Japanese 'matsuri' festivals happen all year round but summer is particularly famous for its explosions of vibrant energy, especially in the Tohoku region. This year the majority of festivals have moved online to help keep communities connected at a socially distant time but that has meant that the 'mikoshi' portable shrine, which usually leads the processions, has taken a bit of a time out. 'Mikoshi' repairman Nobuya Miyata comes from strong 'matsuri' stock and even had a documentary made about him - we can see why! 

InsideJapan’s Mark Johnson, knows his stuff. Having lived in rural Yamaguchi for a few years, travelled the country from top to toe and worked with the Japan travel specialists for over ten years, it’s fair to say that Mark is a Japan travel expert. Here, he lets us into the secrets to unlocking amazing experiences in Japan's winter wonderlands.

Kyoto is a big draw for a lot of people and with good reason - it's the cultural heart of Japan. But with so many people visiting in recent years, knowing where to escape the crowds and get a  taste for a more authentic Kyoto has never been more key to your Japan itinerary. Rachel aka Girljin in Japan talks to us about daily life in Kyoto and which temples you should REALLY be visiting.

Join us as we sit down with Jordan Green, aka AfroInJapan, to discuss his mission to travel to each of Japan's 47 prefectures, photograph the best sights the country has to offer, discovering his 'ikigai', and more!

With the explosion in popularity of shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race in the US, Canada and even in the UK, too, the art of drag has never been more celebrated.

Drag in Japan has been alive and well for centuries across its big cities like Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Sapporo and even Kyoto, but one drag queen recently snatched a headline with her innovative approach to social distancing amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic.