All About Japan

All About Manneken Waffles

Love that fresh-baked-bread smell? In the Kansai area, you can savor the scent of freshly fried waffles at 18 train stations thanks to the famous Mannekin chain. Read on to learn all about these amazing waffles!

Limited-Edition Pringles with Japanese Flavors

Once you pop, the Japanese fun won't stop with these Pringles flavors that were inspired by popular dishes from Japan.

Top 20 Power Spots in Japan

Japan seems to be overflowing with so-called 'power spots.' Here are 20 of the best, many of them tied to mountain worship, ancient shrines, and the very origins of Japan.

Test Your Ninja Skills

For the first time ever, Koga City's ninja exam was held in Tokyo and test takers dressed in ninja cosplay to earn an extra 10 points on the exam.

A 13-Year-Old's Inspiring Community Bakery

To support their 13-year-old daughter living with a psychiatric disorder, one couple built the bakery of her dreams.

The 11 Cat Islands of Japan

If you are dying to see some kitties out in the wild, you'll want to stop by these islands that have cats galore!

Japan's 8 Best-Preserved Castle Towns

While some ancient castles may be hard to find in Japan today, many of their surrounding villages are still standing strong.

30 Spectacular Flower Spots in Japan

Seasonality is an important part of life in Japan, especially in spring. Flowers bloom throughout the country and create a colorful, unforgettable landscape for floral fans, nature enthusiasts and anyone in between!

Celebrating a 410-Year-Old Castle in Style

After watching this video, we are ready to pack our bags and head over to Hikone Castle to celebrate 410 years of history!

21 Top Spots Outside Japan's 'Golden Route'

Many tourists concentrate on the so-called 'Golden Route' connecting Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka. But what do you do if you want to get off the principal tourist highway and see the best of the rest? Here are Japan's 21 best off-the-Golden-Route spots!

12 Female Sake Brewers Concoct a Bold Project

As fewer than 50 sake breweries in Japan are female-owned, one crowdfunding project is offering a chance to sample brews from a dozen of them.

Take Your Prefectural Pride on the Road

These stylish license plates feature iconic imagery from prefectures throughout Japan, so you can show off your prefectural pride every time you hit the road!

Hikone Castle: A National Treasure at 410

2017 marks the 410th birthday of Hikone Castle, one of just 12 remaining original-construction castles in Japan. Join us as we take a look inside!

3 Pottery Trips from Japan's Biggest Cities

We've lined up three famous pottery towns that make easy day trips from Nagoya, Osaka or Tokyo.

Say Hello to Kansai's New Cup Noodle Factory

Nissin, manufacturer of Japan's original instant ramen, Cup Noodle, is opening a new, state-of-the-art factory in Shiga Prefecture

Great Kansai Craft Beer Breweries and Taprooms

The Kansai region of central Japan is enjoying a craft beer boom. Here is a six-pack selection of some of the best local breweries and taprooms.

13 Places to Go Canyoning in Japan

With so many rivers and mountains, Japan offers plenty of prime canyoning territory. Here are 13 great places to go canyoning in Japan!

5 Must-See Castles in Autumn

Japanese castles are great at any time of year, but these five truly shine in the fall!

3 Brilliant Beaches for a Lake Biwa Barbecue

Take your family out on a day trip to the beach for a relaxing BBQ on the shores of Lake Biwa, the largest natural lake in Japan. We've got three great options for you.

What Exactly Are Japanese Power Spots?

Heard the buzzword 'power spot' but not sure what it means exactly? We'll fill you in!

  • 1
  • 2
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1
  • 2
know-before-you-go