Chichibu: Steeped in tradition, but challenged by industry
The city of Chichibu, about 90 minutes by train from Ikebukuro, Tokyo, has a population of approximately 60,000. The region, which sits in the shadow of Mount Buko and alongside the Arakawa river is steeped in tradition with more than 300 festivals taking place ...
What's behind Japan's enduring love of Emily Bronte's 'Wuthering Heights'?
Emily Bronte's only novel, "Wuthering Heights," set in the moors of Yorkshire in the late 18th century, has long held a special place in Japanese hearts.
High-tech Pyeongchang Olympics needed more low-tech support for foreign tourists
Attending the Pyeongchang Olympics in South Korea reminded me of what Japan still needs to do as it gears up to host one of the world's most prominent sports events.
Launch a tourist-friendly Seto Inland Sea ferry system and they will come
The 250 or so inhabited islands scattered like pebbles between Honshu and Shikoku have been unfairly relegated to guidebook sidebars labeled "Off the beaten track."
What do Western tourists want from Japan? Try asking one
How many other countries would attempt to lure Western tourists without at least having a tete-a-tete with a woman in their target audience who has lived for over 20 years in the very place they're hoping to attract people to?
Edo Period 'post town' in Okayama re-imagines its past and reaps tourism dividends
Yakage is the only preserved town along the Sanyo Road that survives in it's near-original form, and tourists are flocking there.
Business cards in Japan: So many rules, so easily and often broken
One of the first things visitors learn about Japan is the importance of business card etiquette. Yet when it comes to the content of cards, many Japanese let rip and get creative.
Alex Kerr recalls 1970s Japan and David Kidd, the mentor whose influence never fades
Author and Japan hand Alex Kerr remembers the "larger than life, outrageous, tall, skinny, blond" David Kidd and the "golden age."
Blame for 'bad tourists' to Japan lies with the advice they never receive
The answer to holidaymakers' poor behavior isn't shutting out "bad tourists" but educating all tourists.
Red tape must go if Japan is to woo seafaring visitors
Japan has no system in place for admitting small craft into its waters. As a result, pleasure boats are, across the board, treated the same as commercial ships.
Remembering the life and works of Boye De Mente, a giant of writing on Japan
Any Japanophile will have at least one of the 30 or so books authored by Boye Lafayette De Mente during his long and prolific writing career in Japan. His works are read by travelers, businesspeople and scholars alike, with offerings ranging from "The Pocket Tokyo ...
In Kyoto, a jarring one-off encounter or the tip of the iceberg?
Kyoto is adapting to meet the needs of hordes of tourists, but importing foreign customs purely for profit is not the way to go.
