Kagoshima
The Classic Beauty of Thida Moon
“On Amami Oshima, there is a kimono woven with the natural environment itself.”—Thida Moon The family that runs the Thida ...
Japan Snow Guide
Japan Snow Guide 2025
Outdoor Japan's Annual Japan Snow Guide features some of the top ski resorts around Japan, from Hokkaido down to Gifu. Enjoy ...
Fukushima
Finding Fresh in Fukushima
“Please don’t put up English signs!” the young American couple pleaded with me. We were enjoying some drinks after a backcoun...
Adventure Travel
Pride and Preservation in Amami Oshima
The Amami Islands have long existed in the crosswinds. Locals have endured powerful typhoons and shifting geopolitical winds,...
Adventure Travel
A Legacy of Adventure at Sea in Itoman
Travelers come to Okinawa to unplug and refresh, to dip their toes in the sand or their fins in the water. Yet the most memor...
Conservation
Amami’s Unlikely Eco-Warrior
A self-described delinquent youth who followed his dream to become a professional surfer now finds himself at the center of a...
Issue 91
Shocked Straight by Slides
I have to admit, I’m not entirely crazy about the, “He died doing what he loved,” narrative. If I was out in my kayak and a w...
Hokkaido
Hokkaido’s Garden of the Gods
Japan’s newest national park, offers not only a look at one of Hokkaido’s less traveled regions, but also the Ainu culture an...
Craft Beer
LOCAL BREW: WOLFBRÄU
Thirty-five years ago German businessman Wolfram Opitz was sent to Tokyo for two months to help train a partner company in Japan. “What an interesting city and country,” he thought to himself. Today, he and his wife Yuka are the proud owners of Okinawa’s only German-style microbrewery at the steps of the island prefecture’s most famous landmark, Shuri Castle.
Okinawa
Okinawa’s Blue Zone —A Lifestyle for Longevity
Dan Buettner’s bestseller, “Blue Zones,” which was also adapted into a hit series on Netflix, identifies five regions with a high number of centenarians. One of these zones is Yambaru, in the north of Okinawa Island. A rich cultural and natural heritage remain in this region, holding the secret to the longevity of the communities living there.
Cycling
Upcycling Okinawa
From used k-trucks to discarded e-bikes, optimist and opportunist Hiroaki Inubuse is motion personified. His latest project aims to help travelers discover Okinawa’s backstreets and ancient roads on “upcycled” e-bikes with Discovery Cycling Tours Okinawa.
Hiking
Kumano’s Path Less Traveled
A forgotten pilgrimage trail, ancient power spots and authentic rural communities are waiting to be explored this hiking season on the Iseji Trail. Stretch your legs and tickle your spirit to welcome the green season on one of the Kumano Kodo’s finest routes, minus the crowds.
Discover Kansai
Enjoy the outdoors, rich history and delicious food of the Kansai region this spring!
Hiking
Kumano’s Path Less Traveled
A forgotten pilgrimage trail, ancient power spots and authentic rural communities are waiting to be explored this hiking season on the Iseji Trail. Stretch your legs and tickle your spirit to welcome the green season on one of the Kumano Kodo’s finest routes, minus the crowds.
Cultural Travel
Protecting the Sacred Trees of Koya-san
Within the misty mountains of Japan's Kii Peninsula, Koya-san (Mt. Koya), stands as a sacred realm of tranquility, history, and spiritual significance. This awe-inspiring mountain has been revered for centuries and is home to a unique collection of trees known as the rokuboku, or The Six Trees of Koya-san.
Ocean and Beach
The Mermaids of Mie
Overfishing, ocean pollution and sea bed crawling, which destroys ocean floors, are just a few of the threats the ocean is facing...
Craft Beer
From experimental breweries to hole-in-the-wall craft beer pubs, discover the best of Japan's craft beer scene.
Craft Beer
Beer Buzz
The 2022 American Craft Beer Experience (ACBE) Japan is back Nov. 12-13 at the Waters Takeshiba Outdoor Event Space. Organize...
Beer Buzz
Making Cidre from Japanese Apples
Nearly four years ago, I wrote about how craft cider (called シードル from the French cidre) was relatively hard to find in Japan, an...
Craft Beer
Kampai! in Kansai
Kansai has been long known for its excellent cuisine, from Kyoto’s refined kyō-ryori dishes to the famous wagyū beef of Kobe, Shi...
Mountain & Land
Go beyond the surface and find your perfect autumn getaway—whether that's alpine hiking, viewing the changing fall leaves or finding the perfect onsen.
Adventure Travel
Pride and Preservation in Amami Oshima
The Amami Islands have long existed in the crosswinds. Locals have endured powerful typhoons and shifting geopolitical winds,...
Adventure Travel
A Legacy of Adventure at Sea in Itoman
Travelers come to Okinawa to unplug and refresh, to dip their toes in the sand or their fins in the water. Yet the most memor...
Issue 91
Shocked Straight by Slides
I have to admit, I’m not entirely crazy about the, “He died doing what he loved,” narrative. If I was out in my kayak and a w...