With roughly one million inhabitants, Sendai is by far the largest city in the Tohoku region and one of the country’s 15 largest cities. The samurai benefactor Date Masamune (one of feudal Japan’s most powerful lords) is synonymous with founding Sendai in...
Washi is the light, strong traditional Japanese paper made by hand from the inner-bark fibers of three plants. The name washi literally means “Japanese paper”. Today most paper in Japan is made in large automated mills, but a few hundred families in rural...
From 1583 to the end of the Edo Period, Kanazawa Castle was the seat of the powerful Maeda Clan. Make sure to check out the Castle moat around its impressive defensive walls. Kanazawa Castle is one of the largest wooden structures surviving since the Meiji era. It’s...
Surrounded by scenic mountains, Aizu-Wakamatsu in western Fukushima Prefecture is a bustling former castle town with friendly locals deeply proud of their history and culture. The region is known for its pristine landscapes, quality sake, traditional crafts, and rich...
Almost every visitor to Japan wants to check out Kyoto city, but despite being so close, not as many people also take the time to include Osaka city in their travel plans. Osaka is a only 45min local train ride from Kyoto city or a 13min express bullet train ride...