Why Japan is Travel + Leisure's 2018 Destination of the Year (video)Travel + Leisure - Andrea RomanoThink about what you look for when you’re deciding on the perfect travel destination. Is it rich history? Cultural experiences? Lots of delicious food or shopping opportunities? Comfortable and unique
This Japanese island paradise has subtropical forests and pristine white beachesTravel + Leisure - Akemi JohnsonOkinawa is so lush that buildings and rivers are often obscured by its profusion of greenery. Along the coasts, tourists swim in aquamarine waters. All this natural beauty may surprise anyone who associates
Surfing Stepping into Japan's hot, under-the-radar surf scene, with @SaturdaysNYC:Travel + Leisure - Alex FrenchThe founders of cult surf brand Saturdays NYC often explore hidden corners of the country, where surf culture burns hot. On their latest visit, they plunged into under-the-radar Shikoku. Twice a year,
Sea of Japan Visit Japan during cherry blossom season on the unexpected route: by cruise shipTravel + Leisure - Eleni N. GageOn an eight-night Princess Cruises voyage that visits some of the Japanese archipelago’s lesser-known ports, Eleni N. Gage falls under the spell of cherry-blossom season. From my bird’s-eye perch in the
Japan is the most underrated destination for gorgeous fall foliage. Here’s where to see itTravel + Leisure - Marie Mutsuki MockettThanks to the tiny star-shaped leaves that radiate from the momiji, the maple indigenous to eastern Asia, autumn in Japan is exhilarating. Walking through Kiyosumi Gardens in Tokyo on a recent visit, glanced
The best times to visit Japan for cherry blossoms and bargain pricesTravel + Leisure - Veronica InveenA snowy getaway in Hokkaido, a beach vacation in Okinawa, or a photography trip to capture cherry blossoms in Tokyo — the best time to visit Japan depends entirely on what you want to do when you arrive.
Coral Reefs The 14 most beautiful islands of JapanTravel + Leisure - Amy ThomasJapan is revered for many things: Buddhist temples, breathtaking Geishas, bustling metropolises, and the freshest, most far-out fish markets. But it also has thousands of spectacular islands, beyond the
Tokyo Four adventurous ways to see Japan's natural beautyTravel + Leisure - John ScarpinatoDespite its reputation for urban density, Japan has no shortage of natural wonders — many of which are best seen on foot, bicycle, or a pair of skis. Budget a few extra days into your travel plans for
Japan 13 unforgettable Japanese destinations you never thought to visitTravel + Leisure - Patricia DohertyVisitors to Japan usually head for the excitement of Tokyo’s Ginza district, seek out the historic shrines and temples in Kyoto, or stroll through manicured Japanese gardens. They might look for highly
This over-the-top luxury train is the best way to see JapanTravel + Leisure - Krys LeeBeing catered to usually makes me squirm, but nobody does service quite like the Japanese. When the Royal Express, a sumptuous 100-seat luxury train, pulled out of Yokohama for its journey south along
Japan's coolest new hotels, from glamping near Mount Fuji to a snowy chalet in HokkaidoTravel + Leisure - Lila BattisFour quintessentially Japanese places to stay. In a country with such a long legacy of hospitality that a 200-year-old ryokan is considered a recent arrival, it can be tough for new hotels to make a splash.
Snow monsters come to life every winter in Japan to keep skiers company on the slopesTravel + Leisure - Stacey LeascaYamagata Prefecture, located in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan, is home to an estimated 252,000 people. And a few snow monsters, too. Each year, the ski resort of Zao Onsen transforms into a winter
Japan These boundary-breaking buildings prove Japan's a great destination for architecture buffsTravel + Leisure - Ian VolnerSince the turn of the millennium, Japanese architects have created dazzling structures characterized by transparency and lightness. Add the following buildings to your itinerary for a glimpse of the future
The essential 5-day itinerary around Japan’s Seto Inland SeaTravel + Leisure - Mark LakinThis major body of water, surrounded by the main islands of Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku, offers a beguiling mix of art, culture, and history. Epic Road’s Mark Lakin, a member of T+L’s A-List Travel Advisory
The best restaurants in Japan, according to chefs and culinary expertsTravel + Leisure - Hannah WalhoutTokyo has more restaurants with Michelin stars than any other city in the world, but the best eating experiences are often farther afield. We asked some of Japan’s biggest cheerleaders stateside to share
The essential 4-day itinerary around KyushuTravel + Leisure - Tesia SmithThis journey through the southernmost of Japan’s four main islands takes in local cuisine, relaxing onsens, and strikingly diverse landscapes. Tesia Smith, a member of the T+L A-List of top travel advisors,
Tokyo This floating inn is the most luxurious way to see Japan by seaTravel + Leisure - Lisa GraingerGuntû is a cross between a traditional ryokan and a luxury yacht. Here, Lisa Grainger takes a sybaritic sail around the Seto Inland Sea. Bounded by the islands of Honshū to the north, Shikoku to the south,
The essential 4-day itinerary around eastern Hokkaido, JapanTravel + Leisure - Scott GilmanJapan’s northernmost island is a skier’s paradise, but its natural beauty is worth exploring throughout the year. Scott Gilman of JapanQuest Journeys, a member of the T+L A-List of top travel advisors,
Meet the locals who will let you in on Japan's best-kept ski secretsTravel + Leisure - Jill RobinsonIt started with your first friend who skied in Japan, and continued with every successive person bragging about “Japow.” The endless conversations about incredible powder stashes may, by now, have made
Festivals 11 festivals that will help you experience the real JapanTravel + Leisure - Patricia DohertyCountless festivals (matsuri) take place in Japan each year, with processions, costumes, floats, portable shrines, ceremonies, traditional foods, fireworks, music, and dance. Many celebrate spiritual and
Venture beyond the tourist trail in Japan and you’ll encounter a wealth of hidden wondersTravel + Leisure - Pico IyerEven the most unlikely corners of Japan can be spellbinding. Venture beyond the tourist trail, says Pico Iyer, and you’ll encounter a wealth of hidden wonders. I’ve just slipped out of an exquisite jewel-box
