One Site, Five Islands: Booking Tokyo’s Izu Chain
Tokyo Islands Explorer, a multilingual booking platform for the Izu Islands, launched on July 9, 2026. The site combines accommodation, transportation, and island activities into a single booking.
The Rope Makers of Iinan: Crafting Izumo Taisha's Giant Shimenawa
In Iinan, Shimane Prefecture, artisans hand-craft the giant sacred rope for Izumo Taisha Shrine’s main hall. It is one of Japan’s largest shimenawa, remade roughly every seven years by a community that has done this work for generations.
The World’s First Pokémon Airport: Noto Satoyama Renamed for a Limited Time
Noto Satoyama Airport in Ishikawa Prefecture has become the world’s first airport to carry the Pokémon name, operating for a limited period as Noto Satoyama POKÉMON with YOU Airport.
Exploring Hokkaido on Wheels: Large Camper Van Rentals Now Available at New Chitose
Booking a hotel and following a fixed route is not the only way to see Hokkaido.
Getting Comfortable with the Elephant in the Room: Noboru Tsubaki at Towada Art Center
The lumpy head of a bright pink balloon elephant fills a room, its trunk stretching out the door. Facing it is a spinning wheel with thousands of opening and closing eyeballs. These are the creations of Noboru Tsubaki, a Japanese contemporary artist known since the 1980s for his massive sculptures that look at today’s world through a surreal lens.
Built Without a Nail: A New Home for Kumiko Opens in Toyama
Thin strips of wood, joined by hand into geometric patterns and held together without using a single nail—Toyama’s newest cultural space puts a centuries-old craft on permanent display.
Calm Comfort: A Temple Stay at a Zenkoji Shukubo
Certain temples around Japan offer accommodation to pilgrims and other guests who would like to experience a slower, quieter encounter with the country's spiritual heritage.
Two New Resorts Open on the Naruto Coast This Summer
Glamping under the stars and a lifestyle hotel by the sea–Tokushima’s most dramatic shoreline finally has places to stay that match the location.
