inspo & info

Himeji Castle recently more than doubled the entry fee. Is it still worth a day trip from Osaka or Kyoto... or even from Tokyo? Here's why we think it is, why the entrance fee is justified, and how to get to Himeji castle.

The matcha-flavoured products outside Japan frequently disappoint with their homeopathic amounts of real matcha. All the more reason to fill your suitcase with the good stuff when you visit Japan. Here's our guide to buying matcha in Japan, the best matcha brands, what to buy, where to buy it and how to make the most of it while you're there

Visiting a matcha farm is a bucket-list experience for tea lovers in Japan, but timing is everything. Go during the wrong month and you might find the fields covered in black tarps - or completely bare. Here is a practical guide to finding the best matcha farms, the ultimate season to see them, and how to book the best local tours.