Shimokitazawa: Tokyo’s Bohemian Village of Vintage Shops, Live Music & Curry
Shimokitazawa — “Shimokita” to everyone who actually goes there — is a knot of narrow lanes just two…
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Koenji: The Anti-Harajuku — Where Tokyo’s Subculture Locals Actually Shop
If Harajuku is where Tokyo performs its subculture for cameras, Koenji is where the subculture actually lives. Ten…
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Nakameguro in Every Season: Cherry Blossoms, Canal Walks & the Coolest Cafés
Nakameguro is organized around a single feature: the Meguro River, a concrete-banked canal lined for nearly four kilometers…
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Yanesen vs Nezu vs Yanaka: What’s the Difference & Which Should You Visit?
Travel guides mash Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi together as “Yanesen,” and locals do too — but the three…
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Ghibli’s Waterfronts: The Real Seas and Rivers Behind Ponyo and Spirited Away
Water carries special meaning in Ghibli films. The sea in Ponyo, the river in Spirited Away, the marshes…
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Osaka in 2 Days: The Local Itinerary — Eat, Walk & Don’t Stop
There is a concept in Osaka called kuidaore (食い倒れ) — "to ruin yourself by eating." It is not…
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Ghibli’s Real Architecture: Edo-Tokyo Open Air Museum, Yokohama Yamate & Kurashiki
Ghibli films carry a deep affection for buildings: old wooden houses, Western-style mansions, merchant homes standing since the…
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Fukuoka: Japan’s Most Livable City — Yatai Stalls, Hakata Ramen & Local Itinerary
For the past several years, Fukuoka (福岡) has appeared consistently at or near the top of Japan's domestic…
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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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Tokyo Soba Culture: Where to Find the Best Handmade Soba in the City
While ramen is the nationally consumed noodle format, Tokyo has a specific and deeply personal relationship with soba…
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Toyosu Market Tuna Auction: How to Get a Ticket & What to Expect
Every morning before dawn, at Toyosu Market (豊洲市場) in Kōtō Ward, the largest tuna auction in the world…
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Tsukiji Outer Market: What to Eat, When to Go & How to Avoid the Crowds
The Tsukiji Market (築地市場) story requires a brief clarification. The inner market (場内市場) — the wholesale fish trading…
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