Places we love

Togakushi: The Place I Had Been Looking For All Along

Togakushi: The Place I Had Been Looking For All Along

We first arrived in Togakushi by accident, wearing the wrong shoes and completely unprepared for what awaited us. What we found beneath towering ce...

Hida Furukawa: The Town a Snowstorm Led Us To

A snowstorm stranded us in Takayama and changed our plans completely. Instead of disappointment, it led us to Hida Furukawa — a quiet town we have ...

Gujo Hachiman: The River Town That Felt Like Summer

We had heard about Gujo Hachiman for years — a quiet water town with crystal-clear rivers, old lanes, schoolchildren by the riverbank and almost no...

Kamikochi: Japan's Most Beautiful Walk

We waited years before visiting Kamikochi as a family. When our seven-year-old completed his very first hike along the Azusa River, we realised thi...

Kifune: The Kyoto We Keep Returning To

Kifune became one of our favourite escapes from Kyoto — a mountain village of riverside cafés, glowing lanterns, water fortunes and quiet shrine pa...

Takayama: Where We Fell in Love with a Different Side of Japan

Over several visits and every season, Takayama has quietly become one of our favourite places in Japan. From peaceful riverside walks and morning m...