Shimanami Kaido: Cycling Between Islands on Japan’s Most Beautiful Bridge Route
In 1999, a series of bridges opened connecting the Japanese mainland (Onomichi) with Shikoku (Imabari, Ehime) across the…
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Tomo no Ura: The Historic Port Town That Inspired Ghibli’s Ponyo
In 2005, Hayao Miyazaki rented a house in a small port town in Hiroshima Prefecture and began sketching.…
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Hiroshima: How to Visit Responsibly — Peace Park, Atomic Dome & What Locals Want You to Know
On August 6, 1945, at 8:15 AM, the United States dropped the world's first atomic bomb on Hiroshima.…
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Miyajima Island (厳島): Floating Torii Gate, Deer & the Best Momiji Manju
There are three views in Japan that have been celebrated as the country's most beautiful since the Edo…
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Nagasaki: History, Champon Noodles & the Hillside Views of a Forgotten City
Nagasaki (長崎) has two claims to world historical significance that could not be more different in character. The…
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Onomichi: The Hillside Port Town That Inspired a Generation of Japanese Filmmakers
There are cities in Japan that have been significantly shaped by being loved — places where the attention…
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The Atomic Bomb Dome & Nagasaki Memorial: How Japan Remembers 1945
On August 6, 1945, at 8:15 AM, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima — the…
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Sea Kayaking in Japan: Izu, Seto Inland Sea & Okinawa Routes
Japan's extraordinary coastline — 29,750 km of mainland coast plus the island chains of Izu, Okinawa, and the…
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Japan Rail Pass vs Individual Tickets: An Honest Cost Comparison by Route
The Japan Rail Pass (JRパス) is one of the most widely purchased items in Japan travel planning and…
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Japan’s 8 Regional Ramen Styles: What Makes Each One Different
Ramen (ラーメン) is Japan's most consumed restaurant meal and one of the most discussed foods in the country…
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A Night at a Real Baseball Game in Japan: Fan Culture & Cheering Sections
Japanese baseball fans are, by international comparison, extraordinary. In a country known for reserved public behavior, the baseball…
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Ponyo Real Location | Tomonoura Hiroshima Guide
Ghibli Real Locations · Ponyo Ponyo: The Ancient Port TownWhere the Story Was Born Tomonoura, Hiroshima — Japan’s…
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