Hiroshima rebuilt from zero in a decade and chose to keep one building standing in ruins. Here's how to understand the city—its food, its neighborhoods, the Peace Park, and how to connect it with a Miyajima day trip.
A local's guide to Mie—why Ise Jingu is the spiritual core of Japan, how to read the shrine properly, plus the pearls, ninja, and coast that make Mie worth more than a day.
A local's guide to Gifu—Shirakawa-go's thatched villages, Takayama's preserved old town, Gero's hot springs, and how to route the mountains without wasting a day on the road.
A Tokyo local's guide to Shinjuku Gyoen—why this former imperial garden is the city's best escape, when to go, which of its three gardens to prioritize, and the rules that keep it calm.
Fukuoka consistently tops Japan's livability rankings—and it has the best ramen, the only surviving yatai street-food culture, and a directness of character that feels unlike anywhere else in the country. A complete guide.
