2022-09-14 05:17
The term otaku (オタク) is used in Japan to describe a person who is obsessively devoted to a particular interest or hobby of whatever nature: there are train otaku, TV ser… Read More
Blog Directory > Travel Blogs > VOYAPON - Japan Travel Visitors Guide travel Blog >
2022-09-09 07:53
The mighty Mount Aso (阿蘇山) is the largest active volcano in Japan. As is the case with many of the volcanoes located on Kyushu Island, which is often referred to as the… Read More
2022-08-31 07:31
From abroad, you might believe that tattoos are frowned upon in Japan. However, it’s important to point out that most tattoos in the rest of the world are very far from traditional Jap… Read More
2022-08-22 05:54
My introduction to the world of Japanese tea ceremony (茶道, chado) took place during my first visit to Japan in 2016. Everywhere I stayed, from the smallest ryokan to… Read More
2022-08-18 07:20
In Japan, as well as in many other countries, birthdays are a reason for celebration. But has it always been the case? How do people wish “happy birthday” in Japanese, and how do… Read More
2022-08-09 08:03
It’s not rare for Japanese subcultures to expand overseas and then explode in the West. Manga, anime, and video games are just a few Japan exports reaching the Western world and beyond… Read More
2022-07-29 13:56
It was 2014 when a young pop star with long, turquoise twintails opened U.S. artist Lady Gaga’s ArtRave: The Artpop Ball tour, catching the attention of Western non-otaku (i.e., non-lo… Read More
2022-07-25 18:06
What is the climate like in Japan? What temperatures should you expect when traveling in different seasons? And what is the best time of the year to visit the Land of the Rising Sun? Today w… Read More
2022-07-20 18:55
I am a fan of travel blogs and conventional guide books and possibly, one of the last few on earth who still buys printed versions of the guide books. You can often rely on blogs and guidebo… Read More
2022-07-14 12:53
When discussing Japan and the Second World War, one inevitably thinks of the kamikaze, Pearl Harbor, or the atomic bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which immediately brings up very dark imag… Read More
2022-07-08 14:47
If Miyazaki Prefecture (宮崎県) is on your itinerary, you will get the chance to discover much more than its superb surf beaches and subtropical landscapes. Some villages i… Read More
2022-06-29 05:19
Full disclosure: This article was written in collaboration with Trekkling to promote a cycling experience people can enjoy near (or more accurately, in) Tokyo. Trekkling provided me with a c… Read More
2022-06-24 12:01
One of Japan’s most impressive night illumination festivals is held in the Kansai region: Kobe Luminarie (神戸ルミナリエ). Although the event… Read More
2022-06-17 09:20
I enjoy a sport even more than sakura hunting: It’s Momiji autumn leaves hunting. At the beginning of November, the foliage of Japanese maple trees turns red before falling during wint… Read More
2022-06-06 03:45
The first thing to do before undertaking a trip is to plan it: looking for which airline to fly with, planning an itinerary or hiring a guide, thinking about what to add to the suitcase, and… Read More
2022-05-30 01:44
When you think of Japan, you might picture Mt Fuji, temples and shrines, sushi, and countless other cultural and gastronomical icons for which the country is so well known. Every year, milli… Read More
2022-05-24 09:20
“A Japanese is born as a Shinto, marries as a Christian, and dies as a Buddhist.” This looks impossible, but in Japan, it has its logic. The concept of spirituality and religion… Read More
2022-05-16 03:21
In most cases, an internship is an essential part of studies or training. So-called mandatory internships are intended to help us determine which path we would like to take in our profession… Read More
2022-05-13 04:24
So you’ve decided, perhaps to study Japanese or work, to take the plunge and move to Japan. If there is one thing that most new residents of Japan have in common, regardless… Read More
2022-05-11 08:51
Japan’s smallest main island, Shikoku, is usually not one of the main destinations for international tourists visiting Japan. Many follow the golden route with Tokyo – Fuji &ndas&hell…Read More
