Experience Class

Tokyo’s Harajuku neighborhood has nurtured its own sense of whimsy and freedom since the late 1980s…

Maybe you’ve seen her work installed in London’s Tate Modern, Paris’s Pompidou Center, Pittsburgh’s Mattress Factory…

To fully appreciate a trip to Japan, you have to take a deep breath. Or a…

Long — ahem — the butt of jokes in the Western world, the superior experience and…

Japanese woodblock prints can take art lovers to another time and place. Ukiyo-e, as the art…

It’s widely understood that Japanese custom is to remove one’s shoes before entering a home. However,…

Do you need to take a taxi in Japan? Less often than you’d think. In Tokyo,…

A source of endless creative inspiration, Japan has fueled the imagination of American novelist and screenwriter…

Japan has no shortage of year-end traditions — but not all the ones you’re used to….

GaijinPot, a blog for newcomers to Japan, describes the main difference between Tokyo and Kyoto: “A…

A revered symbol of Japanese culture often handed down through families over generations, the kimono (Japanese…

Japan’s obsession with customized cars makes for incredible eye candy. In the 2006 blockbuster “The Fast…

Beautiful gardens are everywhere in Japan, and chances are, you will find yourself wandering through more…

From a currency-exchange calculator to a navigation tool, there are plenty of apps to consider downloading…

When you travel to Japan, it’s nearly impossible not to have your phone out and ready…

With washes of all shades and levels of distress and carefully crafted details that make each…

Did you know that each station stop along Tokyo’s looping Yamanote train line plays its own unique departure melody? On this…

A fascinating mix of futuristic and traditional influences, the bustling city of Tokyo is an inviting…

As recently as ten years ago, it was challenging for a non-Japanese speaker to navigate the…

With a signature top knot, silk belt and significant bulk, the classic look of the sumo…

Whether you’re planning to hike, shop or shrine hop throughout Japan on your next visit, there…

If you happen to be visiting Japan during the balmy summer months, be sure to plan your trip around one (or a few) of its spectacular…

When it comes to Japanese food, sushi is often one of the first things that comes…

Named by music magazine Fader as one of the “5 coolest people shaping Tokyo’s music scene,”…

With its charming wooden tea houses, vibrant food scene and over 2,000 temples and shrines (yes…

Whether you’re a first-time traveler to Japan or a seasoned visitor, check your itinerary again: Did…

As you wander through the cities of Japan, you’ll encounter stunning landscapes, breathtaking shrines, some of…

There’s no denying Tokyo’s electrifying appeal, yet with so much to discover just outside the bustle…

Craft chocolate-making has captured the hearts — and taste buds — of Japanese foodies.  Much like…

If you love the vibe of Kyoto with its artisanal treasures and magnificent gardens and shrines,…

Have you ever walked alongside a whale whose movements follow your every step? Do you know…

One of the highlights of travel is finding the perfect gift or unique souvenir. But rather…

How about this for a tantalizing itinerary stop: a semi-secret “art island” filled with world-class modern…

Brooklyn-based ceramicist Shino Takeda grew up in Kyushu Island in southern Japan, where her mother, a…

If you ask American fashion designer Cynthia Rowley about one of her greatest personal passions, she…

I had the chance to head back to Bangkok with All Nippon Airways and had the…

One domestic flight later, I landed in Hokkaido, checking into the Hilton Niseko Village. If I…

Tokyo is undoubtedly Japan’s hotbed for all things cool. From fabulous shopping districts to scenic, green…