The Boutique Japan Blog

Sumo is one of Japan’s most well-known sports, and a highly authentic Japanese cultural experience in and of itself. But…

It’s often said that Okinawan culture can be summed up by the word chanpuru (in the local language it means…

If you’re planning on visiting Japan for around two weeks, you’re in the right place! This sample 14-day Japan itinerary…

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

If you’re like most travelers visiting Japan, a high-end sushi meal is on your culinary bucket list — it’s no…

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 for beverage lovers. While Japan was…

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

Shochu is one of Japan’s most delicious (and least known) alcoholic beverages, and is sometimes referred to as “Japanese vodka.”…