Photograph of “The Great Buddha,” courtesy of AAlmaguer. For most people living in or visiting the Kanto region of Japan, the most interesting place is probably Tokyo. This, however, should should not trick anyone into believing that it is the only fascinating thing to see. There are a lot of small places all […]
The cherry blossom season may be coming to a sudden end. However, while the blooms appeared in most parts of the country earlier than expected this year, flowers can still be viewed in other parts of Japan. JAPAN Forward has created this list of suggested sakura viewing sites in the remaining northern holdouts. Both visitors […]
Views on nuclear issues are voiced strongly in Japan, where nuclear devastation has had a direct impact on thousands of lives not only in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Fukushima, but also in cases such as the Daigo FukuryÅ« Maru, the Number Five Lucky Dragon fishing boat whose story inspired the Godzilla movies.  The […]
Oddly enough, I had almost no expectations when I boarded the late-night plane out of New York’s JFK Airport and took the 17-hour journey to Narita, Japan, which included a transfer and three-hour layover in Taipei. Before boarding, my mom, pressed to my side and nearly in tears, came all the way up […]
I felt the temperature drop suddenly once the sun set at the lake. My fingertips hurt. A fine layer of ice was beginning to form on the surface of the lake. It was 8 P.M. As the fireworks shot into the clear night sky, a cheer rose from the gathered spectators at the […]
Tokyo experienced its heaviest snowfall in four years in late January 2018. It brought travel chaos—halting train service in the megacity, while 250 international flights were canceled—and, on a lighter note, plenty of Instaworthy photos. However, heavy snowfall is common throughout much of Japan, especially the northernmost island of Hokkaido, which, for enthusiasts of […]
Tokyo is often considered a foodie’s paradise, with Japan’s capital having more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city in the world. From the chaos of Tsukiji Market—where sushi of all types entice both locals and foreigners alike—to cozy izakaya serving yakitori, ramen shops, and vegetarian-friendly restaurants, there seems to be something for everybody. However, if […]
