Tokyo has sushi restaurants everywhere. It also has plenty of sightseeing buses. Someone has now decided to combine the two. The new SUSHI BUS Tokyo is a double-decker sightseeing bus fitted with a working conveyor-belt sushi lane on the upper deck. Passengers eat unlimited sushi while the bus travels through central Tokyo, turning what would … Read more
Gokayama is famous for its: gassho-zukuri villages. But its isolation in the mountains also created something travellers can easily overlook: a distinctive local food culture. Historically, this wasn’t a place where residents could simply import whatever ingredients they wanted. People relied heavily on what the mountains, rivers and small farming communities could provide. That means … Read more
Takayama is one of the best food destinations in Japan’s mountains. Most visitors arrive knowing about: Hida beef. And yes: you should absolutely eat it. But Takayama’s food culture goes much further. This small mountain city has developed distinctive foods around: cold winters + pure mountain water + local cattle + buckwheat + preserved vegetables … Read more
Takayama is one of the best small food cities to include in a Japan itinerary. Hida beef gets most of the attention. And yes: you absolutely should eat Hida beef. But Takayama’s food scene goes much further. This mountain city is also known for: The city is compact enough that most of the restaurants in … Read more
Takayama isn’t a major nightlife city. And that’s exactly why going out here can be so enjoyable. Forget enormous nightclubs, packed entertainment districts and trains full of people heading home at midnight. Takayama nightlife is more about: local sake + small bars + izakaya + whisky + craft beer + quiet streets after dark. The … Read more
If you’re going to eat Hida beef once in Japan: Takayama is the place to do it. Hida beef is one of Gifu Prefecture’s most famous foods and one of the main reasons Takayama has become such a good destination for food-focused travellers. You’ll find it served almost everywhere. But there’s a big difference between … Read more
Kanazawa isn’t famous for nightlife. That’s one of the reasons going out here can be so good. Unlike Tokyo or Osaka, you don’t need to navigate enormous entertainment districts or spend half your night travelling between neighbourhoods. Kanazawa nightlife is: compact + relaxed + local + easy to explore on foot. The centre of the … Read more
Kanazawa has a much better whisky scene than you might expect. The city doesn’t have the enormous selection of whisky bars you’ll find across Tokyo, but that’s not necessarily a disadvantage. Kanazawa’s best whisky bars tend to be: small + intimate + bartender-led. You’ll find everything from dedicated malt whisky specialists to old-school bars pouring … Read more
Kanazawa isn’t usually the first Japanese city people think of for cocktails. That’s part of what makes drinking here interesting. The city’s cocktail scene is smaller than Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto, but Kanazawa has a surprisingly strong collection of intimate bars, experienced bartenders, serious spirit selections and creative drinks. Most of the action is concentrated … Read more
Kanazawa is one of Japan’s most underrated food cities. Most first-time visitors know about the city’s seafood. And they’re right. Kanazawa’s position near the Sea of Japan gives it access to exceptional fish, shellfish, crab and shrimp. But stopping at sushi would be a mistake. Kanazawa also has its own traditional Kaga cuisine, distinctive oden, … Read more