japan-guide.com | Raina Ong

Plum blossoms in Mito

Kairakuen in Mito is one of the three most beautiful landscape gardens in Japan alongside Kenrokuen in Kanazawa and Korakuen in Okayama. With over 100 varieties and 3000 plum trees, Kairakuen is known for its plum...

By Raina Ong·March 5, 2026

Sakura 2026: Tokyo Report

We are now at end of February, and the question that many people might be wondering is when the mainstream cherry blossom season will start. While there is no definitive answer yet, our preliminary forecast is that...

By Raina Ong·February 26, 2026

Plum blossoms in Kyoto

Plum blossoms are some of the floral stars before the main cherry blossom season begins. On the main island of Honshu - home to the major cities of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka - the plum blossom season typically peaks from...

By Raina Ong·February 19, 2026

Sakura 2026: Kawazu Report

This year we started our cherry blossom reporting early - the first report was in January by Matt from Atami, followed by an Okinawa sakura report by Cassie. Both reports covered some of the early flowering varieties...

By Raina Ong·February 17, 2026

Travel Highlights 2025

Having lived in Japan for many years traveling around the country, you would think that I would have covered pretty much everything Japan has to offer. But, on the contrary, I had a fair number of first time...

By Raina Ong·December 31, 2025

Koyo 2025: Kyoto Report

Today we continue with our autumn color coverage, this time from Kyoto. I visited three temples in Kyoto known for their seasonal foliage, and I am pleased to report that the leaves are quickly approaching their best....

By Raina Ong·November 21, 2025

Koyo 2025: Korankei Report

We are now in the second half of November, when the leaves that change colors usually develop more red and orange hues than remain green. I made my way to Nagoya after yesterday’s autumn color report from Tokyo, where...

By Raina Ong·November 20, 2025

Koyo 2025: Tokyo Report

After reporting about autumn colors from Hokkaido, Tohoku, the Mount Fuji area and even Kyoto, today we finally bring to you our first Tokyo autumn color report for this 2025 season.Broadly speaking, the leaves of...

By Raina Ong·November 19, 2025

Koyo 2025: Mount Fuji Report

A quick recap of the autumn color season so far, we started our autumn color reporting at the end of September with Schauwecker in Daisetsuzan in Hokkaido, and kept to the higher elevations for the first few reports....

By Raina Ong·November 7, 2025

Koyo 2025: Naruko Gorge Report

Yesterday, the color of the maple leaves at Yamadera Temple were just starting to change. Today, I continued with my autumn color reporting in northeastern Japan, and went to Naruko Gorge about 90 minutes from Sendai....

By Raina Ong·October 30, 2025

Koyo 2025: Yamadera Report

It has been almost ten days since Cassie reported from Nikko, where the fall foliage were at their peak colors, and over a month since the start of our autumn color coverage. Up until now, we have only visited places...

By Raina Ong·October 29, 2025

Koyo 2025: Oze Report

Continuing with our autumn color reports, I visited Oze National Park today. The national park, which extends into four prefectures: Gunma, Tochigi, Fukushima and Niigata, is a popular hiking destination. Come fall,...

By Raina Ong·October 8, 2025

Koyo 2025: Alpine Route Report

About a week ago, Schauwecker did our first 2025 autumn color report from Daisetsuzan in Hokkaido. Today, I made my way to Murodo, the tallest point along the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route and also one of the first few...

By Raina Ong·October 2, 2025

Snow Wall along the Alpen Route opened April 15

On April 15 2025, the full route of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route opened to the public after its annual winter closure. Through access between the two terminals: Toyama City in Toyama Prefecture and Omachi Town in...

By Raina Ong·April 28, 2025

Sakura 2025: Kakunodate Report

Today I visited Kakunodate in Akita Prefecture. The city is about midway between Akita and Morioka cities, and Kakunodate Station is a stop on the Akita Shinkansen. In spring, Kakunodate is a popular cherry blossom...

By Raina Ong·April 23, 2025

Sakura 2025: Hirosaki Report

My cherry blossom reporting continues in the Tohoku Region, and today I visited Hirosaki Castle Park, one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan as well as a personal favourite of mine. There are...

By Raina Ong·April 22, 2025

Sakura 2025: Kitakami Report

It has been a month since we began our cherry blossom reporting, and the only region that has yet to announce the opening of their first blossoms is Hokkaid. This week, I am in the Tohoku Region, where cities like...

By Raina Ong·April 21, 2025

Sakura 2025: Mount Fuji Report

I visited the Fuji Five Lakes region four days after my last visit. In the days that passed, the region experienced some nice warm and sunny weather as well as a cold and rainy Sunday. However, I am pleased to report...

By Raina Ong·April 14, 2025

Sakura 2025: Mount Fuji Report

The Fuji Five Lakes (Fujigoko) region sits at an elevation of around 1000 meters, and the cherry blossom season here is later compared to the ones in cities at lower elevations like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. While...

By Raina Ong·April 10, 2025

Sakura 2025: Fukui Report

Today I visited Fukui City, the capital of Fukui Prefecture. Access to the city from Tokyo was made more convenient a year ago when the Hokuriku Shinkansen line was extended from Kanazawa. Today, Fukui enjoys a direct...

By Raina Ong·April 8, 2025

Sakura 2025: Kanazawa Report

Today I was in Kanazawa, where the opening of the first cherry blossoms was announced on March 29. Full bloom was announced yesterday on April 6, and the cherry blossoms I observed in the city reflected that...

By Raina Ong·April 7, 2025

Sakura 2025: Kyoto Report

Full bloom was announced in Kyoto yesterday on April 5, and the cherry trees I saw in the city today reflected that state. This morning’s slight drizzle did not negatively impact the open blossoms, which tend to be...

By Raina Ong·April 6, 2025

Sakura 2025: Osaka Report

Reports of cherry blossoms at full bloom have been announced at many of the cities that had the opening of their first blossoms at the end of March. Cassandra reported that the blossoms in Kyoto were full bloom...

By Raina Ong·April 5, 2025

Sakura 2025: Takamatsu Report

My cherry blossom reporting in Shikoku continues with a visit to Kagawa Prefecture on the northeastern end of the island. Full bloom was announced in Takamatsu, the prefectural capital, yesterday on April 3. The...

By Raina Ong·April 4, 2025

Sakura 2025: Matsuyama Report

Our first Shikoku cherry blossom report is from Matsuyama City, the capital of Ehime Prefecture in western Shikoku. Full bloom was announced on March 30 in the capital city, and I confirmed that the cherry blossoms at...

By Raina Ong·April 3, 2025

Sakura 2025: Tokyo Report

On this cold and rainy day, I returned to Tokyo two days after Cassie was there. The official opening of the first blossoms in the capital was announced on March 24 and full bloom was declared on March 30. Despite the...

By Raina Ong·April 2, 2025

Side trip from Narita Airport

Less than one hour from Narita Airport is the quaint and historic merchant town of Sawara. The town flourished during the 17th to 19th centuries thanks to its water transportation links to the capital of Edo, now...