2022-05-06 06:47
Japan is a country of consumption. Commercial solicitations are everywhere, in supermarkets, shopping centers (depato, デパート) and konbini (コンビ… Read More
2022-05-02 05:24
Located a few kilometres from Kyoto and Osaka, Nara (奈良市) is one of the historical capitals of Japan. Numerous Buddhist temples and traditional buildings from its glorio… Read More
2022-04-30 08:00
If you have friends or relatives in Japan, you might have tried to send a letter or a parcel abroad. Thus, you may know that postal services can be sensitive in case of wrongly written addre… Read More
2022-04-28 00:53
For many, the first things that come to mind when they think about Tokyo are the crowded streets full of neon lights in Shibuya or Shinjuku, the anime figu… Read More
2022-04-26 10:52
One of the most common stereotypes we have of Japan is that Japanese people work all the time and have very little time off. This is partly true: work shifts are often very long, and paid va… Read More
2022-04-25 12:49
In Japan, wage policies and minimum wage are decided at both government and local levels. In recent years, we’ve seen wage policies evolve according to the changing economic context. A… Read More
2022-04-21 08:00
Stretching along a beautiful section of Japan’s east coast, Ibaraki Prefecture features a wonderfully diverse range of things to see and do. Within easy reach of Tokyo, many of Ibaraki… Read More
2022-04-12 08:36
Legend has it that a deity appeared in a dream to a pious Buddhist monk to show him a sacred valley, blessed by an abundant stream of water — a mythical place where the prote… Read More
2022-04-08 06:17
When talking about Kumamoto (熊本), the first image that comes to mind is probably Kumamon, the city’s cuddly black bear mascot, if not the symbolic Kumamoto Castle, which… Read More
2022-04-05 10:17
Experiencing an authentic aspect of traditional Japan is a dream come true for any fan of Japanese culture. While traveling around Japan, you may have many occasions to witness its deep-root… Read More
2022-03-31 05:00
The Hamamatsu region in Shizuoka Prefecture is located in a privileged natural environment. With its impressive mountains and over 800 different types of plants inhabiting the area, Lake Ham… Read More
2022-03-31 05:00
Hamamatsu is located in the western part of Shizuoka Prefecture. In addition to its abundant nature and breathtaking sceneries, it also has a rich history. During the Edo period, this area w… Read More
2022-03-29 09:00
There’s hardly a traveler to Japan who hasn’t thought about, read, or traveled to Kyoto’s cultural capital or Hyogo’s Himeji Castle. But anyone looking for an excursi… Read More
2022-03-29 09:00
If a visit to Japan in winter has escaped your radar until now, cozying up in local restaurants as you indulge in a rich seafood heritage and breathtaking winter sceneries in northern Kyoto… Read More
2022-03-28 01:51
The year is 1952. The revolution that will radically transform Japanese animation into what we know today is taking place ten thousand kilometers away, in France. French poet Jacques Pr&eacu&hell…Read More
2022-03-25 08:00
With an average of 485cm (191in.) of snowfall annually, Hokkaido is one of the best playgrounds for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts worldwide. You can look forward to 487 kilometers in a… Read More
2022-03-25 08:00
In the cold winter months, when powdery snow covers the ground, ski and snowboarding enthusiasts flock to Hokkaido to enjoy its many ski resorts, delicious food, as well as the relaxing hot… Read More
2022-03-22 09:04
Japan is a country of contrasts. From the snow and low temperatures in Hokkaido to the turquoise waters and tropical beaches in Okinawa. From the world’s busiest crosswalk in Tokyo to… Read More
2022-03-16 08:29
Starbucks is, without a doubt, a beloved Japanese institution. In a couple of short decades since the global coffee chain’s first Japanese location appeared in Ginza in 1996, Starbucks… Read More
2022-03-11 09:00
Deep in the heart of Ehime Prefecture, a leisurely drive south of Matsuyama City, away from the throngs of tourists taking photos of Dogo Onsen, the hot spring that inspired Spirited Away, l… Read More
