Money & cash · 2026 edition When Do Banks Close in Japan? The Year-Round ATM Survival Guide Japanese bank branches keep banking-business hours that surprise foreign visitors — weekdays only, 9 to 3 in many cases, locked tight on national…
Current date: 2025-12-23 (JST) Kyoto is a city of breathtaking beauty, but its popularity often means crowded temples and streets packed with tourists. What if you could experience its ancient stone paths and sacred sites in near-total solitude? The secret,…
Current date: 2025-12-23 (JST) This article explains how to use Japan’s highway toll system when you rent a car. It focuses on the three main payment methods: renting an ETC card, paying with cash or credit card, and using regional…
Current date: 2025-12-23 (JST) This article is a practical guide to Japan’s prepaid IC cards, not a travelogue. It clarifies that these cards are for payment, not discounts, and addresses the common confusion travelers face regarding which card to buy,…
Current date: 2025-12-23 (JST) Japan is a country of castles, but few are as special as Kochi Castle (高知城). While many of Japan’s castles are modern reconstructions, Kochi Castle is one of only twelve that still has its original main…
Current date: 2025-12-23 (JST) This article provides a practical guide to Japan’s train ticket system. It is not a travelogue, but a manual for understanding what tickets you need, how to buy them, and how to use them without confusion.…
Travel Tips · 2026–2027 Japan New Year Closures 2026–2027 A practical calendar for what stays open and what shuts down — Dec 28, 2026 to Jan 4, 2027. Updated Apr 2026 Closure window: Dec 28, 2026 – Jan 4, 2027.…
Current date: 2025-12-22 (JST) What Happened After a period of unusually high temperatures across Japan, a significant cold wave is expected to arrive around the end of the year. 1 The shift follows a weekend where some areas in the…
Current date: 2025-12-22 (JST) Fukuoka is famous for its ramen. The city has Hakata tonkotsu, Kurume ramen, and countless regional styles. But there is a quieter tradition, less celebrated but no less intense: seafood-based broths. I visited Menya Sadotomo on…
Current date: 2025-12-22 (JST) This article explains the practical rules of photography etiquette in Japan. It is not a guide to finding photogenic spots, but a manual for understanding what you can and cannot photograph. We cover the unwritten rules…