On my first website, I described Japan as a meeting of pop culture and tradition. Here I return to that idea with new photographs and a few places worth choosing carefully according to what you truly love.
Tokyo for pop culture lovers
Akihabara is a natural stop for manga, models, video games and specialist shops. Nakano Broadway may surprise collectors; Ikebukuro offers another side of the pop culture scene. Each neighbourhood has a different feel: exploring one or two at leisure is often better than rushing through all three.
If you have a particular interest, we can look for places associated with characters or creators you know. Kawasaki has a museum dedicated to Fujiko F. Fujio, the creator of Doraemon; in Mitaka, the Ghibli Museum speaks to anyone who grew up with Totoro and the studio’s other films. For museums and attractions with limited admission, I always check availability and official booking procedures before planning the day.
Kyoto and Nara at a different pace
Kyoto invites you to wander through neighbourhoods, gardens and temples. The torii of Fushimi Inari, the light on the Golden Pavilion, a tea ceremony: each can have a place in your trip when given enough time. Nara, with its park and temples, makes for a day away from the big city. The photographs here are from my own travels and capture the contrast between different places and moods.
You do not need to see all of Japan. You need to find the Japan that speaks to you.
The details that make a journey
A bowl of ramen, an evening in Osaka, a ryokan, perhaps an onsen if it interests you: choices made at your own pace make an itinerary personal. For some, the ideal day ends in a Tokyo bookshop; for others, it begins early on a Kyoto trail. Both can be the right journey.
Where to begin
Tell me which stories you love, how much city or nature you want and what you would rather avoid. I can help you shape your ideas and arrange stops, journeys and breaks without losing the pleasure of discovery.
For planning visits: Ghibli Museum and Japan National Tourism Organization.
