JAPAN

If I could visit just one country for the rest of my life, then it would be Japan. If I had to eat one cuisine for the rest of my life, then it would be Japanese. Japan is without a doubt one of the most unique and culturally fascinating countries on the planet.

Kuromon Ichiba Market: 10 Must-Try Dishes

FOOD GUIDES / JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: May 29, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Kuromon Ichiba Market is a covered market in Osaka's Chuo Ward, about a 3-minute walk from Nippombashi Station. It's often referred to "Osaka's kitchen" because it's where many of the city's chefs get their supplies.

Tokyo Food Guide: 18 Must-Try Restaurants

FOOD GUIDES / JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: May 21, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Tokyo's food scene is diverse so I wanted to come up with as well-rounded a food guide as possible. I consulted with locals, trusted food blogs, and restaurant review sites to come up with this list of 18 must-eat restaurants in Tokyo.

The First-Timer’s Winter Travel Guide to Sapporo in Hokkaido, Japan (2020)

JAPAN / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jun 3, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Sapporo is one of Japan's most popular tourist destinations – famous for its miso ramen, Sapporo beer, and playing host to the Sapporo Snow Festival which draws in over 2 million tourists annually.

What to Eat in Northern Kyushu: 10 Food Experiences to Try in Fukuoka, Oita, and Nagasaki

FOOD GUIDES / JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: May 29, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Ren and I first visited northern Kyushu in 2017 and got to enjoy regional specialties like champon, basashi, and everyone's favorite Hakata ramen. Everything we had made an impression and got us excited to come back and explore more of the island and its myriad delicacies.

The Day-Tripper’s Travel Guide to Nara, Japan (2019)

JAPAN / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jun 3, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Because it was Japan's first permanent capital, Nara remains a culturally rich and historically significant city, second only to Kyoto in its wealth of traditional temples and shrines. There you'll find eight historical attractions that make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara.

Kura Izakaya: Where to Eat in Nara, Japan

JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: May 10, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

An izakaya is a type of informal Japanese pub. They're typically small and casual spaces where Japanese salarymen would get a drink and unwind after work. Jovial and relaxed in atmosphere, you can think of them as the Japanese equivalent to American taverns or Irish pubs, maybe even Spanish tapas bars.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Kyoto, Japan (2019)

JAPAN / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jun 2, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Kyoto served as Japan's capital for over a thousand years. Many today still regard Kyoto as Japan's cultural and historical center, home to over a thousand temples and gardens that have earned it a reputation for being the country's most beautiful city.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Osaka, Japan (2019)

JAPAN / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jun 2, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Osaka is Japan's third largest city by population and the central metropolis of the Kansai region. It's a food lover's paradise which is why it remains one of our favorite cities to visit in Japan. If Tokyo is Japan's most exciting city and Kyoto its center for culture and the arts, then Osaka is arguably its most delicious.

Experience the Magic of the Holidays at Universal Studios Japan™

JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: May 29, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

As I learned today, it doesn't matter how old you are or how many times you've been to Universal Studios Japan™. This place will always, ALWAYS be fun.

The Most Unusual Museums in Japan

JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Apr 7, 2020 Kirsten Powley

Museums in Japan can be dedicated to just about anything you can think of, from the weird and wonderful to the strange and gross. Here are a few we’ve rounded up that we guarantee are worth your visit!

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Nagasaki, Japan

JAPAN / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jun 3, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Nagasaki is a strange city in the sense that in many ways, it feels very “un-Japanese”. Much of this has to do with it’s prominence as a port city. From the 16th to the 19th centuries, it was the only port in Japan open to foreign trade hence the proliferation of foreign influences.

Gunkanjima: Nagasaki’s Battleship Island and a Bond Villain’s Hideout in Skyfall

JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Aug 10, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

The former coal mining settlement is commonly referred to as Gunkanjima or "battleship island" because of its shape, but its real name is Hashima Island. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in July 2015.

Glover Garden in Nagasaki, Japan is Alive with the Sound of Music

JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: May 10, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Glover Garden is an open air museum that stands on a hill. Its key feature is the Glover Residence, the oldest surviving Western-style house in Japan and one of Nagasaki's most popular tourist attractions.

It’s Always 11:02AM at Nagasaki Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum

JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: May 30, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

I had read books and seen the documentaries but never did I feel so close to that moment as I did then, standing there, looking at the hands of that clock. The thought of it sent chills down my spine. Because at precisely 11:02AM on August 9, 1945, the world, as far as Nagasaki was concerned, stopped.

Spend Time in Yufuin, a Charming Onsen Town in Oita, Japan

JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: May 10, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Yufuin is a small onsen community in Oita prefecture. Surrounded by mountains, there are no tall buildings here. Instead, it has a wealth of boutiques, cafes, and art museums in a laid back, idyllic atmosphere.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Kurokawa Onsen, Japan

JAPAN / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: May 23, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Kurokawa Onsen is a hot spring town high up in the mountains of Kumamoto prefecture in Kyushu. Set in a forested valley with a river running through it, Kurokawa Onsen is widely considered to be one the most scenic onsen towns in Japan.

Spend the Night in Kurokawa Onsen, One of Japan’s Most Scenic Onsen Towns

JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: May 10, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

I had read nothing but wonderful things about Kurokawa Onsen. Tucked away high up in the mountains of Kumamoto, it's known for being one of the most beautiful onsen towns in Japan, making it an ideal final stop on our week-long tour of Northern Kyushu.

Ufufu: Where to Have Yakiniku and Yakitori in Kurokawa Onsen, Japan

JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: May 10, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Practically all the meals we had on this trip were planned and carefully researched beforehand. It's important for us to find the best places to eat on our trips so we hardly ever walk into random restaurants. Ufufu restaurant in Kurokawa Onsen was one of those rare times, and by chance, it turned out to be one of our best meals in Japan.