Matt Evans

Staff Writer, Editor

Originally from the UK, Matt first came to Japan in 2009 and ended up staying for a little over six years in the Kansai area. After a three-year stint working in the travel industry, he is now back and works as a staff writer for japan-guide.com. As well as history and traditional arts and crafts, he is especially passionate about the outdoors and looks forward to exploring Japan's wilder places.

Most recent posts

Travel highlights 2025

2025 was another busy year here at Japan Guide with lots of exciting projects and fresh challenges, not least taking my first baby steps into the snappier world of stories and reels on social media. While this took...
By Matt Evans·

Koyo 2025: Kyoto Report

So far, our reports this season have been from rural areas as the autumn colors crept southwards towards Japan’s major cities, most recently from Raina’s visit to the Fuji Five Lakes. Yesterday however, I...
By Matt Evans·

Koyo 2025: Karuizawa Report

Located at the foot of Mount Asama in Nagano Prefecture, the upmarket resort town of Karuizawa takes just an hour to reach from Tokyo by Hokuriku Shinkansen and so becomes a popular getaway every year during the hot...
By Matt Evans·

A visit to the Setouchi Triennale

One of Japan’s most celebrated art festivals, the Setouchi Triennale has been drawing visitors from around the world since its launch in 2010. Held once every three years across a network of islands in the Seto...
By Matt Evans·

A visit to the Osaka Expo

One of Japan’s grandest and most anticipated events, the Expo 2025 serves as a visually spectacular forum for Japan and other participating countries to showcase their lifestyle and identity, with a particular focus...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2025: Sapporo Report

Following on from yesterday’s visit to Hakodate, today I traveled further northeast to Hokkaido’s capital of Sapporo to check in on the cherry blossoms at two of the city’s best loved viewing spots. Both of today’s...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2025: Hakodate Report

A day on from yesterday’s report from Hirosaki Castle Park, today I followed the cherry blossom frontline up into Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido. My destination today was Fort Goryokaku, a unique...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2025: Hirosaki Report

Following on from Raina’s report on Wednesday from Kakunodate, I spent today at Hirosaki Castle Park in Aomori Prefecture - a pleasant open space with over 2500 cherry blossom trees spread across lawns and gardens,...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2025: Aizu Report

A day on from my visit toMatsushima in the northern part of Japan’s pacific coast, today’s reporting found me about 150 kilometers to the southwest in Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture. Sitting at a higher...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2025: Matsushima Report

With the season drawing to a close in the Kansai and Kanto regions, I today followed the Cherry blossoms front line north into Miyagi Prefecture in the lower part of Tohoku. My destination here was Matsushima - a...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2025: Tokyo Report

A day on from yesterday’s visit to Mount Yoshino in Nara Prefecture, today I was back in Tokyo for a late season look at two of the city’s most popular parks. With the period of best viewing now already several days...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2025: Yoshino Report

Located deep in rural Nara Prefecture, Mount Yoshino has long been celebrated as Japan’s most famous cherry blossom viewing spot, with over 30,000 cherry blossom trees spread across a section of mountain ridge,...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2025: Kyoto Report

Following yesterday’s report where I checked in on the blossoms at two beautiful surviving castles in the Kansai Region, today I returned once again to Kyoto for a late season look at four of its top viewing...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2025: Himeji and Hikone Report

The season continues to progress quickly, with many cities across the country now into their window for best viewing. Reporting from Kanazawa yesterday, Raina found the city in full bloom while I visited three parks...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2025: Tokyo Report

A day on from Raina’s report from Kyoto where the Cherry blossoms were at or approaching full bloom, I was today in Tokyo again for another look at how things were progressing at three of the city’s popular viewing...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2025: Tokyo Report

Cherry blossoms are now sweeping across Japan, with much of the western part of the country at or approaching peak viewing. A day on from Cassie’s report from Nara and Raina’s from Matsuyama in Kyushu - both...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2025: Kyoto Report

Just a day after my report from Osaka where the cherry blossoms were noticeably beginning to fill out, I today returned to Kyoto to check in once again on how things were progressing at four of the city’s viewing...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2025: Osaka Report

Just one day on from yesterday’s visit to Kyoto where the blossoms had only just opened, I spent today in Osaka to see how things were progressing at three of the city窶冱 best known viewing sites.While it...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2025: Kyoto Report

