Japan
Explore the beauty of Japan through our travel guides, cultural insights, food recommendations, and more. Discover the best of Japan with expert tips, local traditions, and must-see destinations.
Japanese Tea Ceremony: The Complete Guide to History, Tea Sets, Etiquette, and Where to Experience It
Tea is never just a drink in Japan. It’s a quiet performance, a spiritual exercise, and one of the most enduring art forms in Japanese culture. At the center of it all sits the Japanese tea ceremony, known as chanoyu or sado, “the way of tea,” a ritual that has shaped everything from architecture to…
The Golden Standard: Ginza Lion Beer Hall
If you’re looking for the soul of Ginza, you probably won’t find it inside a luxury boutique or one of the district’s gleaming office towers. Instead, you’ll find it tucked away behind a historic facade at the legendary Ginza Lion Beer Hall in Ginza 7-chome. As a Swiss citizen who has been living in Tokyo…
Slurping Near the Shinkansen: A Survival Guide to Tokyo Ramen Street
If you’ve ever found yourself wandering the subterranean labyrinth of Tokyo Station with 45 minutes to kill before your Shinkansen departs, you’ve likely stumbled upon Tokyo Ramen Street. Located in the First Avenue Tokyo Station (Yaesu Underground Exit), this isn’t some hidden, “holy grail” ramen shop tucked away in a residential alley. It is, quite…
Tokyo’s Pedestrian Paradises: A Guide to Car-Free Shopping
For those of us living in Tokyo, the city can often feel like a constant stream of traffic, crowded sidewalks, and endless movement. Yet every weekend, a remarkable transformation takes place. Streets that are normally packed with cars, taxis, and buses become pedestrian-only zones, creating what locals call Hokousha Tengoku, literally meaning “Pedestrian Paradise.” Known…
The Ultimate Guide to Tokyo Fashion: From Streetwear to High-End Luxury
Tokyo fashion is far more than just a way of dressing; it’s a living, breathing global phenomenon that defies simple categorization. For anyone obsessed with style, the Japanese capital offers a vast spectrum of aesthetics that you simply won’t find anywhere else in the world. Whether you’re hunting for the neon-soaked creativity of Harajuku’s backstreets,…
The Ultimate Guide to Visiting the Snow Monkey Onsen in Nagano, Japan
Deep in the snow-covered mountains of Nagano, far from the neon-lit skyscrapers of Tokyo, lies the true heart of the Japanese countryside. Here, winter takes on a magical, almost otherworldly quality. The Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park is home to a unique troop of Japanese macaques that have captivated the world for decades. These monkeys are…
Japan Crane Games: Inside Tokyo’s Addictive Arcade Culture
The first thing you notice when entering a Japanese arcade is usually the noise. Anime music echoes across multiple floors while bright machines flash in every direction. Somewhere nearby, somebody celebrates after finally winning a prize, while another person quietly stares at a claw machine trying to calculate their next move. Then you see the…
8 Weird Things in Tokyo You Only Notice After Living There
Tokyo looks perfect at first. Everything works. Trains arrive on the second, the streets are spotless, and the entire city feels like it’s running on some invisible system that never fails. That’s exactly what I thought when I first arrived from Switzerland. But the longer I stayed, the more I started noticing the weird things…
Navigating Grad School in Japan: The Ultimate Guide to AO Admissions at Waseda University
Applying for a Master’s degree in Japan was one of the most frustrating and educational experiences of my life. Coming from Switzerland, I assumed the process would be similar to European universities: upload your documents, wait for a decision, and prepare for enrollment. I quickly discovered that Japan operates very differently. My journey involved contacting…
If You Only Have One Day in Tokyo: The Ultimate New Year’s Eve Walking Route
Most visitors expect a massive countdown at Shibuya Crossing or fireworks over the bay, but Tokyo’s real magic on December 31st is found in the transitions between its iconic neighborhoods. After living in Tokyo for over two years, I’ve learned that if you only have one day in Tokyo, the best way to experience the…