Architectural Legacy of Kenzo Tange
Few architects have likely shaped post-war Japan as profoundly as Kenzo Tange. Renowned for his blending of traditional Japanese style with modernism, Tange was...
A Traveler’s Guide to Tokyo’s Reflexology Paths
Imagine coming across a winding path of uneven stones—each step you take is painful, but strangely invigorating. This is a reflexology path, or ashitsubo rodo, designed to stimulate pressure points on feet much like acupuncture does for other parts of the body....
Yokohama’s Maritime History
In our latest JRPass blog post, we’ll take you on a naval journey into history; after all it’s not just trains that Japan is known for. Our story begins in modern day Yokohama...
Discovering Kunitachi: Tokyo’s Garden City
Kunitachi doesn’t announce itself the way most Tokyo neighborhoods do. Instead, it is defined by order and openness: broad tree-lined avenues...
Exploring Tokyo's Ancient Burial Mounds
Hidden beneath Tokyo's streets lie ancient burial mounds (or “kofun”), silent reminders of a far older past waiting to be uncovered. In today’s JRPass blog post, we’re going...
Standing the Test of Time: Tokyo Station
Tokyo Station isn't just a transportation hub; it's a must-visit attraction in Tokyo. Read on to find out why. Few places showcase Tokyo’s contrasts like Tokyo...
Fukuoka’s Quiet Evolution — A New Destination City Offering Diverse Experiences
Located in Fukuoka’s central Tenjin district, at the crossing of Meiji-dori and Wantanabe-dori, ONE FUKUOKA BLDG. opened in April 2025 as part of Tenjin BIG BANG...
Tokyo's Most Famous Penguin
The Suica penguin is the popular mascot behind JR East’s IC card, but why a penguin, and where did he come from? Find out here. If you’ve spent any time in Japan...
Sakura City: A Perfect Day Trip Hiding in Plain Sight
Halfway between Tokyo and Narita is a place many people pass without even knowing it: Sakura City. As the former capital of the Sakura Domain, this city was...
My Japan: Writing, Wandering, and Everything In Between
Being a freelance writer means my days rarely follow a set routine. Instead, each week unfolds differently, shifting with deadlines, projects, and whatever else life decides to throw my way. That unpredictability is part of what I love about freelancing—no two days feel exactly the same, and inspiration can strike when I least expect it.
Yamanote Line: A Crash Course in Tokyo Subculture
Spanning 34.5 kilometers and forming a near perfect circle, the Yamanote Line is one of the busiest rail loops in the world, carrying more than four million passengers a day. But, it’s more than just a way to get from point A to point B—doubling as a living pop-cultural map of Tokyo, where each stop reveals a different side of Japan’s capital.
From Osaka to Everywhere: How Mister Donut Won Over Japan
Only 30 minutes north of central Osaka, Minoh (also spelled Mino or Mino-o) is the kind of place that makes you forget you’re near one of Japan’s largest cities. Home to Minoh Falls, a 33-meter-high waterfall in one of Japan’s oldest (and smallest) quasi-national parks, the area has long been a favorite weekend escape for Osakans. But, Minoh also carries another somewhat unexpected claim to fame: it’s the birthplace of Japan’s donut obsession. In 1971, the very first Mister Donut opened its door...
Shibamata: Exploring Tokyo's Time Capsule
Located in the far northeast of Tokyo, along the Edo River which marks the border with Chiba Prefecture, you’ll find Shibamata. A town unlike many others, where Tokyo’s Showa-era charm is still part of daily life. From its centuries-old temple to a shopping street lined with local vendors and cafés, Shibamata offers something rare in a city obsessed with innovation: continuity. For film buffs, there’s even an entire museum dedicated to Otoko wa Tsurai yo — a long-running Japanese film series...
Fussa: Little America in Tokyo
Hidden away in Western Tokyo, a large area that once formed the northern part of Kanagawa Prefecture, Fussa might not be the first place that comes to mind when planning a day trip. Known for its quiet residential neighborhoods, the city, however, offers something you really can’t find anywhere else in Tokyo: a glimpse of retro Americana. Up and down National Route 16 (aka Fussa Base Side Street), you’ll find everything from antiques and vintage clothing to New York-style bagels and classic Amer...
