Kumamoto

Travelers to Japan undoubtedly view sake as the traditional liquor of Japan. Histori-cally they wouldn’t be wrong, since Sudō Honke, the world’s oldest sake brewery (and one of the oldest companies in the world), was founded in 1141 in Ibaraki Prefecture, just north of Tokyo. However Southern Japan is home to another authentic Japanese spirit—shochu, which was first produced about 500 years ago, its roots firmly planted in Japan’s warmer southern climes.

The Kuma River is the heart of the Kuma Valley with Hitoyoshi, a historic castle town, serving as the valley’s main hub. The vast...

Japan is the first Asian country to host the Rugby World Cup as twelve cities from Hokkaido to Kyushu welcome rugby fans from aro...

Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido is famous for amazing views, yet far south, the Aso area rivals its magnificence. Fro...

I get off the bus at Miyagi Station and begin my two-hour walk to the Asosan trailhead. I am well rested, my pack feels less heav...

It was my fifth day and mountain number two in Kyushu. Hitching a ride from an onsen in Beppu was easy and, soon enough, I was on...

You’ve spent the last couple of months cursing the heat and humidity, yet you can’t help but lament the passing of summer. As the...

Budget travel in Japan? Impossible, you say? Think again. With a little planning and spending discretion, it’s entirely possible,...