Here are the features that came out in the July-August 2021 Japanagram Hello, friend! It’s me, Jonelle. Here are the features that Japanagram subscribers enjoyed in July/August… • Seasonal Secret: The most … Continue reading How to read a haiku, goldfish galore & a garden of thatch-roofed farmhouses
Here are the features that came out in the May-June 2021 Japanagram Hello, friend! It’s me, Jonelle. Here are the features that Japanagram subscribers enjoyed in May/June… • Seven things you didn’t … Continue reading Seven strange things about Japanese weddings, giant wisteria, and how to live forever
Here are the features that came out in the March-April 2021 Japanagram Hello, friend! It’s me, Jonelle. Here are the features that Japanagram subscribers enjoyed in March and April… • Japanese ceremonies … Continue reading Treasure rice, cherry blossoms at a northern castle, and Japanese ceremonies we didn’t know we needed
Here are the features that came out in the February 2021 Japanagram Hello, friend! It’s me, Jonelle. Here are the features that Japanagram subscribers enjoyed in February… • The fabulous flower season … Continue reading 40,000 dolls in Imperial court robes, the strange barbers of Yoshiwara, and Japanese chicken soup for the soul
Here are the features that came out in the January 2021 Japanagram Hello, friend! It’s me, Jonelle. Here are the features that Japanagram subscribers enjoyed in January… • The grand pooh-bah of … Continue reading The grand pooh-bah of Japanese flea markets, glowing icicles & Japan’s obsession with pets
Here are the features that came out in the December 2020 Japanagram Hello, friend! It’s me, Jonelle. I hope that the new year is bringing you all kinds of good … Continue reading A killer Japanese garden lit up at night, delicious chicken & ginger yakitori meatballs, and how to get lucky, J-style
Here are the features that came out in the November 2020 Japanagram Thanks for being by my side as The Last Tea Bowl Thief went out into the wide world to seek … Continue reading A killer Japanese garden lit up at night, delicious chicken & ginger yakitori meatballs, and how to get lucky, J-style
Here are the features in the special edition of Japanagram that came out when The Last Tea Bowl Thief was published on October 20th In October there was a special … Continue reading A convent with a secret, sesame-miso hotpot, and why it’s harder to get a Japanese boyfriend than a Japanese girlfriend
Here are the features that Japanagram subscribers were reading in October… Hi, it’s me, Jonelle. Whether you’re venturing out or sticking close to home, I hope this month’s features deliver … Continue reading A secret castle garden, a killer Japanese cocktail recipe, & why the more friends you have, the lonelier you might be
Here are the features that Japanagram subscribers got in September… As we slide into fall, how are you doing? I hope you’re not in the path of any of the … Continue reading A town full of tricksters, strange Japanese beauty goals, and humble fall flowers that become spectacular in numbers
Here are the features that Japanagram subscribers were reading in August… Are you still hanging in there, as we continue our wild ride through the Wonka tunnel and (hopefully soon!) … Continue reading Surrounded by a waterfall, what to serve for Japanese dessert, and two fantastic Japan-centric reads
• Basic Travel Hacks How to use your phone in Japan without breaking the bank Navigating around Tokyo: How to get where you’re going if you don’t speak Japanese How … Continue reading Find what you’re looking for, by category…
Here are the features that Japanagram subscribers have been reading this month! Hello, my friend. It’s me again, Jonelle. I hope it’s cheerier where you are, but it seems like … Continue reading Summery miso grilling sauce, a garden grown from 3,000-year-old lotus seeds, and what souvenirs NOT to buy in July and August
Hi friend. It’s me, Jonelle So, I’ve been wondering—are you experiencing micro-nostalgia too? At least once a day I find myself longing for the good old days…you know, like, four … Continue reading Keeping cool in hilarious Japanese ways, an island that takes us back in time, and the best soy-lemon salad dressing EVER
Hi friend. It’s me, Jonelle This month, instead of searching out killer Instagram shots or rare souvenirs, we’re thinking about the bigger picture, and how our lives fit into it. Let’s … Continue reading Samurai graffiti, mountaintop enlightenment, & Yakitori Chicken Mini-Burgers
🎏 Unexpectedly stumbling across a whole bunch of koi nobori fluttering in the wind is one of Japan’s great delights, but if you’d rather not be saying “Hey, wait, why … Continue reading April event: The best places to see schools of fluttering fish flags in Tokyo
🎐 If you’re thinking about rescheduling your Japan trip, how about July? It’s hot, but there are so many great things you can enjoy in the summertime that you can’t … Continue reading Why you should come to Japan in JULY
Hi, it’s me, Jonelle How are you doing? I hope that you and yours are finding new ways to enjoy life while we weather the current storm. In the meantime, … Continue reading April Japanagram preview!