By Raina Ong·March 7, 2025

teamLab Planets opens new area on January 22, 2025

Open to the public from January 22, 2025 is the newly expanded area of teamLab Planets in Odaiba. Until now, only two art spaces, water and garden, were available at teamLab Planets. This new expansion offers...

By Raina Ong·January 22, 2025

Travel Highlights 2024

2024 is what I considered to be the first full year since the...

By Raina Ong·December 31, 2024

Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale 2024

Taking place in the relatively large Echigo Tsumari region in southern Niigata Prefecture, the Echigo Tsumari Art Field is an art festival that is held once every three years. The first Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale...

By Raina Ong·August 12, 2024

Yebisu beer brewery reopened in Tokyo

The Yebisu Brewery Tokyo opened to the public on April 3, 2024. Formerly the Yebisu Beer Museum, which closed in October 2022 for renovations, the renewed facility now contains a museum, an on-site brewery, a taproom...

By Raina Ong·May 10, 2024

A new ‘corner store’ opened in Harajuku in April

Tokyu Plaza Harajuku, also known as Harakado, opened on April 17, 2024 at the Jingumae intersection along Omotesando Street in central Tokyo. The brand new 9-story facility recreates a space where creators and...

By Raina Ong·April 24, 2024

Sakura 2024: Sapporo Report

Today we bring to you our final sakura report for 2024 from Sapporo, the capital city of Hokkaido. The opening of the first blossoms in Sapporo were announced on April 18 - the second earliest reported opening since...

By Raina Ong·April 24, 2024

Sakura 2024: Hakodate Report

Moving northwards from Hirosaki, where I was yesterday, I crossed the sea over to Hakodate in Hokkaido to bring you our penultimate cherry blossom report. The cherry blossom season in southern and western Hokkaido is...

By Raina Ong·April 23, 2024

Sakura 2024: Hirosaki Report

The second half of April is typically when the cherry blossom season peaks in the north, especially in the Tohoku Region. Today, I visited Hirosaki, specifically Hirosaki Park, three days after Matt was here last...

By Raina Ong·April 22, 2024

Sakura 2024: Mount Myogi Report

It has been almost a month since we began our cherry blossom reporting, starting with the first couple of reports in Tokyo on March 18 and Kyoto on March 20, when the blossoms were still closed. The cherry blossoms in...

By Raina Ong·April 16, 2024

Sakura 2024: Mount Fuji Report

Today I went to the Fuji Five Lakes region to check out the state of the blossoms at some of the popular cherry blossom spots in the area specifically around the Lake Kawaguchiko area and at Oshino Hakkai. The region...

By Raina Ong·April 13, 2024

Sakura 2024: Tokyo Report

Full bloom in Tokyo was officially announced on April 4, and the weekend that passed was one of the best times for cherry blossom viewing parties. Five days since my last report in Tokyo and after yesterday’s heavy...

By Raina Ong·April 10, 2024

Sakura 2024: Tokyo Report

In a short three days since the last time Matt visited Tokyo on April 1, when there were scant open blossoms, full bloom was declared in Tokyo yesterday, April 4. Today, I visited three epopular cherry blossom spots...

By Raina Ong·April 5, 2024

Sakura 2024: Nagoya Report

We are now in the best viewing period of the cherry blossom season, specifically for cities that announced the opening of their first blossoms (kaika) at the end of March. Full bloom was officially announced in Tokyo...

By Raina Ong·April 4, 2024

Sakura 2024: Kyoto Report

It has been about a week since the opening of the first blossoms were announced in western Japan and Tokyo. The cherry blossom season is currently at best viewing in cities in Kyushu like Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Saga and...

By Raina Ong·April 3, 2024

Sakura 2024: Matsuyama Report

Continuing our cherry blossom reporting, I visited Matsuyama in Shikoku today. The city reported the opening of its first blossoms on March 27, and I observed that many of the cherry blossoms were still closed seven...

By Raina Ong·April 2, 2024

Sakura 2024: Kyoto Report

It has been two days since the opening of the first blossoms was announced in Kyoto on March 29, and today, I revisited Kyoto to check on the progress of the cherry blossoms. Despite the relatively few open blossoms,...

By Raina Ong·March 31, 2024

Sakura 2024: Osaka Report

This year’s cherry blossom season started slow and a little later compared to the average year, due to the below-average temperatures for a large proportion of March. However, the temperatures since Friday have been...

By Raina Ong·March 30, 2024

Sakura 2024: Kumamoto Report

After several days of cooler than average temperatures in the last seven days, today’s warm weather provided the much needed heat for the buds to open. Tokyo and Kyoto both announced the opening of their first...

By Raina Ong·March 29, 2024

Sakura 2024: Fukuoka Report

The opening of the first blossoms in Fukuoka was announced on March 27, and I visited the city today, one day after the official announcement. Judging from the minuscule number of open mainstream Somei Yoshino...

By Raina Ong·March 28, 2024

Sakura 2024: Kyoto Report

This year we started our cherry blossom reporting on March 18, when Schauwecker reported that the blossoms in Tokyo were still closed. I visited Tokyo two days ago to find that the blossoms were still closed, one week...

By Raina Ong·March 27, 2024

Sakura 2024: Tokyo Report

Today, I visited Tokyo to check the state of the blossoms. It has been a week since Schauwecker kicked off this year’s sakura reporting with two reports in Tokyo and Kyoto on March 18 and 19 respectively, and reported...

By Raina Ong·March 25, 2024

teamLab Borderless newly opened in central Tokyo

Formerly in Odaiba, the popular teamLab Borderless digital art museum has found its new permanent home in the recently opened Azabudai Hills in central Tokyo. The digital art museum opened it doors to the public on...

By Raina Ong·February 5, 2024

Travel Highlights 2023

In 2023, my travel was focused on Honshu, the main island of Japan. Aomori in Aomori Prefecture was the northernmost city I visited, while Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture was the furthest west I ventured. All in all, I...

By Raina Ong·December 31, 2023

Koyo 2023: Tokyo Report

Almost three months from our very first autumn color report from Daisetsuzan in Hokkaido, today’s Tokyo report will be our last koyo report for 2023. Over the three months, we visited some popular fall color spots in...

By Raina Ong·December 4, 2023

Japan’s new tallest building opens in Tokyo

Azabudai Hills, a mixed-use commercial and residential complex in central Tokyo, opened on November 24, 2023. The sprawling complex consists of three towers - one office tower and two residential towers - and smaller...

By Raina Ong·November 20, 2023

Koyo 2023: Kyoto Report

After weeks of warmer temperatures, the mercury dipped slightly over the last few days, and it now feels like we’re in the full swing of autumn heading towards winter. Since September 15, we have been reporting on the...

By Raina Ong·November 14, 2023

Koyo 2023: Mount Fuji Report

Following our Tokyo report earlier this week, today we headed to the Fuji Five Lakes region to see how the autumn colors have progressed. Located at the northern base of Mount Fuji and at approximately 1000 meters...

