Arigato Travel Weblog
VISITING JAPAN IN OCTOBER / NOVEMBER: WHAT TO PACK, WHAT TO EAT AND WHERE TO GO
October and November are some of the best months to visit Japan. The humid heat of summer has mostly passed, typhoon season is winding down, and the landscapes transform with the arrival of autumn colors. Whether you’re drawn to bustling city festivals, peaceful temple walks framed […]
Read More
Kanpai to Fall – Japan’s New Sake Releases
Summer, adorned in robes of the ocean’s blue and the glittering gold of festive fireworks, stands ready as it awaits the changing of the seasonal guard. From the glint of his right eye appears Autumn, eloquently cloaked in the brilliant scarlets and ambers of fiery fall […]
Read More
Meet Megumi, our Tokyo-Born Travel Expert with a Passion for her Homeland
Born in Tokyo, Megumi brings a deep understanding of both the city’s vibrant modern energy and its rich traditional roots. Having experienced life both in Japan and abroad, she offers travelers a unique perspective that blends local customs, cultural insights, and authentic experiences. Megumi’s love for […]
Read More
Interview with Incense Kitchen: The Gentle Art of Matcha Incense in Uji
Known worldwide for its high-quality matcha and deep cultural roots, Uji in Kyoto provides the perfect backdrop for Incense Kitchen’s unique craft. At Incense Kitchen, Kyoko Goto-san transforms unused matcha tea into KOTOHA incense, blending sustainability with tradition in a truly innovative way. Guests can even […]
Read More
Interview With Yokomura Ecolodge and Kasamatsu Farm Owner Byron
With so many stretches of land in Japan that are untouched or abandoned, many have taken advantage of these areas to start their own homesteading, whether it’s just a simple vegetable garden or full-on agriculture opportunities with animals and vast gardens enough to mostly sustain themselves. […]
Read More
Where & How to Get Mental Health Care in Tokyo
Moving to or living in Tokyo can be an amazing adventure; neon lights, cozy cafés, endless convenience. But let’s be honest: it can also feel overwhelming, lonely, or even isolating, especially if you’re far from your usual support systems. Whether you’re dealing with stress, anxiety, culture […]
Read More
Experiencing Luxury and Unique Ryokan in Japan
Frequently, traditional-style accommodations in Japan are labelled as simply “inns.” However, just like the West has its hotels, motels, and B&Bs, Japan has its own distinctive categories of accommodation as well. Most Japanese inns can be categorized as either minshuku or ryokan, and to ensure you […]
Read More
Travel to Japan: but don’t forget to download these Apps!
Alright! Everything is packed. Got my passport. Let me not forget the camera to take some awesome memory shots. (Aren’t you forgetting something, though?) No, I seem pretty much prepared, unless…wait, do you mean my toothbrush? Nope! Is it my sunscreen? Not even! Guess again….or in […]
Read More
THE IMPORTANCE OF AUTUMN IN JAPANESE CULTURE
Across the world, each season paints the landscape with its own mood and meaning. In Europe, we often connect the seasons not only with changing colors and shifting atmospheres, but even with music. Who hasn’t tried to guess which melody in Antonio Vivaldi’s magnificent The Four […]
Read More
October in Japan: 31 Mindful Travel Affirmations
Here in Japan, autumn invites us to slow down and notice change—the hush of a temple garden after rain, the warmth of tea between our palms, the quiet joy of a red maple leaf against a slate sky. At Arigato Travel, we see travel as a […]
Read More