👘 Let’s begin to think about rescheduling your trip for when it’s fun to travel again, because there are so many great things to experience in Japan beyond the cherry … Continue reading Why you should come to Japan in JUNE
🎏 I’m going to start posting stuff you can look forward to seeing when it’s fun to travel again, because there are so many great experiences to have in Japan … Continue reading Why you should come to Japan in MAY
⛩I know. A trip to the grocery store is about as much of a vacation as anyone is getting right now. But while we’re waiting for it to be safe … Continue reading When’s the best time to come to Japan?
It’s already that time again! The March Japanagram is out, and if you’re not a subscriber yet, here’s what you’re missing: I’m sorry that these aren’t clickable like last month … Continue reading Nine spectacular cherry blossom gardens, a firewalking field trip & a book giveaway!
This is my favorite garden in Tokyo. It’s big enough to spend an hour meandering through the glades and is especially known for its oh-so-Japanese bridges. And it’s lovely in … Continue reading Koshikawa Koraku-en Garden
I like to keep things positive around here, but I just scanned the umpteenth itinerary forwarded to me by a coming-to-Japan friend, and I can’t believe that trip planners keep … Continue reading What NOT to do in Tokyo: The top ten overrated experiences (and what to do instead)
Some-No-Komichi is a celebration held every February in Nakai, the Tokyo neighborhood that’s famous for kimono dyeing. Examples of the makers’ finest wares are strung along miles of the canal … Continue reading February festival: Canals festooned with miles of gorgeous kimono fabric
Take a peek at the newest way to get all the best Japan swaglets! Japanagram is my new monthly newsletter, featuring new and different stuff than you’ll see here on … Continue reading Woo hoo, more Japan travel goodness for you!
The Setagaya Boroichi is the grand old lady of Tokyo flea markets. It’s so ancient and so revered, in fact, it holds Intangible Cultural Treasure status! On December 15-16 and … Continue reading January festival: Setagaya Boroichi, the most legendary flea market in Tokyo!
Shrines and temples aren’t just for snapping nice pix – there’s serious specialized goodness to be gotten from throwing a coin to the proper powers-that-be! Here’s how to take advantage … Continue reading How to shrine and temple in Japan
You’re craning your neck to see some gorgeous gold-leafed carving, and suddenly you’re overcome with traveler joy. “Isn’t this the most gorgeous…?” Uh oh. Shrine or temple? Because you know … Continue reading Shrine or temple? The Quickie Guide
I used to drag everyone who came to visit me to Ito-ya, the legendary 9-floor stationery shop in Ginza. But when they renovated and got rid of 90% of their … Continue reading Tokyo’s best-kept shopping secrets: The Shimojima gift, paper & packaging emporium
One of the best things anyone can bring back from Tokyo is a love of Japanese food. I don’t know about you, but the thing that surprised me most about … Continue reading How to bring Japan home with you: take a Japanese cooking class in Tokyo!
