Japan has been making blades for over a thousand years, and the workshops that grew from that tradition are extraordinary. This is a guide to three towns where some of the best knives come from, and how to get beyond the shop counter and into the workshops where they're actually made.

I've spent years walking into the restaurants most people walk past. Places with faded facades, handwritten menus, and an old person cooking one thing with total focus. Then I discovered Japan's Dirty Michelin, and found out there's actually a name for what I'd been doing.

Kobe beef gets all the attention, but Japan's 200+ regional wagyu brands are where things get interesting. From virgin cattle raised on beer in Matsusaka to olive-fed cows on a remote island in the Seto Inland Sea, we break down the varieties worth planning a trip around.

When the sakura forecast drops, flights to Tokyo triple in price and viewing spots overflow with tourists. But Japan's cherry blossoms bloom from January to May across different regions. Here's how to experience hanami without the crowds.

You've got the Golden Route sorted: Tokyo's electric energy, Kyoto's temples, Osaka's food scene. Now it’s time to see what else Japan has to offer. This guide covers six destinations that are easy to reach but genuinely different from the Golden Route - places where you can slow down, dig into local culture, and experience a side of Japan most visitors never see.

Japan is blowing up with tourists, so we're sharing five places to visit in 2026 that showcase less visited regions. From Fukushima's samurai history to Yakushima's ancient forests and Aomori's massive summer festival, plan your 2026 to places that are truly Off The Eaten Track.