Spending a few hours, or even a day, at Meihodo, a complex of Edo-style buildings and gardens in the Mt. Aso caldera of Kyushu's Kumamoto Prefecture, is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in samurai culture.

Yet the sheer size of Tohoku means that there are still plenty of discoveries to be made. On this trip, I set out to explore some lesser-known wonders in Miyagi, Iwate, and Aomori Prefectures.

Herbs and other botanicals with healing properties have been used for medicinal purposes in Japan for centuries. I had a chance to learn more about the historical cultivation of such plants, and make my own blend for tea, at Oyaku-en in Aizu Wakamatsu.

The only museum in the world dedicated to the works of Keith Haring, the legendary king of 1980's New York City street art, is is nestled in the forests of Yamanashi Prefecture.

The first of a series introducing a local insider’s ideal weekend in their home town.

Everything you want to know about author Haruki Murakami's new Kengo Kuma-designed, Uniqlo-funded library

Looking for a way to enjoy Japan’s winter wonderland besides skiing? Snowshoe trekking offers you the freedom to leave the trails and explore Japan’s unspoiled mountain landscapes.

Chiba’s Pacific coast was chosen as the very first site for Olympic surfing for some perfectly good reasons: its surfing culture, its location not far from Tokyo, and very consistent waves.