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Travel — Life in Japan — Page 2

  • travel/ Apr 4, 2026

    The Rules of the Bath

    A Kyoto native on onsen etiquette: wash first, the towel that never touches the water, and why being naked stops mattering fast.

    A folded towel on the stone rim of a steaming hot-spring bath beside a dim wooden wall.
  • travel/ Feb 22, 2026

    Gates and Bells

    Torii or sanmon, clap or bow — a Kyoto native on telling shrines from temples and why the line keeps blurring

    A bright orange torii gate beside a dark wooden temple building on a quiet stone-paved street at dusk.
  • travel/ Jan 4, 2026

    The Art of Being a Guest

    Tatami floors, kaiseki dinners, and futons laid while you bathe - what to expect from a traditional ryokan stay and why it costs what it costs

    A traditional tatami room with a low wooden table, floor cushions, hanging scroll, and shoji windows onto a garden.
  • travel/ Oct 24, 2025

    Riding the Rails

    A systems guide to Japan's rail network: train hierarchies, fare calculations, and the infrastructure moving 27 billion passengers annually

    A businessman boards a green and silver commuter train bound for Tokyo at a covered station platform.