Experience the tea ceremony in Japan
Attending a traditional tea ceremony in Japan combines a longstanding cultural ritual and a unique food experience. The precision of the ceremony, the beautiful craftsmanship …
A travel guide to Japan. Top tips on where to go, what to see and do and the best places to eat, stay and play.
Attending a traditional tea ceremony in Japan combines a longstanding cultural ritual and a unique food experience. The precision of the ceremony, the beautiful craftsmanship …
The Aomori Nebuta Matsuri is held in early August. If you can’t be in town for the festival you can still experience it at the …
Local festivals are a great time to visit a Japanese Temple or Shrine. This large UNESCO listed temple is especially beautiful during the cherry blossoms and the Hanami Gyoretsu festival but it’s not the only season that it’s excels.
The Sapporo Snow Festival is an incredible winter wonderland of all things snow & ice. Spread across 3 huge sites it’s the biggest winter festival …
As soon as I knew we’d be in Kyoto on the 1st of April I mentally blocked out the middle of the day for the Kenka-sai festival. …
Headed to Kyoto for springtime? It’s one of our favourite sakura spots in Japan so here are some of the best locations and events for …
There’s not much that’s more adorable, or kawaii I guess, than dozens of young children in traditional kimonos. It’s a sight you’re likely to see a lot in Shinto …
If you’re visiting this historic city a Kyoto geisha experience might be one of the things you’d love to do. For most foreign visitors an …
In this city guide we’ll introduce some of our top things to see and do in Kobe. It’s a lovely, vibrant and modern city less …
Japan really knows how to throw a great festival, we love them and they usually crop up somewhere in our itinerary. During the winter the …
Setsubun is a fun Japanese holiday celebrated on the 3rd of February. It marks the last day of Winter and the imminent coming of Spring. …
A great day trip from Kyoto is to Nagahama and it’s even better if you can time it to be there on the 15th of …
This week in our series on walking the streets of central Kyoto we pick up from Kodai-Ji temple and continue north-west to explore the Gion district. Yasaka …
This post is one of a series that make up a self guided walking tour through eastern Kyoto. The full route is around 10 km from Kyoto station to Ginkakuji, the silver temple, in the north. Make a day of it or select only the sections that appeal the most.
If you love bonsai (the Japanese art of miniature trees) or ume (the beautiful flowering plum trees) then Nagahama bonbai is for you! Held in an historic villa in the friendly town of Nagahama this quick detour on our way to Hikone turned out to be an absolute highlight of the trip.