Real Japan
The Japan Travel Blog
Stories, guides and tips for exploring Japan — new places every week.
Matsumoto Castle: Black Walls, Alpine Views, and Samurai Lore
Explore one of Japan’s most striking original castles, where dark wooden façades, moon-viewing rooms, and distant Alps meet in the heart of Matsumoto. This practical guide covers the castle’s history, highlights, seasons, access, and how to make the most of your visit.
Nara: Ancient Deer, Giant Buddhas, and Sacred Forests
Walk among wild deer, stand humbled before Japan's largest bronze Buddha, and wander forested paths to thousand-year-old shrines — Nara packs an extraordinary amount of history and magic into a single, very walkable day.
Nikko: Gilded Shrines, Waterfalls, and Mountain Mystique
Deep in the cedar forests of Tochigi Prefecture, Nikko dazzles with its extravagant Edo-period shrines, thundering waterfalls, and misty mountain air — a world away from Tokyo yet just two hours by train.
Kyoto's Arashiyama: Bamboo, Temples, and River Mist
On Kyoto's western fringe, Arashiyama blends towering bamboo groves, ancient Zen temples, and a meandering river into one of Japan's most atmospheric escapes. Here's everything you need to plan a perfect day — or two.
Hakone: Volcanic Views, Hot Springs, and Open-Air Art
Hakone delivers an almost unfair concentration of Japan's greatest hits — steaming volcanic valleys, mirror-flat lakes reflecting Mount Fuji, world-class outdoor sculpture, and ryokan baths that melt away every travel-weary muscle. Here is everything you need to make the most of it.
Kanazawa: Japan's Hidden Gem of Samurai Culture and Crafts
Tucked between the Japan Alps and the Sea of Japan, Kanazawa escaped World War II's bombs and emerged as one of Japan's most beautifully preserved castle towns — a living gallery of samurai districts, Noh theatre, and centuries-old craftsmanship.
Exploring Kurashiki Bikan: Japan's Most Romantic Canal District
Whitewashed warehouses, weeping willows, and a slow-moving canal — Kurashiki's Bikan Historical Quarter is one of Japan's most perfectly preserved Edo-period streetscapes, and it rewards every visitor who takes the time to wander.