Escape from Tokyo: Day trips from the capital
Got a spare day and not sure what to do? Russell Thomas suggests some easy day trips from Tokyo, whether you're after sake, art, history, mountains, shrines, festivals or flood defenses.
Emergency on 'lucky island': Iki Island seeks to lead Japan's fight against the climate crisis
It's golden hour on Iki, a pristine island in southwestern Japan. A gentle breeze cools the day to a perfect 24 degrees Celsius. The roads are clean, the trees are green, a playground sits atop a grassy hill. Locals call Iki a "lucky island" ...
Closed typhoon-hit trails in Japan put damper on rush to view autumn leaves
November typically sees a surge in hikers seeking to enjoy autumn leaves, but several trails in Kamakura, Hakone and other destinations across Kanagawa Prefecture — and elsewhere in the Kanto region — remain closed indefinitely after two powerful typhoons tore through the country in ...
Why Kamakura is bigger than its Buddha
Ruthlessly passed over by UNESCO, Kamakura's charm lies in the quotidian — and it's a perfect day or weekend trip from Tokyo.
Japan's tourist hubs struggle to find polite ways to stop people eating while walking
Tourist destinations are struggling for ways to ask tourists to stop eating while walking without offending them. One such place is Nishiki Market, which for over 400 years has been known as the kitchen of Kyoto. The municipal government estimates that around 30 percent of ...
Wheelchair-accessible tour in Kamakura aims to revolutionize tourism for people with disabilities
The owner of a barrier-free guesthouse in Kamakura is prepping a tour that will allow people with disabilities to travel to sightseeing spots that would have previously been virtually impossible to visit.
Kishin Kamakura: Giving breakfast its proper due
For most of us, the first meal of the day is also the fastest, a quick bite or perhaps just some java on the run. But why the hurry? Slow down, breathe, take your time, reward yourself. This is a good half of the ...
Oxymoron Komachi: Piquant curry favored by the locals
In a tourist town, it pays to know where to eat before you get there. Pro tip: The best places are usually off the main drag. Look where the locals are lining up; the queue outside Oxymoron in Kamakura is always one of the ...
Carcass that washed ashore on Japan beach confirmed to be of blue whale
The carcass of a 10-meter-long whale that washed ashore on a beach in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, last Sunday has been confirmed to be a blue whale — the largest known animal to have lived on Earth. The National Museum of Nature and Science, which examined ...
A decade on, Shonan surfer is still making waves in the world of soba
Fate intervened when the heavens opened, guiding Ippei Hayashimoto on his path to mastery in the art of pure buckwheat noodles.
'Congestion pricing' eyed to ease traffic in top tourist spots
The transport ministry plans to test "congestion pricing" in four municipalities with major tourist attractions, including Kyoto and Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture. The plan was presented to a panel on Thursday, with tests slated to begin this fall in Kamakura, Kobe and Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture. No ...
Kamakura offers something for everyone
Japanese cities are fantastic places to explore with children, but if this column has proven anything, it's that I like to get away from urban centers whenever I can. Japan is full of natural and cultural wonders for curious families, but they are not ...
