Renting a car in Japan opens up an entirely new side of the country that train passengers completely miss, especially in rural regions like Kyushu! However, navigating Japanese driving laws, toll booths, and navigation systems as a foreigner can feel a bit overwhelming. This guide covers the exact logistics you need to know to hit the open road smoothly, safely, and without unnecessary stress. 🏢 Choosing the Right Rental Company While there are many brands across Japan, thre

Although I now live in Kyoto, Osaka was my absolute favorite place to visit during my exchange student days. The Namba district in particular really appealed to me, partly because it's packed with shops brimming with anime and manga merchandise! Osaka is cozy, much more relaxed than other Japanese cities, and the people are incredibly friendly. On the map below, I've highlighted the most important areas with colors to help you choose where to stay. Of course, you can also sta

Introduction Even though I live in Kyoto, I've been to Tokyo so many times I can barely count them on my hands. I go there often, both as a tourist and for work. Although I've stayed in a huge variety of places, I still haven't seen everything; the city is incredibly vast! On the map below, I've highlighted the most important areas with colored squares. Of course, you can also stay in the areas that aren't colored. Tokyo is truly enormous, so if you have a hotel in mind that

If you have been reading my blog before, you were probably Dutch. As you know, I usually write everything in Dutch, but for this post, I’m making an exception. I frequently get asked on social media (especially TikTok) and by friends, both from my side and Zen’s the same question: "Where is the best place to stay in Kyoto?" That’s why I decided to make this guide available in English as well. This blog is mainly intended for first-time visitors to Kyoto. Of course, the inform