Coronavirus Travel Advice: Is It Safe to Travel?
Mark Bibby Jackson provides some coronavirus travel advice as well as guidance to those people asking the question – is it safe to travel to Europe? As the number of…
Hokkaido Coronavirus State of Emergency
A state of emergency has been declared in the most northern island of Japan, as the Hokkaido coronavirus intensifies, leading to speculation that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic…
Should the Olympics Be Cancelled?
The spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus across the world has already led to the cancellation of major sporting events, including the Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix, and festivals…
6 Exotic Festivals Around the World in 2020
As we enter the new year, Travel Begins at 40 selects six exotic festivals around the world to look forward to, from New Zealand to the US, and Japan to…
2020s Best Solo Travel Experiences
As the global adventure travel market continues to grow, travellers are prioritising unique and authentic experiences that upgrade their trip from a holiday into…
Explore Japan’s Cherry Blossoms
Explore is offering savings of up to £200pp on trips to Japan including its Shogun Trail and Walk Japan – Kumano Kodo Trail trips. To make a trip to Japan…
Japan’s Earliest Cherry Blossoms in Shizuoka
Spring may still feel far away as we get ready for Christmas here in the UK, but in Japan’s Shizuoka prefecture – just one hour from Tokyo by bullet train – it won’t be long…
Tokyo International Film Festival 2023, Japan
Prepare yourself to rub shoulders with film stars and to discover top international movies at one of Asia’s most prestigious competitive film events, the annual Tokyo…
Tokyo Ranked Safest City in the World
Tokyo has been ranked the safest city in the World in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s third Safe Cities Index, published on 29 August, while Amsterdam tops the European…
Nabana no Sato Winter Light Festival Japan 2023
Nabana no Sato, a botanical garden in the Japanese prefecture of Mie, is home each year to one of the country’s best and biggest winter light festivals. During several months…
Visit UNESCO’s Latest Site in Osaka
On 7 July, the latest UNESCO World Heritage sites were unveiled and the Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan – 49 ancient burial mounds dating from the 3rd to 6th century (the…
Let Chelsea Inspire You to Blooming Travel
With the RHS Chelsea Flower Show just around the corner (21-25 May), our friends at Travel PR have collected a selection of garden-themed holiday ideas to get you into bloom…
13 Unusual Fitness Experiences from around the World
From goat yoga and ice climbing, to swimming with sharks and samurai training, mix up your regular exercise routine with one of these unusual fitness experiences from around the world…
Celebrate International Day of Forests
On 21 March, the world is encouraged to support International Day of Forests. A day designed to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests around…
Take a Culinary Tour of Miyagi, Japan
Only 90 minutes north of Tokyo by bullet train, Miyagi Prefecture is a culinary capital of Japan with mouthwatering delicacies such as Matsushima oysters, local seasonal fish dishes, and grilled beef…
Setouchi Triennale 2022, Japan
Every three years the Setouchi Triennale, one of Japan’s biggest festivals of modern art, takes place in the south-west of the country. Come spring this exceptional celebration…
Kanamara Matsuri, Japan Penis Festival 2024
The Japan Penis Festival is arguably the country’s most amusing event when tens of thousands of revellers roam the streets of Kawasaki in April to pay tribute to fertility in an age-old ritual…
Cherry Blossom Season Japan 2024
The Cherry Blossom Season Japan or sakura is one of the country’s top highlights every year when locals and visitors gather to admire the stunning, blooming cherry trees in parks…
Valentine’s Day 2024 Around the World
It’s that time of the year again that love birds look forward to, many singles dread, and some brave souls try to ignore. The least that could be said about…
Japan Naked Festival, Okayama (Hadaka Matsuri)
The Saidaiji Eyo Hadaka Matsuri in Okayama, colloquially known as the Japan naked festival, is the largest of a series of similar festivals held around Japan. Thousands of naked people…
Three Cycle Japan Routes to Ride in 2019
With Japan set to host the Rugby World Cup in 2019, the spotlight will turn on the nation. What better way to see the country – and get in shape for the finals – than by bicycle…
World’s First Art-inspired Hot Spring Resort
Set in the mountains on the Sengokuhara plateau, KAI Sengokuhara is a recently-opened Japanese hot spring ryokan which combines an art gallery and atelier (art studio) with healing hot springs…
Discover Undiscovered Kiroro, Japan
Kiroro, a pristine gem in the heart of the Hokkaido Golden Triangle, is an undiscovered five-star, all-season, exclusive alpine resort destination. Already known by avid… …
Weirdest Vending Machines in Japan
Vending machines in Japan are ubiquitous, with one found against almost every wall; in front of apartments, under bridges, outside restaurants, and inside…
