I’ve had a Kyushu travel guide on this site for a long time—but I haven’t really been satisfied with it, if I’m perfectly honest. Some parts of it were downright superficial, and reflected the fact that I’ve been discovering the island piecemeal over the past several years, rather than having done a deep dive. This […]
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30 Pictures That Will Make You Want to Visit Kyushu
As I look through all the amazing Kyushu pictures I took during the two-week exploration of the island I just completed, I came to a strange conclusion.
Continue ReadingKyushu vs. Shikoku: Which is Right for You?
If you didn’t know whether you should visit Kyushu or Shikoku before you navigated here, you should have a better idea now.
Continue ReadingOita Starts Here
Wedged into the northeastern corner of Kyushu (itself far from the most-visited place in Japan), Oita is a prefecture that’s easy to miss if you aren’t looking. Thankfully, I was. Like many travelers, I first visited Oita because I wanted to experience the hot springs capital of Beppu. I stayed a while and continued exploring […]
Continue ReadingThe Japan You’ve Been Looking For
Looking for the real Japan? Look no farther than the San’in region.
Continue ReadingThe Truth About Yakushima
Is Yakushima island worth visiting?
Continue ReadingThis May Be Japan’s Most Overlooked Peninsula
Much of off-the-beaten-path Kyushu is almost completely devoid of foreign tourists.
Continue ReadingHow to Buy Train Tickets in Japan
By the time you navigate away from this article, you’ll be ready to board the Shinkansen.
Continue ReadingThe Japan You’ve Been Looking For
Many travelers are in search of the “real” Japan, but it can prove difficult to find. This is especially the case if you’ve never been to Japan or have only visited a few times. There are so many must-visit Japan destinations that it can be difficult to see even secondary ones on your trip, let […]
Continue ReadingKansai Starts Here
How many days do you need in Osaka and Kyoto?
Continue ReadingAso Starts Here
It took me two trips to see Mt. Aso for what it is.
Continue ReadingJapan by Train: Everything You Need to Know
You’ve decided to buy a Japan Rail Pass, now what? You should start planning out your Japan itinerary, of course, but you should also take time to learn exactly how Japan’s train system is organized. From the Shinkansen bullet train, to local and limited express trains, to subways and other urban rail systems throughout the country, […]
Continue ReadingYour Next Japan Hike Starts Here
Want to learn more about hiking in Japan, but don’t know where to start? You’re in the right place, though I warn you: This is not so much a comprehensive Japan hiking itinerary as it is a rabbit hole. After reading through what I’ve got to say about the best hikes in Japan, your bucket […]
Continue ReadingThe Best Japan Road Trips
There are a million reasons to hit Japan’s open road. Thankfully, I’m only going to name five.
Continue ReadingThe Truth About Solo Travel in Japan
Think traveling in Japan alone isn’t for you? Think again.
Continue Reading24 Places to Go in Japan in 2024
2024 will be the best year—ever—to visit Japan.
Continue ReadingJapan in Autumn: Everything You Need to Know
Whether you’ve arrived via Google or clicked here from my collection of photos of Japan in fall, you’re obviously curious about autumn in Japan 2024. When the leaves will change; where the best places to see them are; and how long you need to stay in Japan to have the full kōyō experience. I’ll cover […]
Continue ReadingYou Can Ride Nozomi With JR Pass Now—But There’s a Catch
Spoiler alert: The “small” additional fee isn’t actually that small.
Continue ReadingYamaguchi Starts Here
There are few parts of Japan less-often visited than Yamaguchi, the westernmost prefecture of Honshu island. In some ways—logistical one—this is understandable: The Shinkansen barely runs through here; Yamaguchi is between Fukuoka and Hiroshima, two places that are by contrast very high up on most travelers’ lists. In another way, of course, Yamaguchi’s lack of […]
Continue ReadingIs the Japan Rail Pass Still Worth It?
The old axiom—that a 7-day JR Pass costs the same as a round-trip Shinkansen journey between Tokyo and Kyoto—is no longer true.
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