If you’re visiting temples and shrines in Japan, you may notice visitors carrying small decorative books filled with beautiful calligraphy and red seals. These are goshuin (御朱印). They are unique stamps accompanied by handwritten calligraphy that you can receive at many Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines across Japan. Collecting goshuin is a wonderful way to…
Baseball is one of the most popular sports in Japan, and watching a professional game in person is an experience worth adding to your trip. Even if you aren’t a huge baseball fan, I guarantee you’ll have so much fun watching baseball in Japan and interacting with the fans. In this guide, I’ll cover everything…
Are you fond of cats? Did you know that there is a train station in Japan where the station master is a cat? Japan is home to countless unique attractions, but few are as heartwarming as the cat station master of Kishi Station in Wakayama Prefecture. What began as an effort to save a struggling…
Have you always wanted to see Tokyo’s iconic life-size Unicorn Gundam in person? Well, August is your last chance to see it. After being on display outside DiverCity Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba since 2017, the life-size Unicorn Gundam statue will conclude its exhibition on August 31, 2026. This marks the end of nearly nine years…
Nestled in the tranquil mountains of Minoh in northern Osaka, Katsuoji Temple is one of the city’s most unique and picturesque destinations. It is best known as the “Temple of Victory” or Daruma Temple, where visitors pray for success in their careers, studies, sports, businesses, and personal goals. You can see thousands of Daruma dolls…
Watching summer Koshien is one of the best things to do in Japan. As the nation’s premier high school baseball tournament, Koshien showcases the passion, determination, and unforgettable moments that have made it a beloved summer tradition for more than a century. Because of its popularity, tickets for major matchups, especially the opening ceremony, quarterfinals,…
Note: The 2026 Summer Koshien has ended already. I’ll be updating this article once the guidelines for the 2027 Summer Koshien is available. For now, try waching NPB, Japan’s professional baseball league. The regular season will be ending in a few weeks, and Game 1 of the Nippon Series will start on October 24, 2026….
For many travelers, visiting Japan is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Not everyone has the capability to go to Japan multiple times. It would be nice to visit in spring to see the cherry blossom trees, in winter to go skiing, or in autumn to see the foliage. And then finally, you have the chance to visit…