By Raina Ong·November 8, 2023

Koyo 2023: Tokyo Report

Since our last autumn color report from Kyoto at the end of October, we kick off November’s reports with a first one from Tokyo. Similar to Kyoto, the trees in the metropolis typically start changing their colors from...

By Raina Ong·November 6, 2023

Koyo 2023: Kyoto Report

After a number of reports from Hokkaido and other popular autumn color spots at higher elevations, today we visit Kyoto to check out the autumn colors for the first time this season. In major cities like Kyoto, Osaka...

By Raina Ong·October 31, 2023

Japan Mobility Show 2023

After a hiatus of three years the biennial automotive event, the Japan Mobility Show, will be held from October 28 till November 5, 2023 at the Tokyo Big Sight in Odaiba. Formerly known as the Tokyo Motor Show, which...

By Raina Ong·October 25, 2023

Koyo 2023: Nikko Report

Nikko and Okunikko are two areas in Nikko National Park, which is located two hours north of Tokyo in Tochigi Prefecture. The areas have an elevation range of about 2000 meters, which means the autumn colors in the...

By Raina Ong·October 17, 2023

Koyo 2023: Alpine Route Report

After two autumn color reports from Daisetsuzan, which is the first place in Japan to see autumn colors, in Hokkaido, today’s report is from the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, a popular route to see panoramic views and...

By Raina Ong·October 3, 2023

Toranomon Hills completed in central Tokyo

With a vision to create a new global business hub in the center of Tokyo, the Mori Building company has recently completed the Toranomon Hills complex in the Toranomon district. From small and aging buildings, the...

By Raina Ong·October 2, 2023

Travel high along the JR Koumi Line

Surrounded by mountains - Mount Asama in the north, the Yatsugatake mountain range in the west...

By Raina Ong·August 12, 2023

Hokusai art and chestnuts in Obuse

Only 30 minutes by train from either Nagano City or the popular snow monkeys of Yamanouchi is the the quiet town of Obuse. Relatively unknown and unexplored by foreign tourists compared to its more famous neighbors,...

By Raina Ong·July 3, 2023

Harry Potter Studio Tour Tokyo Opens June 16, 2023

The highly anticipated Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo - The Making of Harry Potter will open on June 16, 2023. Located only 20 minutes by train from Ikebukuro or Shinjuku in central Tokyo, the walkthrough style...

By Raina Ong·June 14, 2023

Jogashima Island

Tucked away at the tip of the Miura Peninsula, which is between Kamakura and Yokohama, are two of Kanagawa Prefecture’s best kept secrets: Jogashima Island and Misaki Port. Separated by approximately 300 meters of...

By Raina Ong·May 10, 2023

Sakura 2023: Mount Fuji Report

The main cherry blossom season has ended in southern, western and eastern Japan with scant blossoms remaining on the mainstream Somei Yoshino cherry trees. The sakura front line has now moved to the Tohoku Region,...

By Raina Ong·April 9, 2023

Sakura 2023: Kyoto Report

Four days into April, the best viewing of the main cherry blossom season in most cities has passed and the cherry blossom front line has moved towards the northeastern region of Japan. Those who want to see the cherry...

By Raina Ong·April 4, 2023

Sakura 2023: Yoshino Report

The peak of the cherry blossom season has passed in many major cities like Tokyo in eastern Japan and Osaka in western Japan, and there are not many days left to see the sakura. The cherry blossom front line is moving...

By Raina Ong·April 3, 2023

Sakura 2023: Osaka Report

The peak of the season has passed in a number of cities from Fukuoka to Tokyo, and other cities like Osaka and Kyoto are reaching the end of their best viewing period. As the season ends in central Japan, the front...

By Raina Ong·April 2, 2023

Sakura 2023: Kanazawa Report

The cherry blossom season has been underway for just over two weeks now since the opening of the first blossoms was reported in Tokyo on March 14. While the peak of the season has passed in Tokyo, the petals have only...

By Raina Ong·April 1, 2023

Sakura 2023: Kyoto Report

This year’s cherry blossom season has on the whole been earlier compared to the average year. The cherry blossom front line has now reached the Tohoku Region, with Sendai and Yamagata reporting the opening of their...

By Raina Ong·March 31, 2023

Sakura 2023: Tokyo Report

Full bloom was announced in Tokyo today, making it the second earliest year on record to reach full bloom status. While the Tokyo’s representative tree reached full bloom, the popular cherry blossom spots in Tokyo I...

By Raina Ong·March 22, 2023

Sakura 2023: Tokyo Report

It was announced that the first blossoms opened in Tokyo on March 14, kicking off the cherry blossom season in the capital. This early start marks one of the earliest sakura openings ever since the meteorological...

By Raina Ong·March 19, 2023

Haruka airport trains to stop at Osaka Station from March 18

About the new underground platforms at Osaka Station

By Raina Ong·March 2, 2023

Travel along the coast in Ibaraki

A day trip visiting some coastal spots in Ibaraki, one hour from Tokyo

By Raina Ong·February 27, 2023

Art island in Osaka

Art, heritage and culture on Nakanoshima

By Raina Ong·January 5, 2023

Fukushima Sake Brewery

Visiting Suehiro in Aizu-Wakamatsu City, one of Fukushima’s most prominent sake breweries...

By Raina Ong·September 14, 2021

Aomori Fish Market

Furukawa Market is a fish market in central Aomori City where tourists can put together their own seafood rice bowls...

By Raina Ong·September 1, 2021

Fushimi Inari Shrine

Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Shrine is best known for its huge number of torii gates that cover the trails behind the shrine’s main grounds.

By Raina Ong·May 26, 2021

Suggested 5-day itinerary for the Kansai Wide Area Pass

Located in the Kansai Region in western Japan, Osaka and Kyoto are two well known and well visited cities on the tourist radar. The cities contain many sightseeing spots and as such, make for popular bases when...

By Raina Ong·May 5, 2021

Travel Highlights 2020

2020 has been a pretty crazy year, I’m sure it was for everyone of us. The pandemic caught everyone by surprise and many of us had to halt and scrap our travel plans, myself included. However, the year still flew by,...

By Raina Ong·December 31, 2020

Koyo 2020: Kyoto Report

The autumn colors in major cities like Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo are typically at their peak in the last weekend of November. I was in Tokyo yesterday and reported that the colors were at their best viewing albeit...

By Raina Ong·November 27, 2020

Koyo 2020: Tokyo Report

The autumn color season is now at their best viewing in many cities on the main island of Honshu, and Joe reported that the colors in Tokyo were approaching their peak when he was there nine days ago. Today, I visited...

By Raina Ong·November 26, 2020

Koyo 2020: Kyoto Report

As we head into mid November, the autumn colors have started moving down towards the major cities on the main island of Japan. Matt was in Tokyo two days ago and reported that the colors were just starting to change....

