Planning a trip to Japan? This is episode five of my new Japan travel series, and today, we are heading to Osaka. Osaka is in a central location in the Kansai region, making day trips to other popular prefectures very…
1-Day Tokyo Itinerary for Slow Travelers: Hidden Gems on the Sakura Tram Line
This Tokyo day itinerary offers travelers an easy way to explore via a retro streetcar line. One of my favorite things to do in Japan is to find unique trains to ride. Exploring by train makes it easy to discover…
What to Book Before Your Trip to Japan (+ FREE Japan Travel Checklist)
Planning a trip to Japan, whether it’s your first or fifth time, can be stressful. There are so many different tickets and reservations to make ahead of your trip! But this article is meant to help alleviate some of the…
A Month in Japan: My Itinerary + Essential Japan Travel Tips
This article is a one-month Japan travel itinerary. After Japan’s borders re-opened to foreigners (after the pandemic) at the end of 2022, I jumped at the chance to spend a month traveling through the country with my dad. We went…
The Best Day Trips from Tokyo by Train (That I’ve Actually Done)
This note was originally shared in my weekly newsletter, Letters from Japan (and LA) — a slow and personal space where I write about Japan, culture, and life between two homes. 💌 Whenever I visit Tokyo, I always leave a…
Hakone Day Trip from Tokyo: My 1-Day Itinerary, Experience & Recommendations
This Japan itinerary offers travelers an easy day trip from Tokyo to Hakone. I’ve always wanted to visit Hakone and was curious whether a day trip from Tokyo was possible to do without rushing. In this guide, you’ll get my…
Yufuin Floral Village: Fukuoka, Japan Day Trip Itinerary
Looking for Fukuoka day trip ideas? Check out this Fukuoka day trip itinerary to Yufuin Floral Village! Yufuin is known for hot springs, but there’s so much to do, see and eat there, even if hot springs aren’t your thing. …
Karuizawa Day Trip from Tokyo: My 1-Day Itinerary, Experience & Recommendations
This Japan itinerary offers solo travelers an easy day trip from Tokyo to Karuizawa. Whenever I visit Tokyo, I always leave a day or two in my itinerary to take a few day trips outside the busy city. Karuizawa is…
Solo Tokyo Day Itinerary: A Slow, Off-the-Beaten-Path Day in Asakusa & Sumida
This Japan itinerary offers solo travelers a peaceful, unhurried day exploring Tokyo. Asakusa and Sumida are Tokyo neighborhoods perfect for wandering without a strict plan. While Asakusa is often known for its busy streets and Sensoji crowds, just a short…
How to Spend Half a Day in Asakusa (Itinerary + Things to do)
Discover the best half-day itinerary in Asakusa: a perfect blend of Japanese culture and charm. This Japan travel itinerary will give you a taste of what the area is known for without feeling rushed. It includes Tokyo’s oldest (and most…
How to Travel with Oversized Luggage on Japan’s Bullet Train (Shinkansen)
Do you need to purchase special oversized luggage seats for the Shinkansen (bullet train)? If so, how can you do so, and what are the best seats to reserve? When do you need to purchase “oversized baggage” seats? I always…
Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass): What is it? How and Where to Buy
A Japan Rail Pass (or JR Pass) is a multi-use ticket that allows you to ride unlimited times during a specific period on all major JR trains. Tickets are valid for seven, fourteen, or twenty-one days. This can save you…
