Asia
Discover Asia’s diverse cultures, vibrant cities, spiritual sites, and breathtaking landscapes. From Japan to Thailand, explore the best travel experiences across the continent.
Sapporo Travel Guide: Best Things to Do, Eat and See
Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido and one of my favourite cities in Japan: wide streets, fresh seafood, miso ramen, beer and snow festivals in winter, flowers and cool weather in summer. It is also the perfect base for exploring Hokkaido. I have written about the city’s Snow Festival, jingiskan lamb barbecue and the Shiroi…
Nagasaki Unfiltered: A Deep Dive into Kyushu’s Most Culturally Complex City
Nagasaki is a city that feels different the moment you step out of the station. Unlike the predictable rhythm of many Japanese cities, Nagasaki is built into steep hillsides with a harbor that has defined its existence for centuries. It was the only port open to the world during Japan’s long period of isolation, which…
Koi Nobori: The Ultimate Guide to Japan’s Carp Streamers & Spring Traditions
Every year as spring peaks in Japan, the skies above residential neighborhoods, rushing rivers, and urban landmarks transform into a vibrant, moving canvas. Hundreds of thousands of brightly colored, fish-shaped windsocks dance gracefully in the breeze. These are koi nobori (carp streamers), and they are the definitive symbol of May 5th, a national holiday known…
The Ultimate Tokyo Baby Shopping Guide: Where to Buy Baby Clothes, Food, and Essentials
Navigating a major metropolis with a little one can be both an exciting adventure and a logistical puzzle. Whether you are an expat establishing your family’s new routine or a traveling parent trying to figure out where to buy baby clothes in tokyo, the city is incredibly well-equipped for babies, provided you know exactly where…
Kawagoe Travel Guide: A Complete Day Trip into Japan’s “Little Edo”
Kawagoe is one of the best day trips you can take from Tokyo, and this guide covers everything you need to plan a real visit. Within less than an hour, you move from a modern city into a place that still reflects the Edo period. What makes Kawagoe special is not just the architecture, but…
Kafunsho: A Survival Guide to Japan’s Hay Fever Season
If you move to Japan or spend an extended period traveling through the country during the spring, you will quickly encounter a word whispered with absolute dread across every prefecture: Kafunsho (花粉症, pollen allergy). It is frequently referred to by medical professionals and the media as Japan’s “national disease,” a title it rightly earns by…
Japanese Bento: A Local Perspective on Japan’s Most Iconic Lunch
If you search for “Japanese bento,” you’ll quickly be greeted by images of perfectly arranged lunch boxes: colorful vegetables, neatly shaped rice, carefully prepared proteins, and the idea of a balanced meal that is as visually appealing as it is nutritious. Travel guides often present bento as one of Japan’s great culinary traditions, a symbol…
Renting a Car in Japan: Everything You Need to Know Before Driving 🇯🇵🚗
Rent a car in Japan, and you will experience a completely different side of the country that most tourists never see. While cities like Tokyo and Osaka are easy to explore by train, many of Japan’s most beautiful locations are hidden deep in the countryside, mountains, and coastal regions. One of the best regions to…
Japan Travel Myths vs Reality: What Tourists Still Get Wrong About Japan
Japan is one of the most talked-about travel destinations on Earth. Millions of people consume Japanese content every day through TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and viral documentaries. But somewhere between anime edits, ragebait creators, and recycled “culture shock” videos, a huge number of false narratives about the country started spreading online. Some of these Japan travel…
Cash, Cards and ATMs in Japan: How to Pay as a Tourist
Japan used to be famous as a cash country. That has changed a lot: today more than half of consumer payments are cashless, and cards work in most hotels, chains and convenience stores. But cash is still essential in small restaurants, temples, markets and the countryside. During my three years in Tokyo I watched this…
