Autumn Leaves

Home Autumn Leaves Autumn Leaves in Japan: A First-Time Visitor’s Guide Japan’s autumn leaves, known as kōyō or momiji, are every bit as spectacular as its famous cherry blossoms – and for many travelers, even more enjoyable. Cooler weather, vivid red maples, golden ginkgo trees and clear blue skies combine to create one of the most photogenic seasons of the year. If you are planning your first trip to Japan and wondering when, where, and how to see the best autumn colors, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know. Understanding Japan’s Autumn Leaf Season When Do the Autumn Leaves Change? Unlike cherry blossoms, which burst into bloom all at once, Japan’s autumn leaves change gradually from north to south and from high mountains down to the cities. The exact timing shifts a little each year depending on the weather, but this rough guide will help you plan: Late September – Mid October: Northern Japan (Hokkaido) and high mountain areas such as the Japanese Alps. Mid

Kyoto – Gion Matsuri

Home Kyoto – Gion Matsuri Kyoto Gion Matsuri: A First‑Timer’s Guide to Japan’s Grand Summer Festival Every July, Kyoto transforms into a living museum of tradition during Gion Matsuri, one of Japan’s most famous and historic festivals. Towering wooden floats roll through the streets, the sound of flutes and drums fills the humid summer air, and locals step out in colorful yukata to celebrate a tradition more than 1,100 years old. If you are planning your first trip to Japan and want a festival experience that combines atmosphere, history, and unforgettable photography, Gion Matsuri in Kyoto is an ideal centerpiece for your itinerary. What Is Gion Matsuri? Gion Matsuri is the month‑long festival of Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto, held every July. It began in 869 as a religious ritual to ward off plague and natural disasters. Over the centuries it evolved into a grand citywide celebration and is now recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Unlike a one‑day event, Gion Matsuri st

Summer Festivals

Home Summer Festivals Summer Festivals in Japan: A First-Time Visitor’s Guide From the crackle of fireworks over a humid night sky to the hypnotic rhythm of drums echoing through lantern-lit streets, Japan’s summer festivals offer one of the most unforgettable ways to experience the country. If you are planning your first trip to Japan between June and September, timing your visit around a summer festival can transform a regular vacation into a vivid cultural memory. What Makes Japanese Summer Festivals Special? In Japanese, festivals are called matsuri. Many have centuries-old roots in Shinto shrines or Buddhist temples, celebrating the gods, the harvest, or local history. Today, they blend tradition and fun: portable shrines carried through the streets, lines of dancers in colorful yukata, and rows of food stalls sizzling with classic festival snacks. Summer festivals in Japan are not limited to one place or one weekend. From Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south, nearly eve

Nara – Nara Park

Home Nara – Nara Park Nara Park Travel Guide: Deer, Temples and Timeless Japan Nara Park is one of Japan’s most charming and atmospheric destinations, combining open parkland, freely roaming deer, and some of the country’s most important historic temples. For first-time visitors to Japan, a day in Nara Park offers a gentle, relaxing contrast to the bustle of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, while still delivering iconic sights, deep cultural heritage, and very photogenic moments. Why Visit Nara Park? Located in the ancient capital of Nara, Nara Park is a vast green area stretching from the city center to the forested foothills of Mount Wakakusa. The park is famous for its approximately 1,000–1,300 semi-wild deer, considered messengers of the gods in local Shinto belief. You can walk, picnic, and sightsee among them as they stroll between historic shrines, temple halls, and tranquil ponds. Within and around Nara Park you’ll find UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the iconic Tōdai-ji

Kagoshima

Home Kagoshima Kagoshima Travel Guide: Volcano City at Japan’s Southern Edge Framed by an active volcano and a glittering bay, Kagoshima is one of Japan’s most dramatic and underrated cities. Perched at the southern tip of Kyushu, it blends tropical vibes with deep samurai history, soothing hot springs, and a food scene that rivals larger cities. For first-time visitors to Japan who want something beyond Tokyo and Kyoto, Kagoshima offers a slower, warmer, and more personal side of the country. Why Visit Kagoshima? Kagoshima is often called the “Naples of the East” thanks to its coastal setting and ever-present volcano, Sakurajima, puffing gently (and sometimes not so gently) across the bay. But that nickname barely scratches the surface. The city was a powerhouse in Japan’s modernization, home to influential samurai and pioneering industrial sites that shaped the country’s future. Today, Kagoshima rewards travelers with: Breathtaking views of Sakurajima across Kinko Bay Onsen (hot spr

