Asuka and Fujiwara, newly registered as a World Heritage Site, offers a quiet look into Japan’s ancient capital history through palace ruins, burial mounds, and the peaceful rural landscape of Nara.
Ise offers both quiet moments of gratitude at Ise Jingu and cheerful streets to explore at Okage Yokocho. From sacred traditions to summer sweets, it is a place where calm and joy meet.
Ritsuko-sensei shares her journey around the Noto Peninsula, where breathtaking nature meets the resilience of local people recovering from the earthquake. Visiting the region becomes not only a travel experience, but also a meaningful way to support its recovery.
Punch-kun is a bottle-raised baby Japanese macaque at a zoo in Ichikawa, Chiba after his mother stopped caring for him. He’s gone viral for cuddling an orangutan plush “Oran-mama” and clinging to his keepers, showing how much warmth and comfort matter as he grows.
In Japan, vending machines are everywhere, but a new “story vending machine” now offers short, location-themed stories at the press of a button.
Ritsuko Sensei shares her experience visiting Ghibli Park, a place where nature and the world of Studio Ghibli blend seamlessly.
Looking for underground raves in Japan? Not sure what to expect? Learn everything about Japanese raves from a native Japanese raver!
Ofusa Kannon Temple in Nara hosts a summer wind chime festival with 3,000 chimes and a lantern display of 2,000 lights.
Every August, Miyazu in northern Kyoto hosts a 400-year-old Obon ritual of lantern floating and fireworks, honoring ancestors with spirit boats and prayers.
Explore the ancient Japanese art of ukai, a traditional method of river fishing using cormorants.