Untranslated Japan

Planning a first trip to Japan can quickly become complicated. Learn what self-guided tours in Japan actually include, how they simplify planning, and how to choose the right itinerary for your trip.

Most visitors stop at Kumamoto Castle. This drive takes you north, into a village of rescued farmhouses, a Meiji theatre still staging kabuki, a Zen temple serving shojin cuisine, and a gorge fed by Aso’s underground waters.

From the crater to ancient standing stones, firelit dining rooms, and three very different hot spring towns — a practical guide to the Aso region and what surrounds it.

A drive into Kumamoto’s most enclosed valley, where one clan ruled for seven centuries. Hitoyoshi, the Kuma River, ancient cedar, and a rice spirit unlike anything else in Japan.

Kyoto’s geiko and maiko are not hidden. Five flower districts. Seasonal performances open to the public. One stage where all five appear together. Here is where to look.

Five JR stations where the view begins the moment the doors open — no bus, no transfer, no further directions required.

Depopulation, akiya, and the quiet economics of where you sleep and what you buy. A guide for travellers who want their visit to mean something beyond the itinerary.

A cultural guide to Japan’s rainy season — from moss gardens and hydrangea temples to fireflies, outdoor baths, and the quiet ryokan stays that only June can reveal.