By Raina Ong·November 11, 2020

Koyo 2020: Karuizawa Report

The temperatures across Japan over the last few weeks have been cooler than the average year, which has resulted in the season picking up its pace. Schauwecker and Joe were in Mount Fuji and Naruko respectively at the...

By Raina Ong·November 4, 2020

Art and cafes in Nasu, about an hour from Nikko

Tochigi Prefecture has a number of high profile attractions, the most popular one being Nikko’s Toshogu Shrine, followed by eating gyoza in the prefectural capital of Utsunomiya. Ceramics is also one of the highlights...

By Raina Ong·August 6, 2020

Home cooking: Rafute

How to make Okinawan braised pork belly

By Raina Ong·June 28, 2020

Ariake Garden, a newly opened shopping complex in Tokyo

One of the biggest shopping, dining and entertainment places in Tokyo Bay

By Raina Ong·June 26, 2020

New shopping complex With Harajuku opens in Harajuku

A new shopping complex and the newly constructed Harajuku Station

By Raina Ong·June 26, 2020

Tokyo Mizumachi, a new pedestrian route near Asakusa

Pleasant walking path between Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree

By Raina Ong·June 26, 2020

Travel restarting: Tokyo

With the easing of travel restrictions and reopening of many tourist places, I went to check out the situation at some of Tokyo’s popular sightseeing spots.

By Raina Ong·June 25, 2020

Side trips from Tokyo

Five nearby destinations to escape from the city

By Raina Ong·June 24, 2020

Home cooking: Okonomiyaki

How to cook a pancake-style cabbage dish

By Raina Ong·June 22, 2020

Secrets of Noto Hanto

Hidden gems in the peninsula near Kanazawa

By Raina Ong·June 21, 2020

Monozukuri in Japan

Making things and keeping the craft alive

By Raina Ong·June 19, 2020

Rice and everything nice

A look at rice fields in Japan

By Raina Ong·June 17, 2020

Home cooking: Tamagoyaki

How to cook Japanese rolled omelette

By Raina Ong·June 15, 2020

The gods of Oga Peninsula

Reducing children to tears since forever

By Raina Ong·June 14, 2020

Seasonal flowers

About hydrangeas that bloom in June and July

By Raina Ong·June 11, 2020

Bengara production in Fukiya

A rural village in Okayama known for its red iron oxide pigment

By Raina Ong·June 9, 2020

Home cooking: Tamago Sando

How to make Japanese egg sandwich

By Raina Ong·June 7, 2020

A castle befitting a ruler

About the grand Azuchi Castle in Shiga

By Raina Ong·June 5, 2020

Celebrated scenic views

Three places of renowned natural beauty

By Raina Ong·June 3, 2020

Home cooking: Omurice

How to cook Japanese omelette rice

By Raina Ong·June 1, 2020

A walk in the park

Five of the finest gardens in Japan

By Raina Ong·May 30, 2020

Obscure museums

Lesser known museums to check out

By Raina Ong·May 27, 2020

Worshipping mountains

A basic introduction to the Shugendo mountain worship religion

By Raina Ong·May 25, 2020

Morning markets in Japan

Four outdoor markets where locals shop

By Raina Ong·May 23, 2020

Hakusan Heisenji Shrine

A serene shrine at the base of Mount Hakusan

By Raina Ong·May 21, 2020

Picturesque and romantic Tadami Line

Weaving through valleys and mountains on a diesel train

By Raina Ong·May 19, 2020

Garyu Sanso

A handsome abode in Ehime, Shikoku

By Raina Ong·May 15, 2020

Bridges to cross when you get there

Get over it

By Raina Ong·May 13, 2020

Japanese Architects

Famous Japanese architects and their works

By Raina Ong·May 12, 2020

Kyoto Highlights

Some of the best things in Kyoto

By Raina Ong·May 11, 2020

Waterfalls worth chasing

Three well-known waterfalls

By Raina Ong·May 9, 2020

Historical figures who inspire

Three respected guys in Japanese history

By Raina Ong·May 7, 2020

Islands off the beaten track

Five remote islands from Hokkaido to Okinawa

By Raina Ong·May 5, 2020

Picturesque towns in Japan

Four towns that retain their yesteryear charm

By Raina Ong·May 3, 2020

Traditional musical instruments: Koto

The third of three articles introducing some of Japan’s most popular instruments

By Raina Ong·May 1, 2020

Showa Day and Greenery Day

Two national holidays related to the former Emperor Showa

By Raina Ong·April 29, 2020

Raina’s favorite places

Five destinations to visit over and over again

By Raina Ong·April 27, 2020

An introduction to public baths

A look at onsen and sento bathhouses

By Raina Ong·April 25, 2020

For the love of shinkansen

About the different bullet trains in Japan

By Raina Ong·April 23, 2020

Office cats of japan-guide.com

Introducing our resident office cats: Leo, Akira and Lope

By Raina Ong·April 21, 2020

Traditional musical instruments: Shamisen

The second of three articles introducing some of Japan’s most popular instruments

By Raina Ong·April 19, 2020

Three foods to try in Japan

Local delicacies not to be missed when in Japan

By Raina Ong·April 17, 2020

Scenic spots in Tokyo

A sample of scenic bridges and towers in the city

By Raina Ong·April 15, 2020

Traditional musical instruments: Taiko

The first of three articles introducing some of Japan’s most popular instruments

By Raina Ong·April 13, 2020

Top three hidden villages in Japan

Some lesser known jewels in the Japanese countryside

By Raina Ong·April 9, 2020

Sakura 2020: Tokyo Report

This year’s cherry blossom (sakura) season in Tokyo started on March 14, a week earlier compared to last year and almost two weeks earlier than the average year. Warmer than average temperatures can be attributed for...

By Raina Ong·March 19, 2020

Tokyo Dreaming

When visiting a different country, some travelers want to experience what is like to live like a local, even for a day, in addition to taking in all the sightseeing spots. In this edition of Chotto Zeitaku, I visited...

By Raina Ong·March 7, 2020

Notsuke Peninsula

Winter in Hokkaido is in a class of its own. The vast snow covered landscape, icy cold temperatures, drift ice and frozen water bodies, these are scenes that are uniquely Hokkaido. In my quest for unique and remote...

By Raina Ong·January 20, 2020

Island Paradise in Okinawa

Okinawa Prefecture is Japan’s southernmost prefecture and made up of many islands. Its subtropical climate - summer temperatures ranging between 25 to 33 degrees Celsius and winter daytime temperatures ranging from 15...

By Raina Ong·January 9, 2020

Travel Highlights 2019

2019 whizzed by in a blur for me, and it’s been a year filled with lots and lots of travel. I visited 26 out of the 47 prefectures in Japan and had almost the same number of international flights. As with previous...

By Raina Ong·December 31, 2019

Koyo 2019: Tokyo Report

Today, I was in Tokyo for our final autumn color report for 2019. To recap this year’s season, we started our reporting all the way back in mid September in Daisetsuzan when the colors were at their peak. The warmer...

