Japan
Japan blends tradition and modern life in ways that feel entirely its own. In Kyoto, cherry blossoms drift past quiet temples and traditional streets where geiko and maiko still make their evening rounds. In Tokyo, the Shibuya crossing surges with people while ramen bars and izakayas fill with late-night diners. Travel across the country and the scenery shifts quickly. Bullet trains glide between cities, steaming onsen baths sit beneath mountain views in Hakone, and in winter the slopes of Hokkaido draw skiers from around the world.
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Okinawa Off-Grid: A Self-Drive Loop Through Japan's Wild South
The Okinawa Loop: 8 Days Off the Tourist Trail by 4x4 Campervan
ARRIVAL Takeover Japan: A partially guided tour through Ancient Rituals, Future Cities
Hiking the Ancient Trails of Japan: Cities, Temples & the Kumano Kodo
Japan Unveiled: From Tokyo Streets to Kyoto Shrines
Freeride Japan: Deep Powder Niseko
Japan Snow Week: Seven Nights at Mizuho Studios Hakuba
Unmissable Moments
Experience A Traditional Okinawan House
Most visitors to Okinawa never make it here. Spend the night in a traditional Okinawan house, an afternoon out on the water with a local operator who knows these reefs like his own backyard, and an evening feast with locals.
Freedom Camping on the Beach
This is the furthest from home you'll feel on the whole trip, in the best possible way. Izena is small, remote and almost entirely off the tourist map. Most people who visit Okinawa never make it here. The ones who do, and who sit down to dinner with locals on their first night, tend not to stop talking about it.
Stay In A Traditional Kyoto Temple
Tatami underfoot. Shoes left at the door. Dinner made entirely from plants, plated like art. As the sun drops, the temple quiets. Morning chants drift through thin walls.
Walk the Kumano Kodo
People have been walking this path for over a thousand years. It's otherworldly. This is a 10km guided section of one of the world's truly great pilgrimage routes. The climbs are real and the terrain keeps you honest, but the pace is yours.
The Village Between the Runs
Most ski destinations have a village. Hakuba has a whole world tucked between the slopes. A pottery studio next to a ramen bar. A tiny sake shop run by someone who wants to tell you exactly where every bottle came from. A bakery that opens at seven and sells out by nine. Locals who've been skiing the same runs for thirty years. Between the mountains and the onsen and the izakayas, Hakuba's village is the part of the trip that fills in everything the snow days leave out.
Omotenashi: Japan's Mind-Reading Hospitality Hack
In Japan, hospitality is guided by a concept called omotenashi, the idea of caring for guests with quiet attention and respect. It’s often about anticipating small needs before they’re spoken. Train staff bow as they enter and leave a carriage. At a traditional ryokan, your room might be prepared while you’re at dinner, with futons laid out neatly for the night.
Cheat Sheet:
MAJOR AIRPORT:
Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) & Haneda Airport (HND)
CURRENCY:
Japanese Yen (¥ / JPY)
HIGH TRAVEL SEASON:
March to May & October to November (cherry blossoms or fall colors for temples and hikes)
LOW TRAVEL SEASON:
June to September & December to February (rainy or snowy, fewer crowds at onsens)
TIPPING CULTURE:
Not expected
HOW TO SAY 'THANK YOU':
Arigatou gozaimasu, pronounced "ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zai-mas"
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