Rysuke Hamaguchi’s BAFTA-winning and Oscar®-nominated film, Drive My Car is difficult to miss. This gripping film adapted from a short story by Haruki Murakami takes us on the road travelling through Japan. Now we’re bringing it to all of our fellow Japan-fans for a little cinematic inspiration when it comes to your future Japan travel plans.

Kodo Nishimura is a Buddhist monk, a makeup artist, and an LGBTQ+ activist encouraging people to unapologetically be who they are. You might recognise him from Netflix' 'Queer Eye: We're in Japan' where he appeared in the second episode. Following its release, Kodo became an international star. Read our interview in which we talk about Kodo's new book 'This Monk Wears Heels: Be Who You Are' and so much more. 

Japanese bullet trains have come a long way since the opening of the first line in 1964 and this year marks another milestone with the opening of a new line to Nagasaki, and the 30th anniversary of the Nozomi train speeding across the country on the 14th of March! Nozomi runs on the tracks between Tokyo and Hakata stations but let’s take a look at what lesser-known gems you can find along the way.

In the past, fewer than 2% of international visitors to Japan would make their way to the northern Tohoku region, and an even smaller number visited Akita prefecture. Kakunodate is a hidden gem in Akita, a well-preserved samurai village known as the "Little Kyoto of Tohoku".

Learn why you need to add it to your future itinerary.

Pokémon are calling the shots in these Japanese prefectures... Could this be the beginning of a real-life Ryme City? We hope so! Read on to find out which prefectures have appointed which Pokémon ambassadors!