You might already know that Japan is a cash-based society, but what do you know about Japan’s cash? The Japanese yen is
Positively Stupefied
I clambered up the steep steps of a nearly thousand-year-old temple at sunset to take in the sweeping vistas of thousands more,
Ginza Galleries
With some of the most precious land on the planet, it may come as a surprise that Ginza also enjoys the highest
Second City, First Class
Like Michelin, you relegate Yokohama solely to tires to your own detriment. It’s true that Yokohama Station isn’t trying to win you
Hokkaido Highlights
Most people would be pining for the equator come February, but those brave enough to head further north will find the rewards
Murakami at the Mori
Meeting Takashi Murakami at the opening reception of his “Inochi” exhibition at the Blum & Poe gallery in Los Angeles in 2004
You Don’t Go for the Food
You don’t have to read katakana (ロボットレストラン) to know you’ve found the Robot Restaurant. Although it’s nestled in the bright lights of
Superlatives and Contrasts
Tokyo was already one of the world’s most populated cities way back when it was known as Edo—a few centuries ago. At
Next Door and a World Away
Don’t let the fact that few have heard of Nokogiriyama—and even fewer visited—fool you into thinking “Saw Blade Mountain” isn’t an excellent
Tokyo Architecture
Few places in the world have such a wealth of cutting-edge architecture as Tokyo. Partly due to necessity—being at once one of
Land of the Gods
Nestled deep in the Alps, Kamikochi seems worlds away from the urban sprawl most people associate with Japan. The air is fresh,
Nikko is Nippon
I remember a particular and inescapable JR promotional travel poster from years back. Unlike other advertisements, the deceptively simple message was actually
Beyond the Green Bubble
The Chuō Line, or central line, cuts through the circular Yamanote Line from Tokyo to Shinjuku, and continues west to the nearby