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…
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…
1-Day Spring Tokyo Itinerary: Nezu Shrine Azalea Garden & Ueno Park
This is a blog post about how to spend a day in Tokyo during the spring. Are you visiting Tokyo during the spring? Don’t miss the Nezu Shrine Azaleas in full bloom! The Nezu Shrine Azalea Garden Festival is held…
How I Spent 3 Days in Tokyo & Yokohama with Friends 🌸
Here you’ll find a three-day spring travel itinerary for Japan, featuring Tokyo and Yokohama. This guide accompanies and provides further details from my spring visit to Japan with friends, as shown in the following video. It’s the first of four…
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…
4 Calm Places to Visit Near Osaka (That Aren’t Kyoto or Nara)
If you’re dreaming of a quieter Japan…these calm destinations are just a train ride away from Osaka. While Kyoto and Nara are popular day trips (and absolutely worth visiting), there are other peaceful places nearby that offer just as much…
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…
Favorite Cozy Fall Day Trips from Tokyo
Are you planning a Japan trip and wondering how to spend one of your Tokyo days—maybe outside the big city? Then, this guide is for you. Autumn in Japan is fleeting, but it’s also one of the most magical times…
From Tokyo to Nikko: 2-Day Japan Travel Itinerary
Planning a trip to Japan and wondering if Nikko is worth the journey from Tokyo? I asked myself the same thing before hopping on a train for a 2-day solo adventure, and I’m so glad I did. Just two hours…
I visited a cat train station in Japan’s countryside. Here’s how you can, too.
Is there a train station run by a cat in Japan? Yes. Yes, there is (although the stationmaster seemed to be sleeping on the job when I visited, lol). This post focuses on how to ride the cat-themed Tamaden train…
