

I’m a local guide who was born and raised in Kumamoto, which is located on Kyushu island in the southwest of Japan. In April 2016, a big earthquake of magnitude 7.0 hit my hometown.

If you are interested in Japanese architecture, Tadao Ando might ring a bell for you. He designed the Church of the Light in Osaka, an interesting work of contemporary architecture in Japan.

There is a Zen temple in Kyoto called Koshoji, located near Kuramaguchi Station, which is not a typical tourist sightseeing spot. Even though tourists are discouraged from going in, it is an interesting place to visit.

Various kinds of flowers blooming throughout the year on Hasedera’s grounds, the temple has been nicknamed ‘Flower temple’ since ancient times. I especially love to visit the Hasedera to view the hydrangea in the early summer season.

When we hear or see the words ‘yuka midori in Japan’, it is considered as a herald of early summer. Learn what this means in this personal account of our visit to the Rurikoin temple in Kyoto.

The Fukugawa Edo Museum is a small history museum where you can be transported back in time to the Edo era. Find out what you can see in this cool little museum!

Namba is a known entertainment district in Osaka full of colors, restaurants, neon screens, shops, and other places to enjoy yourself, and it becomes especially fun at night.

In Twin Ring Motegi you can drive karts, have your kids try out various small-sized vehicles, and visit the on-site museum. It is a must-see for anyone who loves cars.

In 1994, textile dyeing artist Itchiku Kubota built a museum with his name in a perfect place, with a majestic view of Mount Fuji and serene Lake Kawaguchi.

Gotokuji is a Buddhist temple in Tokyo. What sets this temple apart from the rest are the thousands of small cat statues that you can find here. What’s the story behind these cats?

What can you do on the Izu Seven Islands in Japan? A lot quieter than the usual beach resorts in Okinawa, you can enjoy hiking, ocean activities, and fresh seafood here.

The famous Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku has unfortunately closed its doors for an indefinite period of time in 2020.

Kochi is a major city in Shikoku, one of Japan’s lesser-known islands. But it is very much worth a visit with an original castle, a beautiful beach, and more!

Uwajima is a small historic city situated deep inside Uwajima Bay on the west coast of Shikoku. The city has flourished as a castle town of the Date family since the early 17th century.

Matsuyama is the largest city in Shikoku and is especially famous for the beautiful Dogo hot spring that’s housed in a traditional building. What else is there to see here?

Takamatsu is home to Japan’s largest garden, Ritsurin-Koen. This garden is a fine example of landscaping, borrowing the pine-clad scenery of Mt. Shiun and making it a part of the garden.

Kotohira is a small town in Kagawa Prefecture, which is famous for Kompirasan, Shikoku’s most popular shrine. Find out what else there is to do here!

Tokushima City is the capital of Tokushima Prefecture in Shikoku, and there are two reasons to go here; the Naruto whirlpools and the Awa Odori dance festival. Learn more about these attractions!

The Iya Valley region is a scenic area known for its dramatic mountain valleys and old vine bridges. Find out more about this hidden mountain region in Japan!