If you want to purchase traditional Japanese souvenirs to give to your family and friends back home, check out the following spots in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto: Tokyo Asakusa Being home to the 7th century Buddhist temple, Sensoji, as well as numerous old houses and buildings, Asakusa is known for its traditional atmosphere. When souvenir [...]

Tokyo is home to several uniquely themed cafes that can provide a fun, relaxing, and memorable experience, and may even be the highlight of your trip. The following are some of the most popular quirky cafes to check out on your next Tokyo vacation: Cat Cafés If you miss your cats back home, you should [...]

Japan considers New Year as its most important holiday. Known as “shogatsu” in Japanese, it has been observed in the country every year since 1873. The majority of business establishments are closed from 1-3 January, as people spend these days with their families and loved ones. Fireworks and countdown parties are very rare and usually [...]

Japan is home to several beautiful ancient castles that were constructed several hundreds of years ago by feudal lords and leaders for residential, strategic and defensive purposes. While some perished due to wars, battles and fire through the centuries, there are a number that remain standing to this day. Matsuyama Castle Built in 1603 atop [...]

Matsumoto is a popular tourist city in Nagano Prefecture, largely because of the Matsumoto Castle, which is one of the country’s most stunning original castles. How to get there From Shinjuku Station, I boarded the Limited Express Super Azusa train that took me to Matsumoto Station in about two and a half hours. The trip [...]