Featured

Imperial Palace

Nara hotel with hot spring baths by imperial palace site is a reason to remember the prefecture

Hardly anyone stays in Nara while traveling, but this hotel shows how they’re missing out.

Read More

10 of our absolute favorite places to spend a day in Tokyo

Whether you’re looking for the hustle and bustle or peace and quiet, this list has you covered.

Read More

Tokyo’s Imperial Palace to hold Floating Lantern Ceremony for first time in three years

The breathtaking event is back after being cancelled due to the pandemic.

Read More

Buildings used for the emperor’s Daijosai ceremony are open for public viewing until December 8

Now’s your last chance to see structures that can’t be seen again until the ascension of the next emperor.

Read More

The top 10 Castles in Japan to visit in 2019, as ranked by TripAdvisor users

It’s time to plan your sightseeing campaign across Japan! Read More

After all these years, there’s still one place in Tokyo Godzilla won’t ever touch

There’s just one place in Tokyo this mascot of mayhem always seems to spare.

Read More

Enter for a chance to win a tour of the emperor’s home!

Next year, the Japanese emperor, Akihito, turns 80 years old. That’s a pretty respectable age for just about anyone, we’d say. In celebration, the Imperial Household Agency has announced plans to open up the Imperial Palace to a select group of lucky commoners to be selected by lottery. Hmm…are you feeling lucky?

Read More

We visit a hidden store on the Imperial Palace grounds offering items you can’t find anywhere else

The Imperial Palace of Japan is a popular destination for tourists around the world. Aside from being the residence of the modern line of Japanese emperors, it’s also known for being the location of Edo Castle, home to the Tokugawa Shogunate. Being such a place steeped in culture and history, it’s definitely worth checking out, but that’s not the only reason. Tucked away in the imperial palace is a little known shop humbly called Kunaicho Seikatsu Kyodokumiai (Imperial Household Agency Cooperative) which sells food and items related to the imperial household. These items can only be found at this shop and they can’t be bought on-line.

This shop is largely unknown to even Japanese people, so our reporter Yoshio went in (after making the necessary reservation) to discover what limited edition treasures the Kunaicho Seikatsu Kyokumiai had to offer. Let’s see what he found in his photo-filled report!

Read More

Top Five Worst Places to Visit in Japan

According to a recent survey conducted by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), as of September 2012, numbers of foreign tourists visiting Japan reach 430,000, an increase of 32.7 percent. Japan’s tourist industry suffered as a result of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, but it looks like tourism is on the rise in Japan once again.

 When foreigners do find themselves in Japan, travel guidebook in hand, they are inundated with advice regarding must-see places. But the worst part about taking a trip is arriving to one of these “must-see” locations and realizing it isn’t all that great. That’s why we’ve gathered up a list of the top five most disappointing tourist spots in Japan as recommended (unrecommended?) by users on Reddit.

Read More