Looking for a break from Japan’s city living? Why not tackle a local hike? Better yet, find one of the storied Hyakumeizan (百名山/100 Famous Mountains) of Japan and give it a climb. Beautiful and historic peaks are prevalent throughout Japan, but the “famous 100” are arguably some of the...

Located in the neighboring prefecture of Chiba sits Mt. Nokogiri (鋸山), home to Japan’s largest sitting daibutsu (大仏/Great Buddha statue). Founded in 725, Nihonji Temple is widely regarded as the region’s only Nara Period temple that was built by imperial decree. It was not until the late 1700s, however,...

If you’ve been wanting to experience something well beyond the typical eatery or coffee franchise, Tokyo is a place for you. So, whether living here or passing through, the next time you head out for drinks or a meal, why not change things up a bit and explore some...

As with most major Southeast Asian cities, it’s not difficult to stumble across a shopping mall, especially a very big, very cold, and very busy one. Whether you’re in Manila, Jakarta, Singapore, or Kuala Lumpur (KL), there’s no shortage of malls that range (sometimes widely) from 3 stars to...

Whether you’re an expat in Asia or were native born, hopefully you’re doing more than hanging out in malls, cafes, and bars on the weekends. Asia offers up some truly spectacular things to do—trail running in Hong Kong, mountain biking in the hills around Kuala Lumpur, snowboarding/skiing in Hokkaido,...

For those seeking a taste of the tropics, along with some serious isolation from the masses, look no further than Japan’s Ogasawara Islands. Often referred to as one of Tokyo’s lesser-known getaways, it’s a stretch trying to pass these off as a “Tokyo destination” seeing as how they lie...

Move aside Hong Kong, as Japan is passing you by to become the destination of choice for the rapidly growing number of Filipino tourists heading overseas. This trend is the result of both a stronger Philippines’ economy and the country’s expanding middle class. Largely known for its vast number...

THE DARE One Friday night out at a Roppongi watering hole saw a good friend of mine and an acquaintance talking over drinks. Before long, some random piece of conversation got turned into a dare. A few drinks in and it morphed into an actual plan. “There’s no way...

Considering the thousand-plus articles on travel apps out there—each prodding you to click with titles proclaiming “Top 20 Travel Apps You Should be Using Already, Dummy” and the like—why would I want to step into the fray and offer my two cents? Simple. Because I feel that most of...

The British have quite a reputation in the European Union as being unruly and drunken guests. In Magaluf, Spain, for example, the authorities there will begin fining drunken partygoers over US$3,000 who get naked in public places, urinate or defecate in the street, or jump from their hotel balconies....