Discover the serene beauty and cultural significance of mosques in Japan, from the historic Kobe Mosque to modern-day Islamic centers. Despite Islam’s minority status (just 0.20% of the population), ...

Discover common tourist scams in Japan, how to recognize them and tips to avoid falling victim. Enjoy your trip to Japan with peace of mind. Japan is widely known for its safety and the kindness of ...

Japan is considered one of the safest countries globally and Tokyo one of the safest cities. But if you are brave enough to traverse into the wilds of the country, who knows what terrifying creatures ...

Japan is safe, but not risk-free. From mountain rescues to drug laws and shady bars, here are the most dangerous things you can do in Japan. By most measures, Japan is a very safe country. Japan has a ...

Discover the everyday sounds you’ll hear in Japan, from sirens and street jingles to cicadas and sweet potato trucks. Here’s what they mean. Japan is often associated with iconic visuals—from the ...

Located in central Honshu, Nagoya has great opportunities for winter skiing and snowboarding in Japan. You can reach excellent ski resorts in Gifu, Nagano, Mie and even Aichi within a few hours from ...

Decades ago, studying Japanese required flipping through heavy paper dictionaries or carrying a denshi jisho (a pocket-sized electronic dictionary) that instantly became the ultimate status symbol for ...

JR East is retiring the iconic Suica Penguin after 25 years. Are the bizarre new mascot candidates really that bad, or is all of Japan just grieving?

Look at a map of Okinawa, and you probably think of blue sea and palm trees. A little deeper, and perhaps you picture a glass of habushu (snake wine) and chinsuko cookies. However, what you do not ...

In recent years, horror manga artist Junji Ito has gained increased global recognition for his rich, elaborate works, such as Tomie, Uzumaki and Gyo. He’s won praise from famous admirers like ...

Yokai (Japanese spirits) and mythical creatures of Japanese lore have inspired artists, writers and poets for millennia. However, as the Japanese culture has changed, so have depictions of the ...

Jinja (shrines) are everywhere in Japan—more than 100,000! They’re not hard to spot. The entryway to a shrine is marked by a large torii (gate). This is in contrast to Buddhist temples that do not ...