Top Travel Tips for Tokyo and Kyoto
Travel tips for Tokyo and Kyoto from a return trip after 22 years: Asakusa, Shibuya, shrine etiquette, yakiniku, kimono rental and Fushimi Inari at night.
Unique Food Experiences in Tokyo
Food experiences in Tokyo worth booking: a Shinjuku sake walk, a Tsukiji market tour and a mochi class, plus phrases for ordering, paying and dietary needs.
Exploring Kamikawa: Adventures in the Center of Hokkaido
Hike Daisetsuzan National Park, soak in a Sounkyo onsen, cycle to Higashikawa and eat your way through Asahikawa. Our route through central Hokkaido.
Try These Japanese Sweets Surprise Boxes
We unboxed TokyoTreat and Sakuraco to see which brings Japanese sweets home best: KitKat flavors, truffle chips, wagashi, tea pairings and what we loved.
A Guide to Street Food in Japan
Takoyaki in Osaka, yakitori skewers, taiyaki and shaved ice kakigori: a guide to street food in Japan, what goes into each dish and food tours worth joining.
Complete Kyoto Travel Guide
A practical Kyoto travel guide: Haruka train from Kansai Airport, the subway and bus day pass, kaiseki and Nishiki Market, top temples and when to visit.
Eating at Japanese Restaurants: What you Need to Know
How Japanese restaurants work: the irasshaimase welcome, plastic food displays, chopstick manners, tatami seating and where to eat well for less in Japan.
Most Popular Japanese Dishes to Try
From ramen and unagi to okonomiyaki, takoyaki and wagashi, these are the Japanese dishes to try on your trip, plus a guide to the main styles of sushi.
The Different Flavors of Japan: What Makes Japanese Cuisine so Special
Japanese cuisine explained: umami and the five flavors, regional dishes from Hokkaido to Kyushu, and the dishes to try beyond sushi on your trip to Japan.
La Carmina’s Alternative Osaka Travel Guide
An alternative Osaka travel guide by La Carmina: heavy metal bars in Umeda, punk shops in Amerikamura, takoyaki, okonomiyaki and day trips to Kobe and Nara.
