inspo & info

Choosing where to stay in Hakone depends on your priorities: budget, onsen access, proximity to attractions, or peace and quiet. We break down each region and share our family's favorite hotel for families and couples alike.

Thirty years of regular Japan trips, and we've never booked an Airbnb—not because we're hotel snobs, but because we've learned what actually works for travellers in Japan. Rising regulations, hidden cleaning fees, cancellation risks, and the reality of thin-walled apartments have kept our family in hotels. Here's our honest breakdown of the real trade-offs: when Airbnbs actually make sense, when they don't, and the legal grey areas you need to know.

Kobe is still largely overlooked as a Kansai base, but tourists are slowly getting wise to the city's charms, convenience and (often cheaper) accommodation. It's a great choice - especially if you want to experience a smaller city with a much more local feel. We've lived in several Kobe neighbourhoods and you'll have to trust us on this one: the one you pick can make a huge difference to your stay. Read on for our guide to where to stay in Kobe and what booking mistakes to a

Japan in 2026 is not the cheapest country in Asia, but it's possibly the best value — a developed country with world-class food, transport, and safety that costs less than New York, London, or Paris. The yen situation has made it genuinely accessible for travellers who might have assumed it was out of reach. Here's just how cheap Japan is in 2026 and where you can expect to pay more.

What makes Ginza a great neighbourhood to stay in Tokyo and which areas are best? Ginza is great for first-timers to Tokyo, for families and for visitors that want laid-back but classy nightlife. Ginza is also superbly connected, so you can get to anywhere in Tokyo quickly. The area has a fantastic range of accommodation but you have to move quickly. Here are our favourite areas, hints and recommendations for booking hotels in Ginza.

If we haven't convinced you that hotels are the way to go, there are at least a few things that you should look out for when booking an airbnb. Having lived in Japanese apartments for years, we know exactly what might catch you out and what to look out for. Here's our Japan airbnb checklist to make sure you book what you really want and need.

If you’re wondering whether to stay in Osaka or Kyoto, this guide will help you choose the city that best aligns with your travel style, interests, and itinerary. Now, we have to be completely honest with you here: having lived in Osaka for several years, we're just a wee bit biased. But we love Kyoto too, so we're being as objective as possible. Here are the pros and cons of staying in Kyoto vs Osaka-

Japan is raising taxes on tourists in 2026, you could be paying an extra ¥10000 a night for your hotel, and tourists will soon be paying "more than twice what locals pay." Yes, Japan is changing several things in 2026. Some of them are significant. Most are not the disaster they're being painted as. Let's take a look together at what's actually happening and how it will affect your Japan trip - if at all.

If you're reading this and are younger than maybe around 40, you're hardly going to believe this but there was a time, not even that long ago, when to book a hotel in Japan, you would have to either call the front desk and speak to someone (who was unlikely to have more than a basic grasp of any language other than Japanese) or rack up in Tokyo and hope for the best. These days, services such as booking.com, Agoda or trip.com do all the leg-work (and linguistic work) for you.

Choosing the best area to stay in Osaka depends on your goals. For nightlife and street food, Namba is unbeatable. If you prefer high-end shopping and easy transport, Umeda is the best place to stay in Osaka for planners. When deciding where to stay in Osaka for a mix of tradition and value, Tennoji is a rising favorite. Each district offers a unique logistical advantage, ensuring your base is perfectly suited to exploring the Kansai region's incredible sights and flavours.

With more trips to Japan under our obis than we care to admit, Japansophy knows a thing or a hundred about prepping for that long-awaited Tokyo adventure. We remember way back then writing to the tourist office in Hiroshima or Fukuoka or Sendai (pen and paper, peeps!) and asking for the telephone numbers of local hotels so we could book in advance. These days, of course, the info is all at your fingertips on websites like this one. Still, we know what it feels like to plan th

8 out of 10 TikTok experts will try and convince you that your Japan trip will be ruined... RUINED, we tell you... if you don't stay in Shinjuku. It's of course a very subjective choice but we beg to differ. Here's why we score Shinjuku just 3/10