2022-03-09 10:00
Aizu-Wakamatsu, in Fukushima Prefecture, was the last stronghold of the Tokugawa family after they gave up power under pressure from the Imperial military forces in 1868. The last shogun had… Read More
2022-03-09 10:00
For Tokyoites born during the Edo Period, all they knew was peace. The warring period of competing samurai clans had come to an end generations before, and the all-powerful Tokugawa shogunat… Read More
2022-03-09 10:00
After his death in 1617, the first leader of the Tokugawa shogunate, Tokugawa Ieyasu, was enshrined in a mausoleum in Nikko. Later, his grandson, Iemitsu, expanded the shrine complex to the… Read More
2022-03-09 09:00
It’s no secret that I love Oita. Of course, I might be a little biased, but as a resident here for the past three years, I can’t get over its seemingly endless treasures hidden i… Read More
2022-03-09 09:00
Ask me where my favorite place to visit is in Kyushu, and without hesitation, I would tell you it’s the Aso-Kuju National Park. Volcanic landscapes, golden marshlands with gentle walki… Read More
2022-03-08 12:09
Nara is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Kansai region, and in spring its mountains, parks, and villages are shaded white and pink when the cherry blossoms are at their pe… Read More
2022-03-07 08:00
Famous for its soft, powdery snow, otherwise known as “Japow” (short for Japan Powder), Hokkaido has become one of the go-to places for winter sports for international travellers… Read More
2022-03-04 13:23
There’s no denying that, geographically, Osaka prefecture is surrounded by some of the most popular destinations for enjoying the spectacular cherry blossoms. To the north is Kyoto pre… Read More
2022-03-04 02:59
Beyond symbolic icons such as limestone castles, centenarian citizens, three-stringed sanshin, and earthen lion dogs perched on tiled rooftops, Japan’s southernmost archipelago has a d… Read More
2022-03-02 01:37
If there is one thing skiing in Japan is known for, it is the incredibly light and dry powder snow that falls in the winter months. From the Asahikawa region in the north of Hokkaido to the… Read More
2022-02-28 08:00
This is the third and final installment of our series focusing on experiences along the New Golden Route of Japan that are easily accessible with Hokuriku Arch Pass. The pass costs 24,500 ye… Read More
2022-02-28 08:00
Japan hosts many unique cultural and natural sites, spread to all 47 prefectures, on its relatively modest size land. Some of these sites – Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hakone – enjoy a… Read More
2022-02-28 08:00
This is the second part of our series introducing you to the lesser-known Japan, the New Golden Route, which is now easier to discover thanks to the Hokuriku Arch Pass. The pass costs 24,500… Read More
2022-02-25 11:00
In ancient times, the Kii Peninsula, south of Osaka and Kyoto, was known as the land of the gods, and to this day is considered the spiritual home of Japan. This wild area of Japan has been… Read More
2022-02-25 10:00
Known for being an onsen paradise, Ibusuki (指宿) is one of the most popular seaside resorts in Kagoshima Prefecture (鹿児島県). It is located on the coas… Read More
2022-02-25 10:00
Kirishima (霧島 “the island in the fog”) is a mountain range in Kagoshima Prefecture in southern Kyushu. With its many volcanoes and spas, it is part of Kirishima-Kin… Read More
2022-02-25 09:00
Imagine riding a bike to explore natural locations with varied vegetation and wildlife. Get to enjoy incredible routes between mountains, lakes, and rivers. Learn about a new culture and its… Read More
2022-02-25 09:00
With its stunning natural environment of mountains, trails, volcanoes, cliffs, and other geographic structures, Japan is full of wonder for hiking lovers. If you are one of them, we recommen… Read More
2022-02-25 08:00
Winter is a great time to visit Japan. You can have fun doing different winter sports, fill your stomach with mouth-watering winter foods, warm yourself up in soothing hot springs, and enjoy… Read More
2022-02-23 08:00
Having been born on the winter solstice, I have always felt at home during the short and cold days of the winter. Even in the summer, my love for winter often took me beyond beach hot s… Read More
