A large prefecture on the Pacific Coast in the Tohoku region, Iwate is a former cultural and political centre of northern Japan with many surprises hidden up its sleeve. 

For the first time in the UK, discover the Ainu culture of today through personal stories from this indigenous community from the southern Hokkaido region of Biratori at Japan House London.

Easily accessible from Tokyo, the Tohoku region is a true gem that visitors to Japan should not miss out on. Stretching from the prefecture of Fukushima, just north of Tokyo, to Aomori Prefecture, south of Hokkaido, the Tohoku region offers heaps of sublime natural landscapes every season and off-the-beaten-path travel opportunities. A must-see destination all year long, with enjoyable local festivals and delicious culinary specialties, read through our Tohoku travel guide to plan your next Japan vacation!

Tokyo is often thought of as an expensive city to visit, but it deserves to be known as a wonderful destination for budget travellers. While many have heard of 100-yen shops and megastores such as  Don Quijote, another way to save money is to explore the capital and Kanto region on foot, on a bicycle or up in the mountains. Rather than spending money on lots of train tickets or passes, you can take your time and enjoy a more in-depth travel experience. Let’s take a look at some of the spots from the new Tokyo Outdoors guidebook that you could visit!

Roughly one hour away from Niigata City via jetfoil, lies Sadogashima (Sado Island). Once a place of exile for prominent Kyoto politicians, intellectuals and artists who fell out of favour with the ruling government; it resulted in the island forming its own unique blends of culture and religion.