Two days on from Cassie’s report from Tokyo where the blossoms were at last beginning to open, I was today back in Kyoto for three quick visits to popular viewing sites around the city.Despite some slight...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2025: Fukuoka Report

Fresh from yesterday’s report from Kumamoto where the blossoms were right on the cusp of full bloom, today I dropped in on Fukuoka City to check the progress at two more popular viewing sites: the ruins of Fukuoka...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2025: Kumamoto Report

Following on from yesterday’s report in Kyoto where the cherry blossom trees were still a few days from reaching full bloom, I today found myself in Kumamoto to check in on two of the city’s most beloved viewing...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2025: Kyoto Report

Hot on the heels of Cassie’s report yesterday from Tokyo, where buds were poised to open in Shinjuku Gyoen and just beginning to bloom at Ueno Park, I spent today in Kyoto to see how things were progressing at three...
By Matt Evans·

A visit to Takanawa Gateway City

Following on from the completion of Takanawa Gateway Station in 2020, the long awaited second phase in the larger Takanawa Gateway City development has at last arrived with the opening of the Linkpillar 1 building....
By Matt Evans·

A stroll through Koenji

A relatively small district in Tokyo’s western Suginami Ward, Koenji at first glance seems like any other metropolitan neighborhood, with its quiet residential streets and rows of crammed-together shops. Explore a...
By Matt Evans·

A preview of the 2025 Sapporo Snow Festival

Held every year during the month of February, the Sapporo Snow Festival is one of the most important annual events in Japan’s northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, known for its spectacular ice sculptures...
By Matt Evans·

Matt’s travel highlights 2024

2024 was a big year for me, with lots of exciting experiences and challenges, both personal and professional. Looking back, many of my most important experiences this time around have felt uniquely tied to the...
By Matt Evans·

Koyo 2024: Kyoto Report

Following on from my report yesterday from Tokyo where colors had at last reached their peak, I spent today checking on four of the most popular leaf viewing spots in Kyoto. Here, a period of unseasonably warm...
By Matt Evans·

Koyo 2024: Tokyo Report

Following on from Cassie’s report from Kamakura which found the city’s autumn colors right at their peak, I today found myself in Tokyo to check on the progress of the fall leaves at three of its best known viewing...
By Matt Evans·

Hachijojima and Aogashima

Whether on some distant island chain, perched on a mountain pass or hidden away in a deep valley, some of the most fascinating gifts of Japan’s unique geography are those hidden at its fringes, requiring a serious...
By Matt Evans·

Walking the Shin-etsu Trail: Part 2

After a promising start to this series in June of last year when I walked the first two sections of the Shin-etsu Trail, I couldn’t wait to return. Fate however, had other ideas - and with my desk piling up with...
By Matt Evans·

A stroll through Tomonoura

A sleepy port town on the shores of the Seto Inland Sea, Tomonoura boasts attractive coastal views, historic buildings and plenty of local color - making for a relaxing full or half day excursion from Hiroshima...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2024: Hirosaki Report

One day on from my very enjoyable visit to Kakunodate, I today found myself in Hirosaki Castle Park, home to a reconstructed castle and the most famous cherry blossom viewing spot in Japan’s northern Tohoku...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2024: Kakunodate Report

Following on from yesterday’s report from Aizu-Wakamatsu, I today visited the historic town of Kakunodate, located some 270 kilometers to the north in Akita Prefecture. Despite being just slightly late to get the...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2024: Aizu Report

With this year’s season now largely at an end in Kansai and Kanto, I today followed the cherry blossom front line north into Japan’s Tohoku region where things are still in full swing, or in some cities just getting...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2024: Matsumoto Report

Following on from yesterday’s report from Kyoto where the season was already rapidly nearing its end, today I made a stop at Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture, where for many cities the season is still in full swing...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2024: Kyoto Report

In the space of just a couple of days, the season across much of the country has passed its peak and begun to wind down. Following my report yesterday from the Kobe area, I was today in Kyoto for our final report of...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2024: Kobe Report

After a very enjoyable day reporting from Onomichi where I found the blossoms still looking very beautiful but nearing the end of best viewing, I today visited three sites in and around Kobe to see how things were...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2024: Onomichi Report

