This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with Dr. Londí Cox, an international psychologist and expat therapist who's been living abroad since 2014. The essay has been edited for length and clarity.
22.08.2023 - 08:17 / nationalgeographic.com
While many first-time travellers to Japan will spend much of their time in the futuristic metropolis of Tokyo, the true soul of the country is found beyond the city limits, shaped by sublime wilderness and rooted in ancient pastimes. To the south, discover the peerless beauty of the Seto Inland Sea, best explored by cruise; meanwhile in the far-flung north, unspoilt volcanic islands offer adventurous hiking trails and rich culinary heritage.
Japan offers up portals to the past, too: meet some of the last artisans creating samurai armour; learn the time-honoured skills of ceramists; and partake in a tea ceremony run by Kyoto’s revered geikos, a type of entertainer and hostess unique to Kyoto and Japan's west. These experiences combine to unlock unsung, ancient and wild aspects of the Land of the Rising Sun.
Distinguished by their masked helmets, complete with bristled moustache, it’s easy to imagine why samurai were so feared. Although Japan’s feudal class of warriors is long gone, it remains world-famous and visitors flock to see vestiges of old samurai culture locked behind museum glass. However, in the southern prefecture of Kagoshima, the masters of the Marutake Sangyo armoury are keeping one part of the samurai culture alive, hand-making original samurai armour using 300-year-old methods. Every detail is designed to their customers’ specifications, with each piece taking up to a year to complete. And while it's possible to visit Marutake's Samurai Store in Tokyo, ordering custom-made armour from the Kagoshima workshop is a one-off opportunity.
“Travellers tend to be absorbed by the quality of the craftmanship” says Joshua Lassman, founder of Untold Japan, which offers visits to the workshop on its tours. “There are countless pieces of samurai armour in castles and museums around Japan, but what a visit to these artisans offers is an intimate encounter with living history.”
Many of Japan’s arts and crafts are so familiar around the world, they've become part of many non-Japanese languages; origami, manga, bonsai. But one of the most widespread and historically important is pottery. Japan’s history and culture can be traced through its ceramics, with excavations in 1998 revealing earthenware from 14,500 BCE: some of the oldest ever discovered.
Today, Japan’s pottery crafts scene is still thriving, with differing styles across regions, prefectures and even cities. It’s best experienced at the remote villages of Arita and Imari, or the coastal city of Karatsu, all located in the Saga Prefecture of northwest Kyushu. Here, you can join pottery classes with local experts, easily booked through specialist tour operators. Informative visits cover everything from collecting the clay, and the shaping and
This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with Dr. Londí Cox, an international psychologist and expat therapist who's been living abroad since 2014. The essay has been edited for length and clarity.
In-flight disasters are flooding headlines these days as the post-pandemic era prompts a mass return to travel.
Passengers on a three-hour flight from Manila to Fukuoka had to endure an 11-hour roundtrip journey after a series of unfortunate hiccups on the way to their destination.
The Japan Rail Pass, one of the most efficient and cost-effective ways to travel around the country, is going up in price this fall.
Seoul is a megacity, with a population of nearly 10 million and a name pronounced like “soul.” There were times when I couldn’t stand its scale and pace of change, but I have managed to find a tranquil corner and continue to live in this city.
This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with Renee Marant, a 21-year-old college student attending Temple University at the school's Japan campus. The essay has been edited for length and clarity.
Staying in an Airbnb when visiting Kyoto is a great idea for anyone looking to experience the city like a local. An Airbnb rental gives travelers access to unique neighborhoods and accommodation options that can’t be found elsewhere. Furthermore, many Airbnb rentals are located close to popular tourist attractions, making them ideal for those who want easy access to the area’s must-see sights. These Kyoto Airbnbs showcase the best of the city.
In a country revered for its hospitality, nowhere says omotenashi quite like a Japanese ryokan. Ryokan are a type of inn where guests are encouraged to mingle in communal ochanoma (tea rooms) and unwind in onsen baths. While associated with rural destinations in Japan, there is a prevalence of authentic ryokan in Tokyo.
Bellagio Resort & Casino is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary this fall with a first-of-its-kind epicurean weekend. The three-day event will take place on the weekend of October 13-15 with highlights including prestigious whiskey tastings and specially-curated tasting menus.
Since 1981, the Japan Rail Pass has provided overseas visitors with budget-friendly access to unlimited rides on the country’s local and regional lines, as well as the famed shinkansen bullet trains, which can reach an operational speed of 200 miles per hour, at prices unchanged in decades. Indeed, visitors to Japan in 2023 pay the same unadjusted amount for a two-week rail pass as they did in 1989.
The Japanese government announced on Friday it’s planning to resume its domestic travel discount program in the new year.
The number of foreign visitors to Japan rose to nearly 500,000 in October, the first month it fully reopened to overseas visitors after more than two years of COVID restrictions, more than doubling the volume from September.