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Explore Japan
Find your corner of Japan
Every region is a different country in miniature. Pick one to start.
北海道
Hokkaido
Untouched wilderness and world-class powder snow
東北
Tohoku
Deep traditions, misty mountains, and onsen culture
東京・関東
Tokyo & Kanto
The world's greatest city, layer by layer
中部・アルプス
Chubu & the Alps
Japanese Alps, farmhouse villages, and Nagoya's hidden food scene
関西
Kansai
Ancient capitals, Osaka's kitchens, and Nara's deer
中国地方
Hiroshima & San'in
Floating torii gates, hidden coastlines, and Hiroshima's resilience
九州
Kyushu
Active volcanoes, ancient hot springs, and Japan's most welcoming locals
沖縄
Okinawa
Turquoise water, Ryukyu culture, and the secret to living past 100
The Journal
Guides for the Japan locals actually know
The Journal →Seasons
Eikando Night Light-Up 2026: No Advance Tickets, the Day/Night Changeover, and When to Arrive
Eikando is Kyoto's best-known maple garden, and its evening light-up is the one people queue for. Three rules catch visitors out every year: no advance tickets, no staying from day into night, and no tripods. Here is how to plan around them.
6 min readCulture & Etiquette
Japan Tax-Free Shopping from November 2026: How the New Refund System Works (Step by Step)
From 1 November 2026, tax-free shopping in Japan works backwards: you pay the full price in the shop and get the tax refunded after customs confirms you are taking the goods home. Here is exactly what changes, what to do at the airport, and how not to lose your refund.
11 min readTransportation
Tokyo to Hakone 2026: Romancecar vs Shinkansen vs Bus — and Is the Hakone Freepass Worth It?
Three ways to get from Tokyo to Hakone, what each one really costs, and how to tell whether the Hakone Freepass pays off — plus the Ropeway closure dates that change the classic loop this winter.
8 min readTransportation
Tokyo to Lake Kawaguchiko (Mt Fuji) 2026: Bus vs Fuji Excursion Train vs Day Tour
Lake Kawaguchiko is the easiest place to see Mt Fuji up close from Tokyo. Here is how the bus, the Fuji Excursion train and the cheap local route compare, and when a tour makes more sense.
8 min readTransportation
Hiroshima by Shinkansen 2026: From Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Fukuoka — Times, Fares and Passes
How long the bullet train to Hiroshima takes from each major city, what it costs in 2026, when the Japan Rail Pass or a JR West pass pays off, and when a flight or night bus is the better deal.
9 min readTransportation
Hokuriku Shinkansen 2026: Tokyo to Nagano and Kanazawa — Times, Fares, Hokuriku Arch Pass
The Hokuriku Shinkansen puts Nagano's snow monkeys and Kanazawa's gardens and crab within easy reach of Tokyo. Here are the 2026 times and fares, the Tsuruga change for Kyoto and Osaka, and whether the Hokuriku Arch Pass pays off.
8 min readFind a hotel
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