By Raina Ong·December 9, 2019

Shopping at Shibuya Fukuras and Parco

Shibuya is a well known tourist destination, and it is home to iconic Tokyo landmarks like the Shibuya Scramble Crossing and the Hachiko dog statue outside Shibuya Station. There have been ongoing renovations in the...

By Raina Ong·December 3, 2019

Koyo 2019: Kyoto Report

Warmer temperatures were recorded over the last few months across Japan, and that contributed to the slow start and slight delay to the autumn color season, while the typhoon and heavy rains in the last month caused...

By Raina Ong·November 5, 2019

46th Tokyo Motor Show

The 46th Tokyo Motor Show 2019 is open to the public from October 24 till November 4. This year, the title and theme of the biennial car event is Open Future, and that was reflected in the style of the numerous new...

By Raina Ong·October 23, 2019

Koyo 2019: Oze Report

Slowly but surely, the autumn color season is descending from mountain tops to the highlands. It seems that the warmer than average temperatures over the last couple of months have slightly delayed the changing colors...

By Raina Ong·October 10, 2019

Koyo 2019: Route 292 Report

Today, I went for a drive on a section of the National Route 292, starting in Nagano, not far from the hot spring town of Yudanaka Onsen, to Kusatsu Onsen, one of the best onsen towns in Japan. My drive started at...

By Raina Ong·September 26, 2019

Koyo 2019: Alpine Route Report

Today, I visited the popular Alpine Route to check out the autumn colours (koyo) from 1400-2450 meters above sea level. I started at Murodo, at 2450 meters, and found that the colours there were approaching peak. The...

By Raina Ong·September 25, 2019

A surfer’s paradise in Ichinomiya

Summer is never complete without a trip to the beach, and this summer, I went to the Kujukurihama Coast on the eastern side of the Boso Peninsula. Specifically, I visited Ichinomiya Beach and Tsurigasaki Beach where...

By Raina Ong·August 9, 2019

A day out in Karuizawa

Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture is a popular resort area, a place where locals from the surrounding prefectures like Tokyo and Saitama go for a short break to enjoy highlands, shopping and dining. Karuizawa is also...

By Raina Ong·May 31, 2019

Travel outdoors in Nagano

Nagano Prefecture is one of Japan’s eight inland prefectures whose land mass does not meet the sea or ocean. In place of the very large bodies of water, about 80 percent of the prefecture is covered by mountains. In...

By Raina Ong·May 29, 2019

Travel in Tendo, Yamagata

According to a census carried out in 2018, Yamagata Prefecture ranked 30 out of the 47 prefectures in Japan in terms of appealing to domestic travellers with its attractiveness and charm. That is to say, Yamagata...

By Raina Ong·April 21, 2019

Old and New in Kiyosumi Shirakawa

Kiyosumi Shirakawa is a district east of Tokyo Station across the Sumida River and bound by water on the other sides. The area retains a lot of its shitamachi, old town charm, and these days has also gained the...

By Raina Ong·April 19, 2019

Sakura 2019: Mount Fuji Report

The main cherry blossom season is winding down in major cities like...

By Raina Ong·April 16, 2019

Sakura 2019: Kyoto Report

It has been five days since full bloom was reported in Kyoto, and today, I headed back to the old capital to see how the cherry blossoms were holding up. Yesterday’s all-day rain did not do as much damage as I had...

By Raina Ong·April 11, 2019

Sakura 2019: Osaka Report

Cold and wet weather today in most of the country, and Osaka, where I was today, was no exception. Full bloom was reported in Osaka on April 4, 2019, and I judged that we have entered the beginning of the end of...

By Raina Ong·April 10, 2019

Sakura 2019: Yoshino Report

Today I visited Mount Yoshinoyama to check out how the cherry trees have fare since our last visit. Yoshinoyama has thousands of cherry trees planted on its slopes, and is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot...

By Raina Ong·April 9, 2019

Sakura 2019: Kyoto Report

We are now in the second week of April, and the cherry blossom frontline has reached the Tohoku Region where Fukushima and Sendai reported the opening of their first blossoms on April 5, 2019. Majority of the cities...

By Raina Ong·April 8, 2019

Sakura 2019: Kanazawa Report

Sakura season in Kanazawa started officially on April 1, 2019 when the first blossoms opened. Today, I headed to Kanazawa four days after kaika to see how far the flowers at two of the popular cherry blossom spots in...

By Raina Ong·April 5, 2019

Sakura 2019: Takamatsu Report

This week, many cities that started their cherry blossom season at the end of March have entered their best viewing period and are finally reaching full bloom. A cold front at the end of last week till the beginning...

By Raina Ong·April 4, 2019

Sakura 2019: Matsuyama Report

It has been over a week since the opening of the first blossoms were reported in cities from Kyushu to the Kanto Region. Many of the cherry blossom spots in these cities are already at their best viewing, while a...

By Raina Ong·April 3, 2019

Sakura 2019: Hiroshima Report

The opening of the first blossoms in Hiroshima were officially reported on March 22, 2019. I revisited the city and Miyajima today, eleven days after kaika and five days after our last report, and I am pleased to...

By Raina Ong·April 2, 2019

Sakura 2019: Iwakuni Report

Iwakuni is a small city in southeast Yamaguchi Prefecture that is most famous for Kintaikyo Bridge, one of the top three famous bridges in the country. The area around the bridge together with the nearby Kikko Park is...

By Raina Ong·April 2, 2019

Sakura 2019: Osaka Report

Today, I head to Osaka for our first cherry blossom report from the city this season. The opening of the first blossoms was officially announced in Osaka on March 27, 2019, more or less on par to the average year. I...

By Raina Ong·April 1, 2019

Sakura 2019: Kyoto Report

The cherry blossom season in Kyoto kicked off when the opening of the first blossoms (kaika) was reported officially on March 27. Today, I visited some of the popular cherry blossom spots in Kyoto to see how the...

By Raina Ong·March 30, 2019

Sakura 2019: Nagoya Report

We’ve now entered the end of the first week of the cherry blossom season. The earliest major cities to report the opening of their first blossoms (kaika) were Tokyo and Fukuoka on March 21 and Nagoya on March 22....

By Raina Ong·March 29, 2019

Sakura 2019: Kyoto Report

The cherry blossom season officially started in Kyoto and Osaka with the announcement of the opening of their first blossoms yesterday, March 27, 2019. Kobe which is also in the Kansai Region also announced the start...

By Raina Ong·March 28, 2019

Sakura 2019: Kyoto Report

Today, I headed to Kyoto for our first cherry blossom report from the Kansai Region. While the start to the cherry blossom season in Tokyo was officially reported on March 21, Kyoto and Osaka have not reported the...

By Raina Ong·March 25, 2019

Moominvalley Park opens near Tokyo

The Moomins are characters in a series of Scandinavian children’s stories written by Tove Jansson. There are many characters through the series, and the central ones are Moomintroll, Moominpappa and Moominmamma and...

