Plan your Japanese countryside itinerary with destination guides, travel tips, and slow-living inspiration from someone who lives in rural Japan.
Here are three distinct “inaka levels” — from easy countryside day trips to deep mountain isolation, so you can choose the version of rural Japan that actually works for you.
Looking For The Best Countryside to Visit in Japan? First, Choose Your Inaka “Level” Read More »
From early train cutoffs to cash-only buses and disappearing internet signals, these are the 15 travel lessons about traveling through the Japanese countryside I learned (so you don’t have to make my same mistakes.)
15 Rural Japan Travel Tips That Will Save You Stress, Time & Money Read More »
Internet in Tokyo is easy. Internet in rural Japan? Not always. Here’s an honest comparison of eSIM vs pocket Wi-Fi for rural Japan, plus what to expect when signal disappears in the countryside.
eSIM vs Pocket Wi-Fi for Rural Japan: Which Works in the Countryside? Read More »
If you’re dreaming of the Japan most tourists never see—quiet train stations, hidden onsen towns, and mountain roads that lead to nowhere (in the best way)—this guide is for you.
The Ultimate Guide to Rural Japan Travel (From Someone Who Lives Here) Read More »
From mid-century modern furniture to salvaged traditional windows, these are the best antique shops to visit in Shikoku, Japan.
My Favorite Antique Shops on Shikoku, Japan Read More »
From cedar logging to organic yuzu, this is Umaji’s story of rural reinvention in Japan’s remote mountains.
Inside Umaji Village: How Yuzu Saved this Town on the Brink of Collapse Read More »
Dive into the wonderfully kitschy and nostalgic world of Japan’s Showa-era theme parks and museums!
Retro Lover’s Ultimate Guide: The Showa-Era Museums in Japan You Need to See Read More »
Plus cherry blossoms, sake breweries, and other places to check out in this charming town.
Sakawa, the Birthplace of Japan’s Father of Botany Read More »
Catch a glimpse of that dramatic cedar roof, and it may easily inspire you to book your own traditional Japanese folk house.
We Rented a 150-year-old Traditional Japanese House on Airbnb in Japan Read More »
A spontaneous stop during our first trip to Japan turned into the most magical onsen experience we’ve ever had — and years later, it drew us back again, this time for Christmas.
Kurokawa Onsen, A Guide to Our Favorite Traditional Hot Spring Village in Japan Read More »
Plan your trip to Miyazaki Prefecture with this personal 3-day itinerary covering Aoshima Island, Udo-Jingu, Obi Castle Town, Cape Toi’s wild horses, and the divine Takachiho Gorge!
An Unforgettable 3-Day Itinerary through Miyazaki Read More »
This was it – the gateway that sparked my very first and enduring love affair with Japan’s preserved Showa towns.
Showa No Machi: Japan’s Hidden Heart of Nostalgia Read More »
This tiny village has maintained a 300-year vow to reject modern machinery, letting water-powered hammers and family legacy to define its craft identity.
Ontayaki, One of Japan’s Most Charming Pottery Village Read More »
… and a couple of very sweaty Canadians experiencing Japan’s summer heat.
Taking an Epic Summer Hike up Kunisaki’s Futago-ji Buddhist Temple Read More »