Thinking about taking an autumn trip to Japan? Dreaming of strolling through divine gardens bursting with red maples, and serene temples robed in fall leaves? I’m with you: it’s totally my … Continue reading Hacking Leaf Season: How to beat the crowds, duck the peak prices, and still see beautiful fall leaves in Japan
These are the festivals and events I would take you to see, if you were in town! • Click here for • If you love all things Japan, sign up … Continue reading Festivals + Events: What’s happening while you’re in Tokyo?
Japan is stuffed with (mostly) more and better goods than anywhere in the world, but there are a couple of things you should definitely bring with you, if you think … Continue reading Stuff you should bring with you, because you can’t get it in Japan
Finding bathrooms in Tokyo is a lot easier than finding them in America, that’s for sure! Here are three surefire places to find them, wherever the urge makes itself known. … Continue reading Where can I find public restrooms in Tokyo?
Yanaka is one of the quirkiest, undiscovered, Old Tokyo neighborhoods in town. Here, new generations of artisans from families that have plied their trades for centuries are finding fun and … Continue reading Curated Walking Tour: Yanaka, where traditional Tokyo is alive and kicking!
People always ask me if they should get a guide in Japan or not, and it’s the one question that I can’t really answer for you! Here’s a quiz to … Continue reading Travel quiz: Should I hire a guide in Japan?
I know. The whole reason you’re on The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had is to figure out how to have fun in Tokyo without someone showing you around. And don’t … Continue reading Problem solved: How to do all the fun Tokyo stuff that’s nearly impossible if you’re not fluent in Japanese
Gokoku-ji is one of my favorite temples, because it’s home to the best graveyard, the best cats, and two of the strangest shrines in Tokyo. First, let’s go see the … Continue reading Gokoku-ji Temple
I know. You think you’re not interested in this fusty old super-Japanese form of entertainment. But you’d be wrong. Here’s why. #1 The actors who play the women’s roles do … Continue reading Should I see a Kabuki performance?
If you’re not convinced you need to see this only-in-Japan entertainment while you’re here, get thee over to Should I see a Kabuki performance? I think you’ll be back. There … Continue reading Kabuki: How to get tickets and see a performance
The Shitamachi Museum will timewarp you back to the Meiji Era (1868-1912), which is after Japan opened to the West, but before any of the world wars took their toll. Like … Continue reading Shitamachi Museum
This magnificent temple sacred to the Buddhist teacher Nichiren is most famous for its Oeshiki Ikegami parade (the Festival of 10,000 Lanterns) in October, but it’s also impressive at other … Continue reading Ikegami Honmon-ji Temple
Salt and tobacco, the two unlikely subjects of this strangely rewarding museum, were both protected by a Japanese government monopoly for many years, and that’s why there’s a museum devoted … Continue reading Tobacco & Salt Museum
This Toyota MegaWeb museum is styled to look like a town where all the cars are rare, famous, or both. There are two floors of vintage cars, race cars, movie cars, … Continue reading The History Garage
I didn’t discover this hidden gem among the Imperial Palace East Gardens (which I’d dismissed as boring! boring! boring! since I’d only been to the one on top of the … Continue reading Ni-no-maru Imperial Gardens
Yanaka is one of the best, undiscovered, Old Tokyo neighborhoods in town, filled with traditional shops and excellent shrines and temples. The Nezu Shrine is my favorite shrine in Tokyo. … Continue reading Nezu Shrine
This museum (which is in Omotesando, not near Nezu Station, go figure) is a jewel of an art museum that showcases beautifully curated exhibits, focusing on traditional Japanese arts and crafts. The price … Continue reading Nezu Museum
The National Museum of Nature and Science is split between the Global Gallery and the Japan Gallery, but it’s the Japanese building that’s a delightfully only-in-Japan view of the natural world. … Continue reading National Museum of Nature and Science
This gem of a temple is home to one of the more unusual Buddhist saints – the Shibarare (pronounced she-bah-rah-ray) Jizo. Legend has it that this saint has a gift for … Continue reading Nanzo-in Temple: Home of the Shibarare Jizo
Tokyo beyond the guidebooks 