Journal · spring 2026 ·

Dear traveller,
come see
Japan.

A travel journal from Hiroshima. The places guidebooks miss, the stories algorithms don't tell — written for those who want to go deeper.

The great torii of Miyajima at sunset, Itsukushima island near Hiroshima
Miyajima · · The floating torii at sunset
Fig. 01

About this journal · Hiroshima ·

I'm Japanese, I live in Hiroshima — and I write about Japan for travellers who want to see beyond the tourist trail.

This isn't a travel agency guide. It's an invitation to see Japan differently — the places locals love, practical advice that rarely gets translated, and the stories algorithms never surface.

Latest entries

Illustrated map of Japan

Practical guide ·

Japan tourist tax 2026:
everything you need to know

Departure tax, city accommodation taxes, local area fees — a complete guide to every extra cost to budget for before visiting Japan in 2026.

Read the guide →
Sunset over the Ota river in Hiroshima, red sky reflected in the water

Hiroshima · Ōta-gawa ·

What the river
keeps in memory

Seven rivers run through Hiroshima. In the evenings, locals gather at the water's edge, quietly. You only have to sit down to understand why.

Continue reading →
Ebisu-dori shopping arcade decorated with red lanterns during the Ebisu Festival in Hiroshima

Hiroshima · Hondori ·

The Ebisu Festival:
Hiroshima in celebration

Every November, the covered arcade fills with red lanterns. The crowd moves slowly. It is loud, joyful, completely Japanese — and nobody in the guidebooks mentions it.

Continue reading →

Why
this journal

I

Hidden places

The spots locals love that never make the guidebooks. Quiet neighbourhoods, family-run restaurants, and the Japan that rewards the patient traveller.

II

Practical guides

Entry rules, tourist tax, transport, JESTA — everything you need to know before you go, written clearly for Western travellers.

III

In French too

All content available in French. Because French speakers deserve Japan travel guides written for them — not translated from a guide written for someone else.