Ine no Funaya 2026: How to Visit Kyoto Boat-House Village (Without Tripping the Locals)
Field report from Ine no Funaya in northern Kyoto: cruise vs sea taxi, access from Kyoto Station, walking-village etiquette, and where to actually stay nearby.
Category Culture
Japanese culture for travelers: temples and shrines, festivals, crafts, etiquette, and the traditions you will actually encounter on the road.
Kai no Katsuyama Yabusame: I Stood at the Rope Line Today and Watched a 900-Year-Old Bow Find Its Target
Field report from the 900-year-old Takeda-style yabusame at Fuji Omuro Sengen Shrine, Lake Kawaguchiko. 12-photo slideshow, day timeline, photography tips, and the date for 2027.
Shirahige Shrine and the Floating Torii in Lake Biwa: A Visitor Guide (2026)
Shiga · Lake Biwa · Floating Torii Shirahige Shrine and the floating torii in Lake Biwa. A vermillion gate standing thirty metres out in Japan’s biggest lake. Mountains on the horizon. A small shrine across a busy road. Nothing about…
Japan Essential Tips 2026: Etiquette, Apps, New Rules, and What Actually Matters
Japan is one of the easiest countries to travel in — once you know the small rules that aren’t in the guidebooks. Since 2024 several practical things have shifted: a tourist card got discontinued, Kyoto closed off private alleys, Mt.…
Climbing Mt. Fuji 2026: July 1 Opening, 4 Trails & ¥4,000 Fee
Yamanashi · Mt. Fuji · 2026 Climbing Mt. Fuji 2026 Official opening dates, the new ¥4,000 fee, gate timings, and the four trails compared. Climbers silhouetted against a sea of clouds on Mt. Fuji’s upper slopes — the reason 300,000…
Golden Week Japan 2026: April 29 – May 6 — What’s Open, What’s Closed, Where to Escape
Starts in 6 days Golden Week 2026: Apr 29 – May 6. Trains and ryokan are booking out now. Also see Japan’s next closure window if you’re planning ahead. Golden Week is one of only three periods each year —…
Jindaiji Daruma Ichi: A Guide to Tokyo’s Biggest Daruma Doll Festival 2026
Every March, the historic Jindaiji Temple in Chofu, Tokyo, fills with red-and-white daruma dolls for the Jindaiji Daruma Ichi. It’s one of Japan’s three biggest daruma markets, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors over two days. The temple town is…
Your First Japanese Snack Bar: A Guide to What It Is (and Isn’t)
So, you’ve heard about Japan’s famous sunakku, or snack bars. Maybe you’ve seen them in movies or read about their recent revival. But what exactly are they? Are they like a regular bar? An izakaya? Or something else entirely? For…
Beyond the Neon: Why Japan’s Retro “Snack” Bars Are Making a Comeback with a New Generation
Step into a narrow alleyway in Tokyo, away from the dazzling glare of Shibuya Crossing, and you might stumble upon a discreet doorway with a simple sign: 「スナック」 (sunakku). For decades, these small, intimate bars were the cherished domains of…
Narai-juku 2026: 1km Edo Post Town & Kiso Lacquerware Guide
Narai-juku 2026 visit guide — Japan's longest preserved Edo post town at about 1 km, designated 1978, 34th of 67 Nakasendo stops. JR Narai access, 5 parking lots (3 free), Tokuriya + Nakamura House, the seven wells, soba + gohei-mochi, Kiso Lacquerware Festival.