2022-02-22 08:00
Tottori is a region still little known to foreign tourists, although it is full of little treasures. I had a lot of fun visiting it. In particular, in Kurayoshi, I d… Read More
2022-02-22 08:00
Tottori prefecture is located on Honshu island, between mountains and the Sea of Japan. It is still quite rural and is one of the less populated of Japan but has lots of charms. Its most tou… Read More
2022-02-22 02:00
Japan is a country rich in culture and rituals that change with every new region. This makes traveling through the various areas very interesting because there is something new to learn at e… Read More
2022-02-22 02:00
Shimane Prefecture is rarely on the radar for foreign travelers. When it does, it usually conjures up images of the famous Izumo Taisha Shrine and Matsue City with its castle, both located i… Read More
2022-02-21 08:00
It was my second day hiking on the Michinoku Coastal Trail in Japan, and I had just scrambled down a steep descent to an isolated, rocky beach on the Kitayama coast in Tanohata, Iwate Prefec… Read More
2022-02-17 05:47
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There are plenty of charming towns built around canal systems in Japan—think Kurashiki, Sawara, and Otaru—but only Yanagawa deserves to be called the “V… Read More
2022-02-16 07:04
Hiking to the iconic summit of Japan’s tallest mountain is a bucket list ambition for both Japanese and international visitors alike. However, thanks to a uniquely Japanese religious m… Read More
2022-02-10 07:46
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Central Japan is home to some of Japan’s best-known traditional culture and crafts, with many places offering you the chance to experience it first-hand. One such p… Read More
2022-02-09 08:00
There’s more than one way to get from Tokyo to Kyoto. You could, for example, hop on a Shinkansen at Tokyo Station and arrive uneventfully at Kyoto Station two and a half hours later… Read More
2022-01-31 09:00
Adventure is calling your name, and it’s called Kyushu. Japan’s westernmost island is a natural paradise of geothermic hot springs, rugged mountains, and azure seascapes beckonin… Read More
2022-01-31 07:47
I’m in Kyushu, the third largest and the southernmost of Japan’s four main islands, drawn, by an extraordinary annual natural event, to a rather off-the-beaten-path destination… Read More
2022-01-27 08:00
When travelling in Japan, it is often tempting to visit the famous Kansai trio — Kyoto, Osaka and Nara. But how about a visit to other captivating places on the periphery of this itine… Read More
2022-01-27 08:00
Kumano Kodo is a network of thousand-year-old roads that pilgrims use to travel from various parts of Japan to visit Kumano Sanzan in Wakayama Prefecture, three of the most sacred shrines (K… Read More
2022-01-27 08:00
Mie Prefecture in eastern Kansai has over 1,000 kilometres of coastline, including Ise-Shima National Park. In Japan, it is known as the birthplace of Shintoism and attracts many inbound vis… Read More
2022-01-27 08:00
Ise Jingu is the most important shrine in the Japanese Shinto religion. It is a place of pilgrimage visited by millions of people every year. For foreigners visiting Japan, the Ise-Shima reg… Read More
2022-01-20 10:00
The Nakasendo Trail (中山道) is one of the five former “Gokaido” (五街道) routes in Japan used during the Edo period (1603-1868). Frequently u… Read More
2022-01-14 22:13
The TAKUMI Road runs along Japan’s western coast, collectively known as Hokuriku, from Fukui to Niigata prefectures. It is centered around historically significant shipping ports on th… Read More
2022-01-12 12:33
In Gunma (群馬県), beneath the forest canopy halfway up a great mountain, we ascended an ancient stone staircase, crumbling from the weight of time and the thousands of fee… Read More
2022-01-12 12:33
To be a good traveler in Japan, it certainly helps to be a good historian of Japan. Too many times, I find myself passing quickly through some intriguing destinations on my way to more famou… Read More
2022-01-11 10:50
On an early November morning – in anticipation of witnessing my first colors of the long-awaited koyo autumn leaves season – I boarded one of the earliest north-bound trains depa… Read More
