Japan

Simultaneously modern and traditional, with a deeply fascinating culture that can take you into the future or deep into the past, the Land of the Rising Sun is truly in a class by itself.

Cover photo: Luke Zeme

84 Members

Join Us!

Forum

Japan´s cherry blossom season 2026: best spots and tips

Cherry blossom season in the Land of the Rising Sun, known as sakura, is one of the most magical natural events in the world. Every spring millions of cherry trees burst into delicate pink and white blooms, transforming the landscape into a dreamlike wonderland. If you're planning a this year to witness this fleeting beauty, you're in for an unforgettable experience. In this detailed guide, we'll cover the best viewing times, top locations, hanami traditions, practical tips, and how to book…

Started by Tripatini

0 Replies

8 of Tokyo´s best Michelin-starred Japanese restaurants

Azabu Kadowaki These days it´s no surprise to anyone that Japan´s capital is also one of the world´s greatest dining capitals. By some counts there are a staggering around 160,000 restaurants, ranging from casual hole-in-the-wall eateries to fine Michelin-starred temples of gourmet excellence (of which, by the way, there are more than any other city in the world - an impressive 135), and covering the entire gamut of world cuisines. And since you probably didn´t travel all the way here to eat…

Started by Tripatini

0 Replies

Experiencing Tokyo: Top 10 Musts and 8 Helpful Tips

Benh LIEU SONG Japan´s vibrant capital and largest city (its metropolitan area with a mind-bending population of 37 million) blends futuristic innovation with pockets of traditional charm, its streets filled with a variety of allures including historical landmarks, culinary and cultural delights, world-class shopping, amazing entertainment, and of course cutting-edge technology. It´s a truly extraordinary and unique experience for the visitor. read post

Started by Tripatini

0 Replies

While hiking in Japan, exploring the the heart and soul (and tushes!) of a most singular country

Peter Van Bossche; other photos by Fyllis Hockman unless otherwise noted How often do a toilet and a tea ceremony form perfect metaphors for the culture of a country? But so it is in the Land of the Rising Sun. The toilet falls into the realm of delightful personal discoveries. First a warm toilet seat along with musical options with a variety of buttons that cleaned more areas with water spray than I have nether-region body parts, a portion of the large bathroom mirror that remained…

Started by Tripatini

0 Replies

You need to be a member of Tripatini to add comments!

Join Tripatini

Comments are closed.

Comments

José Balido February 5, 2026 at 11:45am

And speaking of Japanese skiing, Outside is touting Yuzawa on Hokkaido near popular Niseko and Hakuba as the uncrowded "next big thing": https://www.skimag.com/adventure/japan-snow-country/?dashboardForce...

Japan's Next Big Powder Mecca Has All the Snow and Few Crowds

Niseko and Hakuba have become overrun with powder-seeking tourists, while nearby Yuzawa is virtually empty.
Joseba Basabe February 4, 2026 at 12:55pm

Ski season is in full swing here, and while some people might find it a bit bewildering and even intimidating to fly all the way out here to hit the slopes, the New York Times has a pretty good primer to help you get a handle on it https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/travel/japan-skiing-guide.html?s...
María José January 16, 2026 at 12:40pm

I´d add to Barbara´s comment below that CNN also put it on its must-travel list for this year, but for Kanazawa, a city on the Honshu coast 2 hours by bullet train from Kyoto. Find out why (OK, one reason is that it supposedly serves up Japan´s best sushi!): https://edition.cnn.com/travel/where-to-travel-in-2026-the-best-pla...

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/where-to-travel-in-2026-the-best-places-to-visit?cid=ios_app
Barbara Necker January 14, 2026 at 3:18pm

Japan is making plenty of "best destinations of the year" for 2026 lists. For the New York Times, it´s because of Nagasaki and Okinawa: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/travel/places-to-travel-de...

52 Places to Go in 2026

Our list for the new year features an eclipse, a revolution and a tiger reserve. What’s on yours?
Jordan Simon October 18, 2025 at 7:08pm

Winter being right around the corner, it´s a good time to read up about Japan´s ski capital Niseko, up on Hokkaido: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/niseko-japan-powder-capital-ski-reso...

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/niseko-japan-powder-capital-ski-resorts?cid=ios_app
Jorge Carlos Tejada Sobrino October 16, 2025 at 1:58pm

My wife and I visited Japan a year ago, and we loved it so much we´re going back in November. So I was interested to read this from Travel+Leisure about all the wonderful lesser known destinations to consider after you´ve done the big ones like Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, etc. https://www.travelandleisure.com/japan-hidden-gem-destinations-1177...
Ed Wetschler October 14, 2025 at 8:18pm

Why Osaka made Frommer´s list of best places to go in 2025: https://www.frommers.com/slideshows/848621-frommer-s-best-places-to...
Riccardo R December 12, 2024 at 12:42pm

Frankly, I was surprised this didn´t happen sooner! https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/12/1157901

Sake-making and other national treasures make latest UNESCO heritage list

Intore dance in Rwanda, equestrian art in Portugal, Tomyum soup in Thailand, and the artisanal knowledge surrounding the making of sake in Japan, are…
Dave Acton October 7, 2024 at 9:27am

Japan is tops for spring cherry blossoms, but this piece also makes an excellent case for Japan´s gorgeous autumn foliage: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/japan/japan-mo...

Forget New England – Japan is the perfect autumn destination
Ken Kok Lee January 9, 2024 at 10:59am

Sounds like some serious shredding in Nippon! https://www.travelandleisure.com/ski-resorts-in-japan-8404507