The “JR EAST Welcome Rail Pass 2020”, a rail pass originally planned to be on sale exclusively for the Tokyo Olympics from July to...
2020 Cherry Blossom Forecast #5 (Updated February 27th!)
And as we say goodbye to February, yet another round of the Cherry Blossom forecast has been released! It seems that the predicted dates...
Top Travel Tips for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Buy Your Plane Tickets, Book Your Accommodation…Yesterday For those who were lucky enough to win the ticket lottery for attending actual Olympic matches, congratulations!...
5 Travel Tips for the Golden Week Holiday in Japan 2020
What makes it golden? In Japan, where work-life balance is infamously strained, public holidays are a lifesaver for office workers. How about having a...
My Mizu: An App for Finding Public Drinking Water
Japan is one of the largest consumers of plastic in the world, coming in second only behind the United States, which mind you, has...
Volunteer Opportunities for Natural Disaster Relief In Japan (Japanese Language Required)
NOTE: In order to access information on the recommended sites, some Japanese language ability or an automated translation will be necessary. This year the...
Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka at 25% Discount! Discover the Platt Kodama Campaign
One way from Tokyo to Osaka on the Shinkansen: You’re going to be looking at 13,870JPY for an unreserved seat, and 14,440JPY for a...
The New Generation of Data: eSIMs for Travel in Japan
A totally digital SIM?! Is that even possible? That’s right, with the advent of eSIMs, getting your phone connected to a data network abroad...
Picking up Your Pocket WiFi Rental at Narita Airport Post Office
Get Around Japan Reader Exclusive Offer! Use the following coupon code at CDJapan Rental and receive 6% off all items! COUPON CODE: GETAJ If you...
Do People Smoke in Japan?
In the past 30 years, the culture around tobacco has changed in big ways. Now that many countries recognize that second hand smoke has...
Veganism is a Japanese Tradition Too! Shoujin Ryouri
A promise to make no use of animal products as a rejection of causing harm to other living things. Well, that’s how many people...
Why Are There (Almost) No Public Garbage Cans in Japan?
The initial reaction might be one of mixed feelings. “How are the streets not FULL of garbage?” “I don’t get why Tokyo is so...
The Best Pocket WiFi Rental in Japan 2019
Get Around Japan Reader Exclusive Offer! Use the following coupon code at CDJapan Rental and receive 6% off all items! COUPON CODE: GETAJ More than...
6 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Travel Footprint in Japan
For those trying to think about the effect of their lifestyle on the environment, traveling responsibly can be difficult, especially if you don’t speak...
How to Budget Your Trip to Japan
Some people get big thrills from budgeting, for others not so much. But whether you enjoy it or not, planning out your budget before...
5 Money Saving Tips that Locals Love in Japan
At the onset of a vacation, it might be fun to indulge at fancy restaurants and on little shopping splurges. But after a few...
Tokyo Tomari: Sawanoya Ryokan, a Taste of Old Tokyo
The neighborhoods that still retain the feeling of old Tokyo are ever dwindling. Many buildings were destroyed during WWII, and commercial development is little...
Travel Smart: Benefits of Renting a Pocket WiFi in Japan
Now that you’ve started tackling the logistics of your plan for Japan, when searching for WiFi Rentals and SIM Card options, you’ve probably come...
SOFTBANK Nationwide Network Failure, Millions of Users Affected Across Japan
A notice to all Softbank users: From 1:39PM on December 6th, the network for Softbank users across Japan, concentrated in the Kanto and Kansai...
The Ultimate Guide to the Japan Rail Pass: From Plan to Purchase
No doubt, while on vacation in Japan, transportation can be one of the largest (and perhaps unexpectedly expensive) expenses. Train systems across the country...
Book Lovers 1 Day Tokyo Itinerary
For some people, clubbing or going out might be the highlight of a vacation, but hey, introverts love to travel too! There are a...
Quick Tips for Train Manners in Japan
You’ve likely seen pictures of video or the trains in Tokyo stuffed past capacity, office workers nearly spilling out of the doors during the...
A Guide to Karaoke in Japan featuring the Most Popular Chains
When you think of karaoke, maybe you picture a single spotlight on a stage, groups of friends gathered on barstools trying to convince some...
National Holidays in Japan 2019 and Travel Tips for the 10 Day Golden Week
How many of us have had this happen. You get into your destination city, and your first day out, you’re ready to make your...
Movie Theater Guide and Discount Days in the Shinjuku Shibuya Area
Sure, you could stay home and stream movies on your computer, but there’s still nothing quite like cozying up in the seat of a...
Tokyo Tomari: Introducing Wise Owl Hostels Shibuya
Making its appearance as the first spotlight tomari in our new article series, we’re happy to introduce a new generation hostel, Wise Owl...
Navigate Japan Offline With These 3 Apps!
The hotels are booked, your itinerary is set, and you’re excited to head to Japan for some much needed exploration. If you happen to...
Best 3 English Booking Sites for Ryokans, the Traditional Japanese Inn
Now that we’ve moved past a wave of late summer typhoons, fall is finally in the air! With the cooler weather and fall foliage...
Air BnB Policy Changes in Japan And Where to Book Alternatives
In 2013, AirBnb made its launch in Japan and quickly became a go to site for booking from abroad. With options ranging from homestays...
Regional Specialties: Fukuoka’s Top 3 Ramen Spots
During your stay in Japan, if you find yourself in the southern island of Kyushu, stopping into the city of Fukuoka. Fukuoka, found in the...