By Raina Ong·March 20, 2019

Travel along the coast of Shizuoka

In this episode of Solo Female Travel, I head to Shizuoka Prefecture which is about 60 minutes away from either Tokyo or Nagoya. Its convenient location makes it a great spot for first time solo travellers who do not...

By Raina Ong·February 24, 2019

Awajishima Island

Legend has it that back when the Japanese Shinto gods Izanaginomikoto and Izanaminomikoto were in the process of creating Japan, they first created the island now known as Awajishima before creating the rest of Japan....

By Raina Ong·February 13, 2019

2018 Travel Highlights

In 2018, I visited 28 out of the 47 prefectures in Japan and even managed to cover the islands at the ends of Japan, Hokkaido and Okinawa. Of the 28 prefectures, there were a number of new spots which quickly became...

By Raina Ong·December 31, 2018

International Hiroo in central Tokyo

Hiroo is a quiet and upscale neighbourhood nestled among the other glitzy and well known neighbourhoods of Roppongi, Shibuya, Ebisu and Shinagawa. The district is known for having a high concentration of embassies and...

By Raina Ong·December 11, 2018

Koyo 2018: Tokyo Report

Today, we bring you our last autumn color report for 2018, almost 11 weeks after our first report from Daisetsuzan in Hokkaido. This year, the autumn colors started off slowly due to the slightly higher temperatures...

By Raina Ong·December 4, 2018

Koyo 2018: Kyoto Report

Late November is typically the period when the cities in eastern through to western Japan reach their peak. Today, the last Monday of November, I headed into central Kyoto to check on the autumn colors in the city. I...

By Raina Ong·November 26, 2018

Koyo 2018: Osaka Report

We continue our reporting in the Kansai Region in Osaka. Over the last two days, we reported that the autumn colors in Kyoto and Kanazawa were at their peak. Today, I visited Minoo Park, a popular autumn color spot...

By Raina Ong·November 25, 2018

Koyo 2018: Kanazawa Report

As we are nearing the end of November, many of the cities are reaching their peak autumn colors. Today, I visited Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa to see how the autumn colors were faring in one of Japan’s top three most...

By Raina Ong·November 24, 2018

Koyo 2018: Kyoto Report

The autumn color season is well underway across Honshu, the main island of Japan. I reported that the colors at Miyajima not far from Hiroshima was at its peak three days ago, while Schauwecker reported that Kyoto was...

By Raina Ong·November 23, 2018

Koyo 2018: Miyajima Report

Today we’re back in the Kansai Region with Schauwecker in Nara where he reported that the autumn colors are at their peak, while I head further west to Miyajima not far from Hiroshima in the Chugoku Region. I am...

By Raina Ong·November 20, 2018

Koyo 2018: Kyoto Report

We are now in the middle of the November and the autumn colors can now be seen in the major cities in the Kanto and Kansai regions. The colors are still on their way to their best and I expect the peak to start from...

By Raina Ong·November 16, 2018

Travel along Lake Biwa, Shiga

For our second Solo Female Travel trip, we head to Shiga Prefecture. The most well-known attraction in the prefecture is Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan, and I explored the area south of the lake for this 2-day...

By Raina Ong·November 14, 2018

Koyo 2018: Kyoto Report

As we enter the second week of November, the autumn colors are moving slowly but surely towards the major cities. I visited Kyoto today, about a week after Sam’s last visit to the old capital.I am pleased to report...

By Raina Ong·November 11, 2018

Koyo 2018: Mount Fuji Report

We are now just over a week into November, and the autumn colors are also starting to move towards the cities in the Kanto Region as well as in western Japan. Starting this week, the japan-guide team will be ramping...

By Raina Ong·November 8, 2018

Koyo 2018: Tokyo Report

As we approach the month of November, the autumn color season is slowly but surely making its way into the cities. Our last report was from the Fuji Five Lakes region two days ago where Lori reported that the colors...

By Raina Ong·October 31, 2018

Koyo 2018: Nikko Report

It has been ten days since our last report from Nikko and today, I visited the spots we went to the last time to see how the autumn color season has progressed since then. I am pleased to report that while the trees...

By Raina Ong·October 26, 2018

Business as usual at Tsukiji Outer Market

Tsukiji Market is made up of two sections, the inner market and the outer market. Since mid October, there has been lots of attention and news about the inner market’s move to Toyosu. On the other hand, the outer...

By Raina Ong·October 25, 2018

Koyo 2018: Hachimantai Report

By Raina Ong·October 16, 2018

Koyo 2018: Hakkoda Report

Moving back to the Tohoku Region since our last autumn color report in Oze, I went to Mount Hakkoda in Aomori Prefecture to kick off the work week. Overall I found the autumn colors here to be nearing the end of their...

By Raina Ong·October 15, 2018

Koyo 2018: Oze Report

It is that time of the year once more when the autumn color chase has begun. This year, we started the season in Hokkaido in late September when the colors were already at their best. From there, we continued at...

By Raina Ong·October 12, 2018

Okunoshima Island

In this episode of Far Flung, we head to a more well-known island and considerably fun island in the Seto Inland Sea: Okunoshima Island, more popularly known as Rabbit Island. The small island has a circumference of...

By Raina Ong·September 12, 2018

Oh Onomichi

Onomichi, for me, is like the essence of a love sonnet. A place that evokes good vibes, where good memories are made and where you can relax and take time to be in the present. But this is me romanticising about one...

By Raina Ong·September 11, 2018

Hello Kitty Shinkansen

The Hello Kitty Shinkansen - the cutest bullet train to grace our train tracks thus far - started its service on June 30, 2018. This Kodama train on the Sanyo Shinkansen with the special livery makes one round trip a...

By Raina Ong·August 19, 2018

Eclectic times in Nakameguro

Nakameguro is a neighbourhood in Tokyo that is home to lots of hip and unique boutiques. It’s one of the places where creative minds go to play, a district with an artsy and edgy streak while retaining some of the...

By Raina Ong·August 15, 2018

Travel in Oku Aizu, Fukushima

Deviating off the popular sightseeing routes, the inaugural Solo Female Travel begins in Fukushima Prefecture. For this overnight trip, I based myself in the town of Aizu-Wakamatsu and stayed overnight at a ryokan in...

By Raina Ong·August 8, 2018

Hateruma Island

The Yaeyama Islands are a popular holiday destination for city dwellers and even more so during the summer months when school is out. For our second Far Flung trip this summer (the first can be seen here), we visited...

By Raina Ong·June 27, 2018

Yonaguni Island

Summer in Japan is typically hot and muggy, and many locals escape to either the highlands to avoid the heat or head straight for the islands for some tropical fun in the sun. This summer’s edition of Far Flung sees...

By Raina Ong·June 24, 2018

Chasing the high life in Chino, Nagano

Nagano Prefecture is one of the few inland prefectures in Japan whose borders do not touch neither sea nor ocean. The lack of large bodies of water is made up for by plenty of mountains that provide a playground among...