This year’s cherry blossom season continues to progress quickly, with many major cities now well into their period of optimal viewing. With heavy rain around much of the country from yesterday into today however, it...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2024: Yoshino Report

This year’s cherry blossom season continues apace, with the frontline already reaching into Japan’s northern Tohoku Region - Sendai officially announced the arrival of full bloom on Saturday, while the opening of buds...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2024: Kyoto Report

A day on from yesterday’s reports, where Raina found three sites in Tokyo to be at or on the verge of full bloom while I visited Kanazawa and Fukui City, today I found myself in Kyoto to check in on the blossoms at...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2024: Tokyo Report

Following on from Raina’s report from Kyoto yesterday, I spent today in Tokyo checking in on three of its most popular cherry blossom sites.With many parts of the country experiencing unusually cold weather in...
By Matt Evans·

Travel Highlights 2023

After a challenging period for the site, it was great to find ourselves suddenly quite busy again in 2023, with lots of opportunities for travel and new experiences. It also turned out to be a big year for me...
By Matt Evans·

Koyo 2023: Kyoto Report

Following on from my report yesterday from Tokyo, I today found myself visiting another set of three popular leaf-viewing spots, this time in the former capital of Kyoto.{{> story_place_header id:
By Matt Evans·

Koyo 2023: Tokyo Report

Continuing our coverage of this year’s autumn leaf season, I was lucky enough to spend today looking in on three of tokyo’s best-loved leaf viewing spots.With temperatures throughout Japan’s Kanto Region taking a...
By Matt Evans·

Koyo 2023: Hachimantai Report

Following on from Raina’s trip to Nikko last week, I spent a very enjoyable day checking in on three well-known autumn leaf viewing spots on the slopes of Mount Hachimantai, located in Iwate Prefecture a little...
By Matt Evans·

Koyo 2023: Daisetsuzan Report

Following on from Stefan’s previous report from Mount Asahidake, I was delighted to pay a visit today to Mount Kurodake - another peak in Hokkaido’s Daisetsuzan range - to see how the autumn colors had developed in...
By Matt Evans·

Walking the Shin-etsu Trail: Part 1

One of Japan’s newest and most exciting multi-day hiking routes, the Shin-etsu Trail extends some 110 kilometers along the Nagano-Niigata prefectural border. First established in 2008, the trail is divided into ten...
By Matt Evans·

A Stroll Through Tochigi City

Sandwiched between Gunma and Ibaraki in the northernmost part of Japan’s Kanto Region, Tochigi is a large and geographically diverse prefecture...
By Matt Evans·

From Mount Jinba to Mount Takao

Located just an hour west of central Tokyo, Mount Takao is a popular destination for visitors and locals looking for a quick escape from the big city. For confident hikers however, Takao can also be the gateway to a...
By Matt Evans·

A visit to the Tokyu Kabukicho Tower

Located just a short walk north east of Shinjuku Station, Tokyo’s Kabukicho district has for years enjoyed a certain stylish disreputability as Japan’s largest and wildest red light district. More recently...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2023: Tokyo Report

Fresh from the previous day’s report in Osaka, today I was back in Tokyo to once again check on the progress of the blossoms at three of its best known hanami spots.Elsewhere in the country, the season continues...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2023: Osaka Report

Following on from yesterday’s report in Kyoto, where I was lucky enough to enjoy four of the city’s classic cherry blossom sites close to their peak appearance, today I found myself in Osaka just as we were...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2023: Kyoto Report

With Kyoto announcing the beginning of full bloom just yesterday, I was back in the city today to see for myself how things were looking at four of its most notable cherry blossom viewing sites.Since Raina’s...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2023: Kyoto Report

Following Raina’s report from //Tokyo on Sunday, I arrived in Kyoto today to check on how the flowers were progressing at three of its most popular cherry blossom viewing sites.Throughout the country, the trend...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2023: Tokyo Report

Following a two-year absence due to the effects of the coronavirus, we are delighted to once again bring you the latest updates on this year’s cherry blossom season. With Japan’s meteorological agency marking the...
By Matt Evans·

Haneda Airport Garden opens after Corona delays

Despite lagging some way behind Narita in terms of international arrivals, Haneda Airport still attracts a high volume of foreign visitors and remains by far Japanｿｽfs busiest airport overall when factoring in...
By Matt Evans·

