Kyoto
Custom Zori in Kyoto: What a Fitting Is Actually Like
A made-to-measure zori fitting at Gion Naito: both feet measured separately, three to four months' wait, and a comfort you only notice at the end of the day.
Things to Do
What to do around your base: sights, day trips and firsthand experiences, tied to each area's hotels.
Japan
Hokkaido February Snow Festival Ski Trip: Skiing Around Sapporo and Otaru's Winter Lights
Planning a Hokkaido February snow festival ski trip: Sapporo's Snow Festival and Otaru's candlelit Yuki Akari no Michi overlap for 6 days in 2027.
Kyoto
Buying a Folding Fan in Kyoto: Start With the Ceiling Nobody Charges For
A sensu is six objects sharing one English word — including formal fans that never open. Two Kyoto shops, founded 1689 and 1823, and what to ask in them.
Kumamoto
Tsujun Bridge Water Discharge: Schedule, and What Changed in 2026
The discharge stops mid-May to mid-July and December to March, runs about 15 minutes at 1pm — and the paid bridge-top walk is closed for all of 2026.
Yoichi
La Fête des Vignerons à Yoichi 2026: The Last Ticket Route Left
Every regular ticket for Yoichi's La Fête 2026 sold out. One official-sponsor hotel package still gets you in — 10 sets, with rare Takahiko pours.
Shibuya
Japan Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square: Walk-In Craft Workshops in Tokyo (2026)
Free-entry craft gallery near Omotesando where kids join walk-in workshops every August — our child built a bamboo insect cage in under an hour.
Japan
Airport Stamps in Japan: How to Collect Every Airport (with a Free App)
Airport stamps in Japan: how to find free commemorative stamps, collect eki stamps, and track all 84 airports digitally with our free iPhone app.
Fukushima
Fukushima's Two Nuclear Disaster Museums: TEPCO Decommissioning Archive Center and Futaba Memorial
TEPCO Decommissioning Archive Center (Tomioka, free) vs Futaba Memorial Museum (¥600): hours, English access, train times, and one-day visit planning.
Niseko
Niseko Distillery: ohoro GIN, Whisky Tours, and Where to Stay
Tour Niseko Distillery year-round from ¥1,500 — home of ohoro GIN made by Hakkaisan. Firsthand guide to tours, access, and where to stay in Hirafu.
Utsunomiya
Oya Stone Quarry Underground Museum Day Trip from Utsunomiya
Plan your Oya stone quarry underground museum day trip from Utsunomiya: admission ¥800, 8–12°C year-round, 30-min bus from the West Exit. What to bring and see.
Kiroro
Ski Resorts Near Otaru and Kiroro: Rental-Car Day Trips (2026–27 Season)
Asarigawa Onsen, Tenguyama, and Niki Ski Park within 50 min of Otaru — plus why Kiroro stays the pick for powder and terrain on a rental-car ski week.
Kagoshima
Tanegashima Space Center Where to Stay: Book Before a Launch Window Opens
Plan your Tanegashima Space Center visit: where to stay, how to book JAXA tours, launch-period hotel tips, and fog Plan B for flights.