When I moved to Japan about 8 years ago to start graduate school in Tokyo, I was acutely aware of the general attitude towards tattoos in...

Located in Ishikawa Prefecture, Kaga Onsen remains one of Japan's overlooked towns. While Kanazawa gets most of the attention, this...

Japan's storied rail network is renowned worldwide for its punctuality, safety, and innovations in train technology—this is the country that developed the Shinkansen, or bullet train, after all. While the trains rightly get the plaudits they deserve, many of Japan’s stations—over 8,500 across the country—also stand on their own within rail folklore. Shimbashi in the central districts of Tokyo has the title of Japan’s oldest station, while the legendary Shinjuku terminal is wi

Sake, or nihonshu (日本酒, “Japanese liquor”), is much more than just an alcoholic drink in Japan. It holds deep cultural and spiritual...

As I explored the mountain town of Hida Takayama, nestled in Japan’s Gifu Prefecture, a peculiar character began to pop up everywhere I...

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to reside in the shadow of Japan’s majestic volcano?* Nestled in the shadow of Japan’s iconic Mt....