By Raina Ong·May 27, 2018

Cruising Tokyo’s waterways

There are a number of rivers that flow through Tokyo with many of them joining up and emptying into Tokyo Bay. Each river brings their distinct charm to the neighbourhoods they are located in, like the cherry trees...

By Raina Ong·May 16, 2018

Wisteria blossoms in Ashikaga Flower Park

The cherry blossom season mostly over in the Kanto Region, and it is now time for the spotlight to be on other flowers. If you missed out on the sakura and are looking to see some flowers, the wisteria flowers (fuji...

By Raina Ong·April 17, 2018

Sakura 2018: Mount Fuji Report

The 2018 cherry blossom season is now in places in higher elevations and moving northwards slowly. I returned to the Fuji Five Lakes area today, almost a week after my last trip to check on the progress of the...

By Raina Ong·April 12, 2018

Sakura 2018: Aizu Report

The cherry blossom front line has moved towards the north, and this week, we are checking out the cherry blossoms in cities at higher elevations like the Fuji Five Lakes area as well as in the Tohoku Region. Compared...

By Raina Ong·April 10, 2018

Sakura 2018: Mount Fuji Report

The cherry blossom front is moving northwards and towards the higher elevations, and almost on its last legs in cities like Tokyo and Kyoto. Joe was in Fukushima yesterday and reported that the flowers were still at...

By Raina Ong·April 6, 2018

Sakura 2018: Takaoka Report

Almost a week into April, the cherry blossom front has been steadily moving towards the Tohoku Region and in places at higher elevations. The sakura season has reached their peak in cities like Sendai and Fukushima...

By Raina Ong·April 5, 2018

Sakura 2018: Kanazawa Report

The main cherry blossom season is almost over in the main cities of Tokyo and Kyoto. This year’s sakura season so far has been on average about a week to ten days earlier compared to the average year. The warmer than...

By Raina Ong·April 4, 2018

Sakura 2018: Kyoto Report

In an average year, early April is when the cherry blossom season reaches its peak. However due to a warmer March, the season has been expedited this year and by now, the mainstream Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms in...

By Raina Ong·April 3, 2018

Sakura 2018: Yoshino Report

The sakura season is approaching its end in Tokyo and Kyoto and moving northwards. Fukushima is one of the first cities in the Tohoku Region to reach full bloom today, a mere four days after announcing the opening of...

By Raina Ong·April 2, 2018

Sakura 2018: Kyoto Report

The last week of March saw many cities from Kyushu to at their best viewing period. Yesterday and today are likely to be the last weekend to see the cherry blossoms at their best in those places. Good weather is...

By Raina Ong·April 1, 2018

Sakura 2018: Nagoya Report

We are now at the end of March and in the last two weeks, we have been chasing the cherry blossom front from Kyushu to Kanto. This year’s sakura season so far has been about a week earlier compared to the average...

By Raina Ong·March 31, 2018

Sakura 2018: Kyoto Report

As the warm and sunny spring weather continues across Japan, so has the cherry blossom season with many cities in western, central and eastern Japan currently at full bloom and in their best viewing period. This good...

By Raina Ong·March 30, 2018

Sakura 2018: Osaka Report

It has been almost two weeks since the start of the cherry blossom season when Tokyo and a few cities in Kyushu reported the opening of their first blossoms (kaika). The sakura season in western, central and eastern...

By Raina Ong·March 29, 2018

Sakura 2018: Hiroshima Report

The pace of this year’s sakura season has been about a week earlier compared to the average year. The temperatures over the last few days have been warmer than usual, resulting in an earlier best viewing period...

By Raina Ong·March 28, 2018

Sakura 2018: Fukuoka Report

We are now in our second week of our yearly sakura reports and almost all the cities from Kyushu to Kanto have announced the opening of their first blossoms (kaika) with the exception of some cities located at higher...

By Raina Ong·March 27, 2018

Sakura 2018: Kumamoto Report

This week, many of the places which announced the opening of their first blossoms (kaika) last week have entered their best viewing period. After kaika, it typically takes about five to ten days for the season to...

By Raina Ong·March 26, 2018

Sakura 2018: Kochi Report

The cherry blossom season is currently underway in western, central and eastern Japan. By today, most of the cities in Kyushu, Shikoku, Chugoku, Kinki, Chubu and Kanto regions have announced the opening of their first...

By Raina Ong·March 25, 2018

Sakura 2018: Osaka Report

This year’s cherry blossom season so far has been about a week earlier compared to the average year due to warmer temperatures in March. Despite a couple of cold weather days over the spring equinox which also brought...

By Raina Ong·March 24, 2018

Sakura 2018: Kyoto Report

In the week following the opening of the first blossoms (kaika) in Tokyo on March 17, 2018, kaika was also announced in the majority of cities west of the metropolis. Due to the warmer temperatures in March, the...

By Raina Ong·March 23, 2018

Sakura 2018: Tokyo Report

Spring has come and it’s that time of the year where the team at japan-guide.com bring you the latest cherry blossoms reports from all across the country. The sakura season was officially opened in Tokyo on March 17,...

By Raina Ong·March 19, 2018

Kushiro

Winter in Japan very often has two camps of people: those who love the cold and winter activities, and those who stay indoors where it is warm and wish for warm weather to arrive sooner...

By Raina Ong·February 6, 2018

Shinanomachi, the Backcountry of Nagano

For two days in mid-January, I took the opportunity to go to Shinanomachi in northern Nagano for a quick winter escape. This year, snowfall came earlier compared to the previous couple of years and I arrived to a...

By Raina Ong·January 18, 2018

Following Japan’s silk road to Kiryu

Kiryu is a small town outside of the tourist radar about two hours north of Tokyo. The small city sees few tourists, but it nonetheless used to be part of an important old trade route in Japan: the silk road. The...

By Raina Ong·January 10, 2018

Travel Highlights 2017

It’s time to take a look at how 2017 went before 2018 which is looming ahead of us takes over. This year I managed to visit 34 out of 47 prefectures...

By Raina Ong·December 31, 2017

Koyo 2017: Tokyo Report

As the autumn color season winds down, the best viewing period for most places has also passed. To recap japan-guide.com’s autumn color chase, we started the season in Daisetsuzan in Hokkaido-where the colors are...

By Raina Ong·December 7, 2017

Koyo 2017: Tokyo Report

The last time Sam was in Tokyo about five days ago, he reported that the colors in the city were mostly at their best. In those five days, lower temperatures encouraged the rest of the places that were lagging behind...

By Raina Ong·November 27, 2017

Koyo 2017: Kanazawa Report

Today I headed to Kanazawa, a city that has become a popular destination with foreign visitors in the last few years. I visited a couple of the city’s most famous attractions; Kenrokuen Garden, one of the three best...

By Raina Ong·November 24, 2017

Koyo 2017: Kyoto Report

This week has seen cities like Tokyo and Kyoto showing off their best autumn colors. Temperatures have dropped considerably in the last couple of weeks and that also encouraged the colors to improve quickly to now....

