The Reality of Sapporo: The Grid Without a Reason
Travellers arriving in Japan expecting medieval streets, irregular wooden alleys, and organic growth encounter an unfamiliar urban layout in Sapporo. In Hokkaido's…
Regional Guide
Japan
Planning a trip to Japan? Explore PenguFly guides for Japan — what to see, where to go, travel tips and affordable flights for your journey.
Cheap Flights to Sapporo: The Train Under the Wrong Building
The train station at New Chitose Airport sits inside the complex, but international arrivals land in the wrong building. New Chitose Airport…
The Reality of Kanazawa: The City the War Never Reached
Nearly every major Japanese city was firebombed in 1945; their historic districts are, by necessity, largely post-war rebuilds. Kanazawa lacked the strategic…
Cheap flights to Tokyo: two airports playing different games, the rail-pass rethink, and the weeks Japan travels all at once
On an early trip to Japan, I booked an exceptionally cheap flight to Tokyo that landed at Narita Airport at ten thirty…
Cheap flights to Osaka: the island airport (KIX), the two train lines, and the Kyoto question
On my first trip to the Kansai region, I landed, walked to the station hall, and bought a ticket for the Nankai…
The Quiet of Kyoto: Temples, Geiko, and the Old Imperial Capital
Stand at the base of Fushimi Inari just before dawn, and the silence is absolute. The cool mountain air smells faintly of…
Cheap flights to Tokyo: Narita vs Haneda, the rail maze, and when to book
Here's a quick way to blow your travel budget before you've even checked in: land at Narita (NRT) late, shuffle through customs,…
Interesting Facts About Yokohama
Just south of Tokyo on the shore of its bay, Yokohama is Japan's second-largest city and one of its most relaxed and…
Tokyo Guide: From Temples to Neon Lights
Tokyo is a city of contrasts, where ancient Japanese culture is threaded through one of the most modern metropolises on earth. Quiet…