2022-01-05 11:30
Remove your watch and shut down your smartphone. For time flows differently at Oumi no Sato (翁美の里), and you don’t want to be the one responsible for dispell… Read More
2022-01-05 11:30
With a distinct culture developed under the warmth of the Seto Inland climate, Okayama Prefecture (岡山県) has a rich heritage born out of privileged farmlands and well-con… Read More
2022-01-05 11:30
In the quest for a place’s identity, Setouchi asked itself what it wanted to be and found its answer to what makes us human and nourishes our soul: (re)building a collective ethos arou… Read More
2022-01-05 10:00
From the picturesque canals of Kinosaki Onsen to Amanohashidate’s pine-covered sandbar, the Kitakinki (北近畿) region has everything necessary to make it onto Japan&r&hell…Read More
2022-01-05 10:00
Whenever I think back on my first experiences of Japanese train travel, it’s never the 300 kph speeds or the bottlenose design of the shinkansen bullet train that come to min… Read More
2021-12-28 01:00
Shirakami-Sanchi tour guide, Yukio Koike, moved to Aomori Prefecture 33 years ago to study Environmental Science at Hirosaki University. The Kanagawa native’s intention for traveling s… Read More
2021-12-27 11:00
Tsuruoka City (鶴岡市) in Japan’s Tokohu region is truly a hidden gem of not only Japan but Japanese food culture. Yes, this once-critical port city on the way from O… Read More
2021-12-27 11:00
Tsuruoka City (鶴岡市) and its surrounding region are, without a doubt, one of Japan’s most unique, hidden gems for travelers. Full of a long, rich history that touch… Read More
2021-12-23 10:00
I could try to convince you about the many virtues of Kochi Prefecture (高知県), but instead, I’ll leave that to Kenneth Mukai, the transplant from Southern Californi… Read More
2021-12-23 10:00
The fact that I had made it this far down the canyon, wading and sometimes swimming in the river’s cold waters, was something of a miracle to me. As I stood next to the waterfall, the… Read More
2021-12-23 10:00
Over the immutably calm waters of the Seto Inland Sea, we approached the port of Ogijima on the Meon Ferry, one of the dozens of small ferries servicing the many islands of Japan’s mos… Read More
2021-12-23 10:00
As a travel writer, I admit to often focusing too much on the incredible things to see in Japan. It is a visually remarkable country, evident in the countless images of Japan compiled and co… Read More
2021-12-21 10:54
If you have seen the Studio Ghibli anime Princess Mononoke and were wondering where the inspiration for the natural environment of the opening scene — where Ashitaka is attacked by a d… Read More
2021-12-21 03:40
During the Edo period (1603-1868), the powerful Tsugaru clan ruled the region around present-day Hirosaki. The city still has a strong samurai heritage that visitors can experience. When I w… Read More
2021-12-21 01:00
Aomori (青森) is well known for its gorgeous natural scenery. Being located at the northernmost tip of Japan’s main island Honshu, the prefecture is also one of the first p… Read More
2021-12-20 07:45
Hinoura Tsukasa turned the blade over in his hands, his keen eye taking in every detail of his handiwork. Each of the knives made in his workshop, Hinoura Hamono Kobo, is forged entirely by… Read More
2021-12-15 08:00
Venturing into the heartland of samurai history and culture may be closer than you imagine. If you find yourself in Tokyo’s Asakusa district, then you’ve already taken one step b… Read More
2021-12-14 11:40
There is a lot to discover in the Kanto region around Japan’s capital Tokyo, and it can be hard to decide where to go with so many possible destinations in mind, especially when your t… Read More
2021-12-10 10:13
I was waiting for my dinner, sitting on the tatami floor at a ryokan in Oita prefecture. I didn’t know that this would be my first time trying kaiseki cuisine, one of the best gastrono… Read More
2021-12-09 15:32
Nicknamed The Heart of Kyushu, Kumamoto city (熊本市) is the capital of its homonymous prefecture and home to one of the most impressive castles in Japan and prob… Read More
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