Making a creaking sound, the wooden entrance door opens, and Sumie Tamura is standing there with a friendly smile. "Irashaimase" - welcome - she says while bowing gracefully to greet me. Her ...

Japanese culture is part of the attraction for travellers, but at times it can feel like there’s a lot to learn — here’s how to navigate local etiquette.

Above: An onsen in the newly renovated Nishimuraya Honkan, a ryokan in the town of Kinosaki. The Gora Kadan ryokan in Hakone. Located inside the national park that is home to Mount Fuji, it is less ...

Why the ‘Hawaii of Japan’ should be your next beach holiday - Snorkeling and kayaking in Japan’s paradisiacal archipelago ...

Ginzan Onsen, a popular Japanese hot spring town known for its scenic snowy views, has begun limiting entry to day trippers during winter peak season, becoming another destination to tackle ...

After six previous trips exploring Japan’s more well-trodden regions like Kansai and Kanto, I was ready to see a different side of the country. During my latest visit, I finally made my way to Kyushu, ...

The 41-year-old is talking about the town of Ginzan Onsen, a popular winter destination in Japan’s Yamagata Prefecture. For Nakata, the importance of the region goes beyond beauty. He’s brought us ...

This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Two things can be true at once — and in Japan they usually are. It’s a land of contradictions and, thanks to this and its reputation ...