Chiba's Secret: Unspoiled Beaches and Lush Forest Hills
Not far from Tokyo's Narita Airport, Chiba's east coast is a beautiful area of beaches, forests and unique accommodations.
Awaji Island Blue: Cycling Japan's Island Birthplace
Awaji Island is an ideal cycling destination located in Japan's picturesque Inland Sea. It is the legendary birthplace of Japan, and present home to a grassroots movement that includes indigo dyers, farm-to-table restauranteurs, unique local potters, and friendly cafes.
Kobe's Ijinkan: An Eclectic European Enclave
The city of Kobe's Ijinkan-gai (foreigners' house district) is a hillside neighborhood featuring European-style houses built for foreign residents more than a century ago. They are now a prime tourist destination for history and architecture buffs.
Steeped in Tradition: The Tea Culture of Shigaraki
Shigaraki, renowned for its pottery, is also the home of one of Japan's oldest tea-growing traditions. Meet two dedicated tea producers who honor centuries-old methods while embracing innovation in cultivation, marketing and brewing. Discover how Shigaraki’s rich tea culture continues to thrive—and how you can experience it firsthand.
Matsuyama Treasures: Historical Hot Springs and a Mountaintop Castle
The town of Matsuyama, on the island of Shikoku, is a gem for the adventurous traveler. It hosts one of Japan's most photogenic castle keeps and a newly restored traditional onsen bathhouse with a rich historical heritage.
Hike for Hope: A New Long Trail through a Former Disaster Zone
The Fukushima Coastal Trail highlights tragedy and hope following the 2011 triple disaster.
Hiking Tokyo’s Active Volcano: The “Sacred Fire” of Oshima Island
Mt. Mihara is an active volcano on a nearby island with a fascinating history, superb seafood, hot spring baths, and welcoming local people. It can be climbed on a day trip from central Tokyo, but you should at least plan on staying overnight.
Rainbows and Resilience: Hiking the Michinoku Coastal Trail
The 1000-kilometer trail that hugs Tohoku’s Pacific coastline offers hikers some incredible natural scenery and dramatic evidence of the disastrous tsunami of 2011. Andrew Lee hiked some portions of the trail and shares his experience.
