Boutique Japan Blog

It’s often said that Okinawan culture can be summed up by the word chanpuru. In the Okinawan language, it means…

If you’re planning to visit Japan for two weeks, you’re in the right place! Our sample two-week Japan itinerary below…

Cherry blossom season is a huge draw for tourists in Japan every year, but their sheer popularity and the resulting…

Since Japan’s successful bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics, travel to Japan has ramped up — big time. Even…

For most travelers visiting Japan, a high-end sushi meal is on their culinary bucket list. It’s no surprise—eating sushi in…

Do you love travel and spreadsheets? Boutique Japan is hiring a brilliant, experienced, and incredibly organized Operations Ninja. If you’re…

You could spend a lifetime getting to know a megalopolis like Tokyo, and there are so many things you could…

Japan’s railway system, including its world-renowned shinkansen (bullet train), is famously clean, safe, modern, and efficient. But to a first-time…

If you’ve ever thought about visiting Japan, you’re probably familiar with the advice that you should “go for cherry blossom…

Japanese whisky (it’s spelled whisky, not whiskey, in Japan) no longer needs an introduction. While Japan was traditionally best known…

Fall is a wonderful time to be in Japan. In my book, autumn in Japan outshines spring (and cherry blossom…

In today’s Japan Travel Q&A we answer a question about shochu from Annika in Sweden: “Is shochu Japanese vodka?” Don’t…