Like this post? Help us by sharing it! As we celebrate InsideJapan’s 25th anniversary in 2025, it’s remarkable to reflect on how much has changed since our inception. What began as a passion project by Alastair and Simon has grown alongside Japan’s tourism industry, which saw inbound visitors increase from fewer than 5 million in […]
Places & Where To Stay
Japan and South Korea: what makes them unique?
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Japan and South Korea are longtime rivals that, at first glance, can appear a bit alike; after all, both are modern, mountainous East Asian countries with rocky coastlines, rich cultures, and temples galore. However, if you scratch beneath the surface, you will find that these are actually […]
Hiking in Japan: 8 of the Best Hiking Trails
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! A fact that surprises people about Japan? Over 70% of the country is covered in mountains. And though hiking isn’t necessarily the first pastime that springs to mind for most people when planning a Japan holiday, between the dramatically diverse landscapes, unique Japanese twists (bear bells, vending machines in unlikely places and […]
Regional Japan: slow travel in Setouchi
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! We’re often asked the best way to get off the beaten track and experience the evocative Japan that everyone pictures in their head. The answer? Pick a region, and explore it in depth! Japan’s regions often have everything you could ever need, all wrapped up in their cities, […]
Ryokan round-up: the best of the best Japanese inns
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Japanese hospitality is legendary, but what makes it so special? We have one word for you: ryokan. In its most basic sense, the ryokan is a traditional Japanese guesthouse — but that doesn’t even begin to sum it up. A ryokan isn’t just a place to lay your head. Whereas […]
Tokyo for ‘returners’: the art of the day trip
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! So you’ve been bitten by the Japan bug. We’ve been there. (Actually, we’re still there). You’ve come back from your first (or maybe second? Or maybe third?) trip, and all you can think is that you have to go back. Like, now. The good news is that […]
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! So you’ve been bitten by the Japan bug. We’ve been there. (Actually, we’re still there). You’ve come back from your first (or maybe second? Or maybe third?) trip, and all you can think is that you have to go back. Like, now. The good news is that […]