Nankintei Kunitachi: 24-Hour Jumbo Gyoza & Big Plates Near Tokyo
Nankintei's Kunitachi branch is a 24-hour roadside machi-chuka near Tokyo - hand-wrapped 550 yen jumbo gyoza, big fried rice and stamina stir-fries.
Nobu
Nobu is a Japanese travel writer based in Fujiyoshida, at the foot of Mt. Fuji. He photographs the mountain from the base each morning and logs whether it is visible, partially visible, or hidden — a first-hand observation record kept since May 2026 — and has traveled all 47 prefectures for the guides on Hidden Japan Gems.
Ume-no-Yu: A Wood-Fired Sentō in Chōfu, Tokyo
Ume-no-Yu, a wood-fired sento near Tokyo's Jindai Botanical Gardens in Chofu: 550 yen baths, a cypress sauna, open-air and herbal baths, hours and how to get there.
Japanese Sentō Guide 2026: Etiquette, Tattoos & Best Baths
How to use a Japanese sento (public bath): etiquette, the 550 yen Tokyo price, tattoo rules, the baths inside, and tattoo-friendly sento in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.
Diamond Fuji from Tokyo 2026: 10 Days a Year, 1 Hour from Shinjuku
Tokyo · Mt. Takao · Diamond Fuji Diamond Fuji from Tokyo 2026: 10 Days a Year, 1 Hour from Shinjuku You don’t need to drive to Yamanaka to see Diamond Fuji. Mt. Takao gets it for about 10 days around…
Cheaper Than Kyoto: 4 Base Cities Where Your 2026 Yen Goes Furthest
Kyoto's lodging keeps climbing and dual pricing is creeping in. 4 cheaper base cities where your 2026 yen goes furthest — Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Okayama, Takamatsu.
Takeda Castle Sea of Clouds: When to See It (2026)
Takeda Castle, Japan's 'castle in the sky' in Hyogo: when the sea of clouds appears, the Ritsuunkyo viewpoint, the conditions you need, hours and access.
Tatsumi Shokudo: A Showa Diner Near Mt Fuji
Tatsumi Shokudo in Susono, at the foot of Mt Fuji: a Showa-era diner serving hearty teishoku, stewed offal and beef-with-egg, with free rice. Hours, what to order, access.
Oi Racecourse Flea Market: Tokyo’s Biggest (2026)
Oi Racecourse hosts Tokyo's biggest flea market: up to 700 stalls most weekends, 9:00-14:30, free entry. What to find, how to haggle, access, and other Tokyo markets.
Coolcation Japan 2026: Where I Escape the Heat (Not Crowded Hokkaido)
Japan's hottest summer on record was 2025, and 2026 looks just as hot. Here's where I go to escape the heat — cool highland escapes, not crowded Hokkaido.
Kinomiya Shrine Atami: The 2,000-Year-Old Great Camphor
Kinomiya Shrine, Atami: the 2,000-year-old great camphor, the walk-around-the-trunk ritual, free entry, nightly light-up, tea by the tree, and access.