Kokusai Street

Home Kokusai Street Kokusai Street Travel Guide: How to Enjoy Naha’s Lively Heart In the heart of Naha, the capital of Okinawa Prefecture, Kokusai Street (Kokusai-dori) is where many visitors have their very first taste of Japan’s southern island culture. Stretching for about 1.6 kilometers through central Naha, this busy avenue is lined with restaurants, souvenir shops, bars, markets and small lanes that reveal a more local side of the city. For first-time travelers to Japan, Kokusai Street is an easy and welcoming introduction: English signs are common, public transport is simple to use, and the atmosphere is friendly and relaxed. At the same time, it offers a distinctly Okinawan flavor, very different from Tokyo or Kyoto, shaped by subtropical weather, island music, and centuries of trade across Asia. Why Visit Kokusai Street? Kokusai Street is not just a shopping strip. It is the main stage of Naha’s modern life, rebuilt after World War II and now a symbol of Okinawa’s resilience

Sumpu Castle Park

Home Sumpu Castle Park Sumpu Castle Park: A Calm Samurai Escape in Shizuoka, Japan In the heart of Shizuoka City, an easy stop between Tokyo and Kyoto, Sumpu Castle Park offers a peaceful window into Japan’s samurai past. Once the retirement residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the shogun who unified Japan in the early 17th century, the castle grounds are now a spacious urban park combining history, gardens, and everyday local life. For first-time visitors to Japan, Sumpu Castle Park is an ideal place to slow down, stretch your legs after a Shinkansen ride, and experience Japanese history and nature without the crowds of bigger castles like Osaka or Himeji. Why Visit Sumpu Castle Park? Sumpu Castle Park is not a towering fortress with a multi-story keep; instead, it is a broad, open site where you can walk through reconstructed castle buildings, wander around a large central lawn, and see how a historic landmark blends into the rhythm of a modern Japanese city. Highlights include: Reconstruc

Kunōzan Tōshō-gū

Home Kunōzan Tōshō-gū Kunōzan Tōshō-gū: A Sacred Mountaintop Shrine Above Suruga Bay Perched high on a forested ridge overlooking Suruga Bay in Shizuoka Prefecture, Kunōzan Tōshō-gū is one of Japan’s most important shrines dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Edo shogunate. Richly decorated halls, steep stone stairways, and sweeping coastal views make this an unforgettable stop for first-time visitors who want a taste of Japanese history beyond Tokyo and Kyoto. Kunōzan Tōshō-gū is less crowded than its famous cousin in Nikkō, yet historically even more significant: it is the original Tōshō-gū shrine and Ieyasu’s first burial site. For travelers interested in samurai history, traditional architecture, and dramatic scenery, it is a rewarding day trip that fits easily into a Japan itinerary focused on Tokyo, Mount Fuji, or the Tōkaidō Shinkansen route. Why Visit Kunōzan Tōshō-gū? Kunōzan Tōshō-gū combines several classic Japanese travel experiences in one compact destination:

Miho no Matsubara

Home Miho no Matsubara Miho no Matsubara Travel Guide: Pine Coast, Fuji Views, and Mythic Beauty On the Pacific coast of Shizuoka Prefecture, Miho no Matsubara offers one of Japan’s most iconic coastal views: deep-green pine forests, black volcanic sand, and, on a clear day, Mount Fuji rising above the bay. For first-time visitors to Japan, this is an easy and unforgettable side trip that blends natural beauty, traditional legend, and a slower, more local pace than Tokyo or Kyoto. What Is Miho no Matsubara? Miho no Matsubara is a 7-kilometre-long shoreline lined with around 30,000 pine trees stretching along Suruga Bay. The area is part of the UNESCO World Heritage property “Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration,” not because of shrines or temples, but because of its spectacular views of Mount Fuji and its role in centuries of Japanese art and poetry. The combination of black volcanic sand, bright blue water, and the soft green of pine needles has made Miho no Matsu

Inuyama Castle

Home Inuyama Castle Inuyama Castle: A Timeless Samurai Fortress Near Nagoya Perched on a wooded hill above the Kiso River, Inuyama Castle is one of Japan’s most atmospheric original castles and a rewarding day trip from Nagoya. For first-time visitors to Japan, it offers a rare chance to step inside an authentic wooden keep, wander a preserved castle town, and experience traditional culture without overwhelming crowds. Why Inuyama Castle Belongs on Your Japan Itinerary Many castles in Japan are modern concrete reconstructions, rebuilt after fires, war, or earthquakes. Inuyama Castle is different. Its main keep (tenshukaku) is one of only a handful of original wooden castle towers left in Japan and is officially designated a National Treasure. For international travelers, this means: A genuine look at samurai-era architecture and defense design Intimate scale and a relaxed, local atmosphere Panoramic views over the Kiso River and surrounding mountains A traditional castle town lined wi