Japan
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2 Week Japan Itinerary: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Hakone
This 2 week Japan itinerary took my daughter and me from the neon of Shinjuku to the onsens of Hakone, with stops in Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto along the way, and we never felt rushed. If you are still planning, start with Japlanning 101: Your Crash Course to an Epic Trip. My daughter has a…
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Louis Vuitton Ginza Tokyo: Passport Cover and Le Café V
Christina wanted a passport cover from Tokyo, but not just any passport cover. She wanted one personalized with stamps from the trip. That is how we ended up spending an afternoon at Louis Vuitton Ginza Namiki. We had just bought shoes at Onitsuka Tiger and left them behind to be embroidered. With time to fill,…
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Ekiben at Tokyo Station: The Ultimate Train Lunch Guide
Opening an ekiben on a Shinkansen is one of my favorite small moments in Japan and Tokyo Station is the easiest place to buy one. If you are still in the planning phase, Japlanning 101: Your Crash Course to an Epic Trip is the place to start. What Is an Ekiben Ekiben combines eki (train…
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Samurai Ninja Museum Kyoto Experience: Stepping Into Japan’s Warrior History
Kyoto was the imperial capital of Japan for over a thousand years, so it is fitting that one of the most engaging samurai experiences in the country sits right in the middle of it. The Samurai Ninja Museum Kyoto With Experience is not a quiet room of glass cases. It is a hands-on museum where…
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Kyoto Geisha Guide: Geiko and Maiko Explained
Geisha are one of the most misunderstood figures in Japanese culture, largely thanks to decades of movies and novels that got the story wrong. A geisha is not a performer of any romantic or sexual service. She is a highly trained entertainer, skilled in traditional dance, music, and conversation, whose job is to make guests…
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Everyday Japanese Customs That Surprise Foreigners
Japan has a way of rearranging what you thought was normal. None of what follows is exotic or theatrical. It is just daily life, done a little differently, and it tends to be the small things, not the temples or the neon, that visitors talk about most once they get home. If you are still…
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Bee’s Knees Kyoto: A Cozy Cocktail Bar Worth Finding
Bee’s Knees is a speakeasy-style cocktail bar in Kyoto, and it does not give itself away easily. The entrance sits behind a gold door marked “The Book Store,” tucked past a bank of building mailboxes with no obvious sign pointing the way. A small bee emblem stamped into the entry rug is the only real…
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Japanese Knife Guide: Types, Uses, and How to Choose
My daughter and I did not plan on buying knives in Kyoto. We ducked into Yoshimune Knives Annex near Nishiki Market mostly out of curiosity, and we both walked out with a santoku. Japanese knives carry centuries of craftsmanship behind them, rooted in the same techniques once used to forge samurai swords, and that history…
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Nishiki Market Kyoto: What to Eat and Where to Shop
Often called Kyoto’s Kitchen, Nishiki Market is one of the best places to experience the city’s food culture in a single afternoon. It began as a fish market back in 1310 and has grown into Kyoto’s largest and most beloved traditional food market, a narrow, covered street lined with over 100 stalls selling everything from…
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Onitsuka Tiger in Japan: What to Know Before You Buy
Onitsuka Tiger is one of Japan’s most iconic sneaker brands, blending retro design, cultural heritage, and modern street style in a way few brands can match. From its instantly recognizable stripes and classic silhouettes like the Mexico 66 to limited-edition colorways found only in Japan, Onitsuka Tiger has become a must-shop label for travelers, sneaker…
