Route

Curated multi-day Japan routes linking places we have walked, eaten through, and photographed.

Location, Culture, Route

The Best-Preserved Post Towns (Shukuba) in Japan

The stone-paved main street of Magome-juku post town curving downhill toward the Kiso mountains and distant Mt Ena at golden hour, lined with dark timber post-town houses and a pine

A guide to Japan best-preserved post towns (shukuba-machi): Magome, Tsumago, Narai, Unno, Seki, Kumagawa and Ouchi. How they compare, which to choose and how to visit them well.

Nobu
July 1, 2026

Fukui, Chubu, Culture, Location, Route

Kumagawa-juku, Fukui: A Post Town on the Mackerel Road to Kyoto

The main street of Kumagawa-juku on the Saba Kaido in Fukui with the clear Maegawa water channel running along the right side traditional machiya and mountains behind

Kumagawa-juku in Wakasa, Fukui is the key post town on the Saba Kaido Mackerel Road to Kyoto, with a clear water channel down the whole street. What to see, how to get there and when to go.

Nobu
July 1, 2026

Location, Chubu, Culture, Mie, Route

Seki-juku, Mie: The Tokaido Post Town That Survived Whole

The long straight preserved street of Seki-juku the 47th Tokaido post town in Kameyama Mie lined with two-storey wooden machiya with lattice fronts and tiled roofs

Seki-juku in Kameyama, Mie is the 47th Tokaido post town and, by the city account, the only one whose historic townscape survives whole: what to see, the road forks to Ise and Nara, access and when to go.

Nobu
July 1, 2026

Location, Chubu, Culture, Nagano, Route

Unno-juku, Nagano: An Edo Post Town and Silk Village in One Street

The main street of Unno-juku post town in Nagano with a stone-lined water channel and willow on the left and two-storey timber houses with white plaster and wooden lattice on the right and mountains behind

Unno-juku is a preserved 650m street on the old Hokkoku Kaido in Nagano, an Edo post town that reinvented itself as a Meiji silk village. What to see, how to read the houses, access and when to go.

Nobu
July 1, 2026

Location, Chubu, Culture, Gifu, Route

Magome-juku: Nakasendo Post Town & the Walk to Tsumago

A stone-paved Nakasendo post town in the Kiso Valley, and the trailhead for the classic 9 km walk over Magome Pass to Tsumago: access, the hike, luggage forwarding and the best time to go.

Nobu
July 1, 2026

Nagano, Chubu, Emerald Route, Experience, Location, Nature, Route, Seasonal Travel, Transportation, Travel Tips, Weather & Seasons

Kamikochi Access 2026: Matsumoto Bus, Takayama Bus, Sawando Taxi Fares & April 17 Opening

Turquoise Azusa River flowing toward Yake-dake volcano lined with green forests in Kamikochi

Kamikochi has no train station. No road open to private cars. Every single visitor arrives by bus — there’s no other way in. The 2026 season runs April 17 through November 15, and outside those dates, everything shuts down. I’ve…

Nobu
April 18, 2026

Kyoto, Experience, Golden Route, Kansai, Location, Route

A Perfect Kyoto Afternoon: Walking Higashiyama from the Yasaka Pagoda to Kiyomizudera at Golden Hour (2026 Guide)

Yasaka-dori cobblestone street at dusk with Yasaka Pagoda framed at end of narrow lane Kyoto

Kyoto’s Higashiyama district is the most photographed square kilometer in Japan. Everyone has seen it. The question isn’t whether to go — it’s how to walk it so you don’t come home with the same tired shots as everyone else.…

Nobu
April 16, 2026

Kyoto, Accommodation, Experience, Golden Route, Location, Nature, Onsen, Route, Travel Tips

A Night at Hoshinoya Kyoto: Boat Ride, Kaiseki & River Views [Stay Review]

2026 Update : Hoshinoya Kyoto continues to operate its exclusive boat access from the Arashiyama pier. Due to the increasing popularity of the Arashiyama area, we highly recommend arriving at the private waiting lounge at least 30 minutes before your…

Nobu
April 7, 2026

Location, Golden Route, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Route, Seasonal Travel, Wakayama, Weather & Seasons

7 Days in Kansai: A Journey Beyond Kyoto to Hidden Temples & Sacred Trails

I’ve spent a lot of time on temple paths and mountain trails around Japan. Kyoto’s famous pavilions and bamboo groves are worth seeing, but I keep coming back to the quieter places just past the usual tourist routes. This 7-day…

Nobu
March 26, 2026

Nagano, Emerald Route, Location, Route

Tsumago-juku: A Journey Back in Time on the Nakasendo Samurai Trail

Step into a living museum where the world of the samurai is perfectly preserved. Tsumago-juku, nestled in the heart of Nagano’s Kiso Valley, is not just a destination; it’s a journey back to the Edo period. This guide explores the…

Nobu
February 4, 2026