Yamadera

Scenic temple built on the steep mountainside northeast of central Yamagata City...
By Matt Evans·

Kusatsu Onsen

Kusatsu Onsen is a pleasant hot spring resort in the mountains of Gunma Prefecture. It has been celebrated as one of Japan’s best hot spring resorts for centuries...
By Matt Evans·

Kamakura Rediscovered - Omachi and Zaimokuza

Rounding off my six part series delving into the historic city of Kamakura one neighborhood at a time, I recently spent a hugely enjoyable day exploring the southeastern part of the city, from Kamakura Station to...
By Matt Evans·

Kamakura Rediscovered - Hase

Continuing my exploration of Kamakura one neighborhood at a time, I recently found myself back in town, this time to take a look at the popular Hase district, two stops from Kamakura Station on the Enoden...
By Matt Evans·

Kamakura Rediscovered - Kita-Kamakura

Located just one stop north of Kamakura Station, Kita-Kamakura is a quiet, leafy area best known for its many historic temples, wooded surroundings and traditional houses, creating an atmosphere not unlike parts of...
By Matt Evans·

Kamakura Rediscovered - Onari

Following on from my previous piece exploring the area around the Komachi Dori shopping street, I soon find myself back in the historic city of Kamakura, this time taking in the west side of town in a single, wide...
By Matt Evans·

Koyo 2020: Tokyo Report

With this year’s koyo season already well underway, I took trip to Tokyo today to see how the colors are progressing in two of the city’s most popular viewing spots.While temperatures in other parts of the...
By Matt Evans·

Travel restarting: Kyoto

For the last leg of my recent trip to check on the state of travel in the Kansai area I was lucky enough to spend a day in Kyoto
By Matt Evans·

Travel restarting: Nara

During my recent trip to check in on the general state of tourist attractions in the Kansai region, I was very excited to spend a day in Nara
By Matt Evans·

Travel restarting: Hiroshima

As part of our reporting on Japan’s efforts to restart local tourism after the extraordinary disruption caused by the coronavirus epidemic,
By Matt Evans·

Travel restarting: Osaka

With travel plans for many around the world still on hold due to the continuing coronavirus epidemic, I was hugely fortunate last week to be able to spend a few days in the Kansai area to check in on the state of...
By Matt Evans·

A Stroll Through Gyoda

Located just over an hour by Shinkansen and local train from central Tokyo, the small, sleepy city of Gyoda in Saitama Prefecture is relatively unknown outside of the region but boasts some great sightseeing spots...
By Matt Evans·

Travel restarting: Kanazawa

As efforts to boost Japan’s struggling domestic tourism industry continue against a backdrop of increasing coronavirus numbers in several of the major cities, I took a trip to the small and very attractive city of...
By Matt Evans·

Travel restarting: Nikko

Despite a rise in the number of coronavirus infections since the end of the state of emergency in late May, domestic travellers throughout Japan have begun to return to sightseeing spots, albeit in comparatively...
By Matt Evans·

Birds, bugs and giant flying squirrels

As Japan begins to cautiously reemerge from domestic travel restrictions due to the ongoing threat of coronavirus, I was delighted to head to the beautiful mountain resort town of Karuizawa for my first reporting in...
By Matt Evans·

A Stroll Through Kanazawa

Often called the Little Kyoto for its cultural depth and beautifully preserved historic buildings, Kanazawa’s traditional charms and relatively small size make it the ideal city break for walkers...
By Matt Evans·

Sakura 2020: Kyoto Report

The start of Kyoto’s eagerly awaited cherry blossom season was announced on Sunday, March 22, a full week earlier than last year’s but still a few days behind Tokyo where the blossom is already aproaching full bloom....
By Matt Evans·

Work in Progress on the Olympic Waterfront City

Faced with the need to create new, large-scale venues and public spaces in one of the world’s largest and densest cities, the organizers of this year’s Olympic events found an ideal solution in land reclaimed from...
By Matt Evans·

The Kuma Kengo Look

Making regular appearances in magazines and Instagram feeds around the world, Tokyo’s daring and innovative modern architecture is a key component in its reputation as one of the world’s most futuristic cities....
By Matt Evans·