Premiering earlier this month, the 4th series of Race Across the World pits 5 pairs of adventurers against each other as they attempt to cross Asia, all without their phones, the internet, and other essentials. The first episode began with the groups departing from Sapporo, the capital of the northernmost island of Hokkaido. Endeavouring to reach the city of Nara as their first checkpoint, let’s look at some of the spots that the pairs visited along their journeys!

Tottori Prefecture, not to be confused with the similarly named Studio Ghibli character, a neighbour to Shimane, Okayama, and Hyogo prefectures, sits within a beautiful area of Japan, full of nature and immersive culture, yet perfect for one who is looking for a adventure that is slightly off of the beaten path. Let’s jump in and see a selection of what Tottori has to offer! 

One of Japan’s best places to stay at when travelling is an onsen. Saunas as well are a happy addition to many onsen, giving people a full range of relaxation opportunities. We recently spoke with Eetu-Antti Hartikainen, a PhD student at Hokkaido University in Sapporo, about saunas and sauna culture, so let’s get into it and learn a bit about ‘sa-katsu’!

JR East and JR West have announced an extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line from Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture to Tsuruga in Fukui Prefecture, which officially opened on March 16, 2024. Here are a few fun things that you can do along the way!

Japan has always been a popular destination, so it’s not really surprising that the number of people going there is already surpassing pre-Covid levels. The vast majority of tourists travel round by train – making use of the amazing rail network with the star attraction, of course, being the bullet train (shinkansen).