Blog

Guides5 min readNoboribetsu from Sapporo: hot springs and valley walksA day or a night in Noboribetsu from Sapporo: the steaming Hell Valley, the hot spring baths and the bathing rules to check first.Guides5 min readOtaru from Sapporo: canal, glass and sushiA day in Otaru from Sapporo: the old canal, the glass and music box shops, the seafood and what to check in winter.Guides5 min readRyoan-ji and the quiet temples north-west of the centreRyoan-ji is famous for its stone garden. Here is how to pair it with quieter temples and gardens in north-west Kyoto, and how to slow the visit down.Guides5 min readOdori and Susukino: Sapporo's first-night mapOdori Park and Susukino are the two places to know in Sapporo. Here is a simple map for your first night, with food, lights and an easy walk back.Guides5 min readSapporo Station: a practical base for your first nightSapporo Station is the easiest place to sleep on your first night in Sapporo. Here is what the station area offers, and what to check before you book.Guides5 min readSeven days in Tokyo and Kyoto with one Shinkansen dayA first-time plan for one week: most nights in Tokyo, most nights in Kyoto, one train day between them, and tips for each part.Guides6 min readTen days across Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto and OsakaA ten-day first trip through Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto and Osaka: the order, the nights, the food and the train days that need a check.Guides5 min readTenjin and Hakata: a Fukuoka base for food and shopsTenjin and Hakata are the two halves of central Fukuoka. Here is how to choose between them as a base, and where to find food stalls and shops.Guides5 min readUji and matcha, a day from KyotoA relaxed day from Kyoto to Uji: the Phoenix Hall, the river, the tea shops and how to choose a matcha stop.Guides6 min readWhere to base yourself in Kyoto: station, Gion or KawaramachiKyoto has five areas that suit visitors. Pick your base by how you travel, how you eat and how late you want to be out.Guides5 min readYanagawa from Fukuoka: a boat ride along the canalsA boat ride along the canals of Yanagawa from Fukuoka: the willows, the old houses, the eel dishes and what to check before you go.

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