Obi Castle & Castle Town: Kyushu’s Little Kyoto
Obi Castle Town in Nichinan, Miyazaki: the Ito clan's 'Little Kyoto of Kyushu' — the 1978 wooden gate, samurai streets, the combined ticket and obiten.
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.
Should You Climb Mt Fuji in 2026 — or See It Without Climbing?
Mt Fuji's 2026 climb means a ¥4,000 fee, daily caps and a 2 PM gate. An honest look at whether to climb — and where to see the famous view without it.
Skip the Crowds in Japan 2026: 12 Overtouristed Spots and Where I Go Instead
Japan's famous spots are mobbed in 2026 — here are 12 of them and the quieter places I send travelers to instead, with verified crowd data and first-hand routes.
Kashiho Mase: An Izu Wagashi Shop in Atami (Since 1872)
Kashiho Mase, a 150-year-old wagashi shop on the Atami coast of Izu — the Izu no Odoriko sweet, seasonal citrus daifuku, its branches, and what to buy through the year.
Cape Toi: Miyazaki’s Wild Horses by the Sea
Cape Toi at the southern tip of Miyazaki — wild Misaki horses roaming the clifftop grassland (a National Natural Monument), a climbable lighthouse, and how to visit responsibly.
Udo Jingu: Miyazaki’s Shrine Inside a Sea Cave
Udo Jingu in Nichinan, Miyazaki — a vermilion shrine built inside a sea cave on the cliffs, famous for the untama luck-ball toss at the turtle rock and a sea-god birth legend.
Aoshima & Aoshima Shrine: Miyazaki’s Island in the Sea Terraces
Aoshima is a subtropical shrine-island off Miyazaki, ringed by the Devil's Washboard rock terraces — a free, myth-soaked spot for couples on the Nichinan coast.
Takachiho Gorge: The Boat to Manai Falls (Miyazaki)
Takachiho Gorge in Miyazaki: rent a rowboat to the foot of 17-metre Manai Falls, through seven kilometres of columnar-basalt cliffs. Boat fees, online booking, access and seasons.
BEAMS Japan Shinjuku: Japanese Souvenirs, Floor by Floor
BEAMS Japan in Shinjuku is a six-floor, Japan-themed store — souvenirs from all 47 prefectures, crafts, fashion and art, plus a restaurant. Free entry, tax-free, a minute from the station.
Arita Porcelain Park: A Free Baroque Palace in Saga’s Pottery Town
Arita Porcelain Park in Saga is a free theme park built around a full-scale replica of Dresden's Zwinger Palace — with a sake brewery, porcelain workshops and a baroque garden.
Field notes, weekly
One email a week. The Japan worth planning around.