14 February marked the UK release of COTTONTAIL, a film directed by Patrick Dickinson and starring Lily Franky as Kenzaburo, who travels with his family to England in order to spread the ashes of his wife Akiko at Lake Windermere in the Lake District. A story on loss, family mending, and self-discovery, COTTONTAIL takes viewers on an emotional journey between Japan and England. We recently had the opportunity to sit down with the star Lily Franky and the director Patrick Dickinson to discuss the film.

Visited by less than 1% of overseas tourists (0.8% to be exact), Mie Prefecture lies on the eastern side of the Kii Peninsula and is steeped deeply in Japan’s mythology and legends. Easily accessible from Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya and Wakayama, Mie is a great reason to extend one’s trip through the Kinki/Kansai region and learn more intimately of Japan’s people and folklore.

While we still might be enduring winter weather and cold temperatures, the signs of spring are slowly coming in! Cherry blossoms, or sakura, are one of the most popular sights to see in Japan during spring time. The cherry blossom forecasts have started to trickle in, so let's take a brief look at what the Japan Meteorological Agency has to say about sakura for 2025!

Just a stone’s throw from Tokyo and Chiba, and while technically not a neighbour of Tokyo, Ibaraki Prefecture is very accessible, and makes for a wonderful day trip or even multi-day trip to explore all the amazing things that the prefecture has in it. From waterfalls to famous gardens, mountains and shrines, make sure to keep Ibaraki in mind when visiting Japan!

Wakayama Prefecture is another of the 4 prefectures that make up the Kii Peninsula of central Japan. Home to one of the most famous pilgrimage trails of the country, Wakayama is not too far from Tokyo and other large cities. Exploring the prefecture will showcase some of Japan’s most beautiful scenery, offering a side of Japan that is off the beaten path, but not to be missed.