By Raina Ong·November 23, 2017

Koyo 2017: Nara Report

The autumn colors are at their best this week in cities like Tokyo where Sam was today, in Kyoto and Nara where I was today. I expect this weekend to be the best time to see the autumn colors if you are in or around...

By Raina Ong·November 22, 2017

Koyo 2017: Kyoto Report

Back in Kyoto after three days, I found the colors to have developed even more since the last time I was here. The places I visited today were at their peak and I expect the best viewing period to continue into this...

By Raina Ong·November 21, 2017

Koyo 2017: Horaiji Report

Today was one of the coldest days this season with low temperatures reported across most of Japan. Cities in northern Japan like Hokkaido and Aomori as well as places at higher elevations on Honshu the largest island...

By Raina Ong·November 20, 2017

Koyo 2017: Kyoto Report

This year’s autumn color season in western Japan has been about a week earlier compared to the average year. Temperatures have continued to get cooler and that has encouraged the colors to progress and improve faster...

By Raina Ong·November 18, 2017

Koyo 2017: Miyajima Report

After yesterday’s all day rain in Kyoto where the colors were approaching their best colors, today I headed further west to Miyajima about an hour away from Hiroshima. I found the colors here to be at their peak and I...

By Raina Ong·November 15, 2017

Koyo 2017: Kyoto Report

Today, I visited Kyoto a week after my last visit. It was a day of constant rain and temperatures are predicted to fall closer to early winter levels. The highs for the rest of this week in the city are forecast to be...

By Raina Ong·November 14, 2017

Koyo 2017: Korankei Report

After a somewhat average pace in the north, it seems that the autumn color (koyo) season has picked up its pace a little, about a week early compared to the average year in western and central Japan. We will be...

By Raina Ong·November 13, 2017

Koyo 2017: Tokyo Report

After this week’s quick Kansai trip to Kyoto and Koyasan (you can read the reports here), I return to Tokyo to check the progress of autumn colors.The colors in the capital city have just begun and with temperatures...

By Raina Ong·November 9, 2017

Koyo 2017: Koyasan Report

Continuing with my Kansai escapade, today, I head to Koyasan to check out the autumn colors there. I found the colors here to be at their peak and the best viewing period to continue for the next few days. Sunny and...

By Raina Ong·November 8, 2017

Koyo 2017: Kyoto Report

This week, we finally make our way to the Kansai Region. Today, I made my way to Kyoto, the old capital of Japan and found the autumn colors here to be developing very well. Night time temperatures have fallen...

By Raina Ong·November 7, 2017

Shinrinyoku in Kirishima

Taking a small deviation off the regular Chotto Zeitaku series, this edition is about shinrinyoku, or forest bathing, an indulgence of nature. The idea is to surrounded by nature, soak in the negative ions and leave...

By Raina Ong·November 1, 2017

Koyo 2017: Kirishima Report

Today, I took the road less travelled and headed west to check out how the autumn colors had progressed. In the season up to know, we have mostly gone to destinations in Hokkaido and as far south as the Fuji Five...

By Raina Ong·November 1, 2017

Koyo 2017: Karuizawa Report

Today, I made my way to Karuizawa, a popular vacation destination in Nagano. Karuizawa just over an hour away from Tokyo by shinkansen and can be done in a day trip. But of course, it would be more comfortable to stay...

By Raina Ong·October 27, 2017

The 45th Tokyo Motor Show

The Tokyo Motor Show is a biyearly motoring event and in 2017 this year, it will be open to the public from October 28 till November 5...

By Raina Ong·October 25, 2017

Koyo 2017: Mount Fuji Report

From Nikko where I was yesterday, I made my way to another popular tourist destination, the Fuji Five Lakes. The area is best known as a Mount Fuji viewing location and is also a popular spot for seasonal flora like...

By Raina Ong·October 18, 2017

Koyo 2017: Nikko Report

Continuing with the autumn color chase this week, I headed to the popular tourist destination Nikko for a follow up since Sam’s trip two weeks ago. Today, I found the colors in the Oku Nikko region to be just shy of...

By Raina Ong·October 17, 2017

Dipping into the three onsen towns of Yamanaka, Yamashiro and Katayamazu

By Raina Ong·October 11, 2017

Shiretoko Peninsula

The Shiretoko Peninsula can be considered as one of Japan’s last suriving wilderness that has largely remained untouched by humans...

By Raina Ong·October 5, 2017

Koyo 2017: Shiretoko Report

Two weeks after Schauwecker was in Daisetsuzan in central Hokkaido, I made my way to the Shiretoko Peninsula in eastern Hokkaido. Almost like the country’s final frontier, the peninsula is best known for its...

By Raina Ong·October 4, 2017

Koyo 2017: Route 292 Report

The annual autumn color spectacular has started in the higher altitudes in Japan with Daisetsuzan in Hokkaido showing off splendid colors when Schauwecker was there last week.Today, I headed to check out the...

By Raina Ong·September 26, 2017

Tomigaya, the hidden gem of Shibuya

Just minutes away from one of the busiest and most well visited tourist destinations, Shibuya, are the neighbourhoods of Tomigaya and Kamiyamacho. An oasis of peace from the busy scramble...

By Raina Ong·August 30, 2017

Remote Riches in Toyama

Toyama Prefecture is home to some of the most stunning attractions in the country. Mountains make up more than half of the prefecture and are even visible from the capital city of Toyama...

By Raina Ong·July 24, 2017

Turning up the heat in Hayama

Summer in Japan brings to mind beaches and barbecues, ice cold drinks, and festivals and fireworks. If you are in Japan over the hottest months of the year, consider visiting a nearby beach to experience how the...

By Raina Ong·July 19, 2017

Spiritual Chichibu

The mountainous region of Chichibu is an underrated gem just two hours north of Tokyo in Saitama Prefecture. The area offers a wide range of activities from hiking to river rafting to shrine-hopping...

By Raina Ong·July 3, 2017

Nozakijima Island

Carrying on from where I left off on Ojika Island, I made my way to Nozaki Island (Nozakijima) just 30 minutes away by ferry. Despite being closer...

By Raina Ong·May 18, 2017

Ojika Island

One might easily forget that Japan is an island if you live on Honshu, the country’s largest island. You could live so far inland that the trip to the sea...

By Raina Ong·May 17, 2017

Traditional craftsmanship in Tsubame-Sanjo

Wanting for a change of pace and to get out of the city, I headed to the cities of Tsubame and Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture. Often collectively referred to as Tsubame-Sanjo, the cities are not as well-known compared to...

By Raina Ong·May 7, 2017

Fuji Shibazakura Festival

Today, I went to the Fuji Shibazakura Festival, a very popular flower festival at the base of Mount Fuji. Shibazakura is also known as phlox moss, and has flowers that resemble cherry blossoms (sakura). About seven varieties of shibazakura are planted at the site...

By Raina Ong·May 2, 2017