The Top 5 Shotengai Shopping Streets in Tokyo
If you truly want to experience Tokyo, or need to squeeze in some last-minute souvenir shopping before continuing your travels, consider spending a few hours in the city’s shotengai. Essentially meaning “shopping street,” the shotengai you’ll find here are diverse, ranging from pedestrian-filled streets with flashy signs and vendors loudly hawking their wares, to quiet, almost forgotten corners of Tokyo with mom-and-pop stores offering traditional goods.
Either way, shotengai often are found nea...
Either way, shotengai often are found nea...
Nothing Says Spring in Tokyo Like Vegan Sakura Burgers
Like an unseasonable snow fall, mounds of pink and white petals have already begun accumulating across the city, marking a sudden (though not unexpected) conclusion to Tokyo’s 2019 cherry blossom season.
While things might be wrapping up throughout much of the Kanto region, further north incredible displays of sakura can still be readily viewed, with a full bloom not even expected until May 5 in Sapporo.
And much like the actual cherry blossom, while seasonal menus have largely disappeared, ther...
While things might be wrapping up throughout much of the Kanto region, further north incredible displays of sakura can still be readily viewed, with a full bloom not even expected until May 5 in Sapporo.
And much like the actual cherry blossom, while seasonal menus have largely disappeared, ther...
5 More Must-Try Vegetarian Restaurants In Tokyo
Hey, welcome back – if you read the previous guide. That, as you can see, was just a taste of the vegetarian and vegan options Tokyo has to offer. Here are a few more select recommendations.
Located on a side street near Aoyama Gakuin University, this 100% vegan restaurant has an undeniable trendy flair, but still works for a casual lunch or evening with friends.
Borrowing heavily from Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, the restaurant’s mood lighting and elegant flair gives you a hint of the exten...
Located on a side street near Aoyama Gakuin University, this 100% vegan restaurant has an undeniable trendy flair, but still works for a casual lunch or evening with friends.
Borrowing heavily from Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, the restaurant’s mood lighting and elegant flair gives you a hint of the exten...
These Sakura-Themed Pretzels Pair Well with Spring – and Pink Glitter Beer
The coming of spring in Tokyo is an exciting season for many. The weather begins to gradually warm and then, what for months was just a grey backdrop, suddenly is filled with color as the city’s many cherry blossoms start to bloom. Tourists and locals alike gather to view the flowering cherry blossom (or sakura), picnicking at parks with family members, friends and co-workers.
But as quickly as the city is filled with the soft pink and white hues of sakura, their petals soon and, rather dramatic...
But as quickly as the city is filled with the soft pink and white hues of sakura, their petals soon and, rather dramatic...
6 of Tokyo's Best Pizza Restaurants
Like all good legends, the arrival of pizza in Japan is a bit mysterious. Two crewmen from an Italian vessel reportedly introduced the people of Kobe to pizza and it...
Tried and Tested: Which Tokyo Konbini Sells the Tastiest Pizza-Man Steamed Buns?
Being a Chicagoan, pizza holds a special place in my heart. It’s a food that pretty much everyone can agree on and basically has become an icon of the city....
A Herbivore’s Guide to 5 Must-Try Vegetarian Restaurants in Tokyo
Being a vegetarian (or vegan) isn’t that easy in Tokyo.
In a country which basically is raised on… well, a lot of meat, from konbini-fried chicken...
In a country which basically is raised on… well, a lot of meat, from konbini-fried chicken...
Paradise (Almost) Lost: Nearly 99% of Okinawa’s Coral Reef is Unhealthy
Japan’s largest coral reef, the Sekisei Lagoon, is under extreme stress with only 1.4% now considered healthy according to a study conducted by Ministry of...
Naoshima: Japan's Island of Art
In the Seto Inland Sea, a large body of water separating Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu—three of Japan’s four main islands—lies the small island of Naoshima...
‘Aggretsuko’: Netflix's Cute Red Panda Who Rages Against the Machine
If you spent any time scrolling through Netflix this weekend, you probably saw a new original animated series called Aggretsuko. The show is from the makers of Hello Kitty and it focuses on a 25-year-old red panda named Retsuko, who works as a mild-mannered employee in the accounting department of a large Tokyo corporation.
However, unlike typical Sanrio characters—a certain white kitten comes to mind and, yes, I know Sanrio claimed she’s a British schoolgirl and not a cat—Aggretsuko details t...
However, unlike typical Sanrio characters—a certain white kitten comes to mind and, yes, I know Sanrio claimed she’s a British schoolgirl and not a cat—Aggretsuko details t...
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