The Laos Festival brings the country's overall vibe to Tokyo, and its laid-back, easy going atmosphere is a welcome relief in the bustling metropolis. An early-season stop on Yoyogi Park's summer-long series of international festivals, the La..
Okinawa has a deep allure for those living in and around Tokyo. That faraway island with its gorgeous landscape and laid back beach culture (or so we think of it) can seem like a magical escape from the rushed and cramped capitol city. It's littl..
Bunkyo ward in central Tokyo is home to five flower festivals every year, starting with the plum trees in February, followed by the cherry blossoms in late March or early April, the azaleas in May, hydrangeas in June and chrysanthemum in November. Th..
A 35-minute train ride away from Shinjuku, Machida provides a respite from the chaos in downtown Tokyo. The town offers a mix of traditional charms and modern entertainment to keep visitors busy. Animal lovers can head straight for Squirrel Park, where 100 squirrels roam and can be fed. For farming ..
Step into the world of youth subculture and quirky fashion in Harajuku, where you will be greeted by groups of teenagers in the wildest outfits. This is one of Tokyo's vibrant towns — a combination of an urban facade and traditional attractions. There is much to do in Harajuku, starting fr..
Once the first stop on the long road from Tokyo to Kyoto, today Shinagawa is one of Japan's busiest neighborhoods, filled with shopping, entertainment and activities. Located in the heart of Tokyo near Haneda Airport with direct connections to Narita Airport, Shinagawa is much more than a conven..
Forget the notion that Japan is expensive. With Japan Travel's budget travel guides, you can discover Japan on a shoestring, but not miss out on anything this country has to offer. Overview We kick off this series with one of the biggest reasons ..
Located in Shibuya's Maruyamacho area on a charming backstreet, Tsukune Samurai Sakanoue reinvents the traditional yakitori izakaya by throwing traditional performances into the mix. Tsukune Samurai Sakanoue's specialises in freshly-made chic..
In this age when anyone wielding a smartphone with a Twitter or Instagram account can become a self-proclaimed gourmand, foodies often rave about small, independently owned restaurants and snub chain food stores. That's too bad because they would..
Faced with a late night and early next-day departure from Tokyo one time, I decided (as I often do) that it would be easier to stay in town rather than go home then get up early and come back in again for my bus. Not needing luxury I looked for somew..
Located minutes from the Imperial Palace grounds near Takebashi station, Nine Hours opened its sixth location in March 2018 continuing the expansion of this capsule hotel chain. The capsule hotel concept has fascinated yet also bemused many a travele..
Guesthouse Sensu is a fascinating and cozy place, and its owner, who goes by the name Toshi, has a rather interesting background. He was born and raised in Ota City and has been practicing tea ceremony—known in Japanese as ‘sado’ (t..
Everyone knows about Shibuya's Hachiko statue, the most popular meeting point possibly in all of Japan. However, on the southwest side of Shibuya Station, there is another landmark that many people miss: The Moyai Statue. The lone statue looks li..
One of Japan's unofficial landmarks, the Hachiko statue in Shibuya is a homage to the faithful Akita dog who waited at Shibuya Station every day for his master, even after his death. Professor Eizaburo Ueno of Tokyo University adopted Hachiko in ..
Stepping into Suigian feels like stepping into the set of Hollywood's idea of a stylishly luxurious lounge in Tokyo. This bar has all the elements one would expect from a premier establishment: fashionable ambient music, wait staff in suits and k..
