4/2/2026 · 4 min read · destinations
Takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kushikatsu, ramen, conveyor-belt sushi — your definitive Dotonbori food map for 1–2 days in Osaka.
2/20/2026 · 6 min read · food
Starbucks Japan has teriyaki chicken paninis. McDonald's sells shaka-shaka fries and a Teriyaki Burger. Here's what's different, what's identical, and which US chains skipped Japan entirely.
First-timers: Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka Golden Route for 7 days. Been before? Try Hokkaido in winter or Okinawa in summer — totally different vibes.
Read more →Tokyo blooms ~5 days before Kyoto. Safest play: Tokyo in early April, then head south to Kyoto the second week for late bloomers at Arashiyama.
February for Sapporo Snow Festival + Abashiri drift ice. July for Furano lavender + Biei green fields. Skip May — still cold, low scenery payoff.
Read more →2 days is plenty (Dotonbori, USJ, Osaka Castle). Better yet, use Osaka as a base for Kyoto/Nara/Kobe daytrips — hotels ~30% cheaper than Kyoto.
Read more →