, we challenge you not to cry.

Japan's 3 Great 'Bon Odori' Dance Festivals

Summer is the season of the festival in Japan, and these three celebrations will have you literally dancing in the streets.

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!

Top-Notch Ryokan Puts All Others to Shame

This Japanese inn shows guests the true meaning of hospitality by coming out to greet you as you arrive and leaving a thank you note by your shoes when you leave.

8 Gorgeous Japanese Lantern Festivals

Japanese lantern festivals are held to ward off evil or send off the dead, or just to warm up a chilly winter.

Catch a Glimpse of Daily Life in Akita

Family and nature both feature prominently in this stirring glimpse of a day spent far away from the bright lights of Tokyo.

11 Record-Setting Sites in Japan

Venture out and discover these 11 spots that break records in Japan, from the tallest building to the deepest lake. Or how about the city that eats the most ice cream?!

The 5 Most Beautiful Villages in Tohoku

Check out Tohoku's most picturesque countryside towns.

All the Best Fall Color Spots in Tohoku

Check out these famous fall color spots and their nearby hot springs in each of northeastern Japan's six prefectures.

Tohoku's 3 Great Summer Festivals

Head to northern Japan this summer for huge glowing floats, giant poles covered in lanterns and streets festooned with positive wishes for the future.

15 Unique Festivals Only Found in Japan

There are a variety of interesting festivals in each prefecture of Japan throughout the year.

Top 9 Sakura Spots in Tohoku & Hokkaido

Since northern Japan gets its cherry blossoms later than the rest of the country, even if you've missed the first round of 'sakura' to the south, you can often catch late blooms in Tohoku and Hokkaido as late as the end of April or even early May.

know-before-you-go