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The Oykot: A Train Journey Worth Savoring
There is a particular kind of magic in a train that has nowhere urgent to be. The Oykot moves to a different rhythm altogether; one which is unhurried and contemplative. Its name alone tells you what...
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Cycling in Tokyo: A Love Story
My mother is pedaling just in front of me, and I’m gripping the handlebars behind her on our rental tandem bike, the wind pulling at my hair as the resort grounds blur past faster than my legs could...
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Mingei, Ikebana, and Everyday Beauty in Western Japan
Some of the moments I remember most vividly from traveling in Japan are not grand ones. They are small details: the weight of a ceramic cup in my hand, a branch carefully positioned in an alcove,...
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Ten-nai-de vs. Omochi-kaeri: The Essential Phrases for Dine-In vs. Take-Out...
When ordering at a Japanese café, bakery, or fast-casual chain like Yoshinoya or Mister Donut, one of the first questions a clerk will ask is where you intend to consume your food. This is not casual...
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Hyatt Centric Kanazawa: An Enchanting Hub for Exploring the City
It’s dusk and I look outside my hotel window and see the Mount Hakusan mountain range that surrounds Kanazawa. To my left the mountains look as if they have been sketched in black and white while to...
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Kyoto Without the Crowds: 5 Temples in Arashiyama That Social Media Hasn’t...
Arashiyama’s central spine, stretching from the Togetsukyo Bridge through the main bamboo grove, is one of the most heavily congested tourist corridors in Japan. Between tour buses, rickshaws, and...
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Best Events Japan September 2026
Welcome to the latest installment of Voyapon’s series, where we share some of the best under-the-radar events happening throughout Japan. Every month, we give our readers the best events from Hokkaido...
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Gooz: The Rare Convenience Store That Was Ahead of its Time
Japan’s convenience stores hardly need an introduction. For many travelers, stopping by 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, or Lawson for an onigiri, tamago sando (egg sandwich), or late-night snack has become...
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Comme des Garçons: Designing the Dance of Freedom
In its earlier days, Japanese fashion brand Comme des Garçons disciples were nicknamed karasu (crows) because designer Rei Kawakubo would pretty much only design using black. You can, even today,...
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Showa Kinen Park: Tokyo’s Summer Escape
If you need a break from Tokyo’s crowds, Showa Kinen Park (Showa Memorial Park) offers a welcome change of scenery without leaving the city. Just 30 to 40 minutes west of central Tokyo, the...
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Okinawa Harborview Hotel
Much like Fukuoka Airport, Naha Airport in Okinawa is within touching distance of the city it serves. Naha, the island’s capital, is a real jewel in Japan’s crown. Tropical, balmy, sun dappled and...
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Betsu-betsu de: The Correct Way to Ask for Split Checks in Group Dining
In many Western dining cultures, asking a server to split a bill between a group at the end of a meal is standard practice. In Japan, the process has become significantly easier with the widespread...
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A Quick Introduction to Sento: Japan’s Public Baths
During my days as a graduate student at Waseda University, my favorite evening routine would always feature a visit to my local sento (public bathhouse). After a 40-minute walk through the...
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Restorative Solo Travel on the Okinawan Islands
Gleaming shades of the Okinawan blue waters have the power to turn even a water-fearing, non-swimmer girl like me into a repeated island visitor and ocean enthusiast. Spending summers in a landlocked...
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Experience Matcha Through Chaji in Hamamatsu
Japanese tea ceremony is one of the country’s most iconic cultural experiences, promising a quiet moment with a bowl of freshly whisked matcha. What many travelers don’t realize is that there are...
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The Oversized Luggage Rule: Which Shinkansen Seats You Must Reserve if...
Navigating a Shinkansen station with luggage can feel overwhelming, but since May 2020, JR companies have enforced a specific policy that regular travelers must follow: the oversized luggage baggage...
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The Fabulous World of Yookanchan
In the heart of Uguisudani, Tokyo, lies a cabaret that defies convention and captivates all who enter. This vibrant establishment is the brainchild of Yoookanchan, a charismatic figure whose passion...
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Best Events Japan August 2026
Welcome to the latest installment of Voyapon’s series, where we share some of the best under-the-radar events happening throughout Japan. Every month, we give our readers the best events from Hokkaido...
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Greater Tokyo’s Best Beaches
When you ask someone to conjure up an image of Japan, it is likely that they will mention the neon-drenched cityscapes of Tokyo and Osaka, or the tradition-filled timber streets of Kyoto. It is...
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Tokyo’s Drag Circuit: The Guide to Wild Nights
Often the loudest, strangest, and most visible people in the room, drag artists to me have always felt like queerness at its most concentrated: the cube of roux that makes the stew. This sort of...
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