inspo & info

As repeat Hakone visitors, we've put together our bucket-list of the top 25 things to see, do and experience in Hakone - from onsen and water parks, gardens and nature trails, to art museums, temples, shrines and natural spectacles. And of course not forgetting those amazing views (also of Mount Fuji and even Tokyo Skytree if the weather is on your side). We've included plenty of kid-friendly activities to keep the little ones busy too.

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.

Which is better: TeamLab Planets or TeamLab Borderless? This is the question we get asked most whenever we mention TeamLab in our Tokyo content, and, honestly, it's a good one. Both museums are created by the same art collective. Both feature amazing digital installations. Both sell out weeks in advance. And both are genuinely unlike anything else in Tokyo. So how do you choose? We definitely have our favourite. Read on and we'll tell you why

If you're visiting Tokyo for the first time and are maybe on a tight schedule, you might be tempted to cram in all of the highlights you see on social media. But what you don't see (much) on social media are Tokyo's amazing, world-class museums. To be honest, it's pretty difficult narrowing down Tokyo's museum's to a must-see few, but here are some of what we think are outstanding museums you can't miss plus a few on the quirky side that you can boast to your friends about wh

If you've ever dreamt of stepping back in time, wandering through ancient halls where samurai once strode, or gazing upon landscapes that have witnessed centuries of dramatic history, then the medieval castles of Japan are calling your name! Forget the image of heavy stone fortresses you might picture from Europe; Japanese castles are a league of their own – elegant, ingenious, and utterly captivating. Read on to discover 12 of the most iconic. Jump to: (1) A glimpse into Jap