Travel Topics
Explore global festivals and events in December 2024, from Europe’s enchanting Christmas markets to Guatemala’s colourful Fiesta de Santo Tomás. Experience diverse cultures, dazzling lights and unforgettable traditions worldwide. Follow…
Travel Begins at 40 rounds up the best festivals in March 2024 across the globe, from Wales to Colombia, with cherry trees, loads of Guinness and even some frozen dead…
Travel Begins at 40 rounds up the best festivals in February 2024 across the Globe, from Mongolia to Easter Island, so wherever you are you just can’t help celebrating the…
The Otaru Snow Light Path Festival is a winter festival held every February in Otaru on the island of Hokkaido in Japan. Otaru Snow Light Path Festival Initiated in 1999…
From naked men to setting off fireworks and lots of sake, here is our round up of Japan Winter Festivals ranging from the quirky to the strange. Matsutaki Festival…
Are you a running enthusiast who’s always on the lookout for the next great marathon to conquer? Look no further, as we’ve compiled a list of the best marathons in…
Hakone, Japan is a popular travel destination for its stunning natural beauty, cultural attractions and hot springs. It’s a perfect getaway from the bustling city of Tokyo, as it’s located…
Looking for the best solo travel destinations for 2021? Check out this list of 10 amazing places to explore this year, from vibrant cities to stunning natural landscapes. Whether you’re…
Travel Begins at 40 has scanned the globe to bring you our tips on where to go in March from Japan to Brazil, with activities from watching bulbs grow in…
With a long history for respecting nature, Japan is a country embracing sustainable tourism. From local travel in islands to energy-efficient stays, and off-season visits, here are five ways of…
The symbolic power of light has always played a powerful role in the world’s many cultural and religious traditions. But apart from their traditional significance, festivals of lights are also…
Have you ever given any thought to going on a trip by yourself? There are a lot of advantages to solo travelling, such as the absence of any obligations to…
The Tokyu Hotels Group has unveiled the world’s first hydrogen hotel in Kawasaki in Japan, which is entirely powered by waste. Hydrogen created from waste plastic supplies…
The coastal resort town of Koarashicho in Atami, the gateway to Shizuoka’s spectacular Izu Peninsula, is home to a new hot spring hotel, SOKI ATAMI. Offering panoramic ocean views and…
Green travel can mean much more than simply carbon offsetting the emissions from your flight. In many ways travel can be good for the environment with many countries and tourist…
James Clark goes walking in Japan along the Michinoku Coastal Trail in Tohoku, a remote region of the country that suffered terribly at the hands of the 2011 Tsunami and…
Modern Japan is a country of contrasts. On the one hand, it is the home of bustling metropolises, such as Tokyo, on the other, it is a calm and spiritual…
Mark Bibby Jackson provides some coronavirus travel advice as well as guidance to those people asking the question – is it safe to travel to Europe? As the number of…
A state of emergency has been declared in the most northern island of Japan, as the Hokkaido coronavirus intensifies, leading to speculation that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic…
The spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus across the world has already led to the cancellation of major sporting events, including the Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix, and festivals…
As we enter the new year, Travel Begins at 40 selects six exotic festivals around the world to look forward to, from New Zealand to the US, and Japan to…
As the global adventure travel market continues to grow, travellers are prioritising unique and authentic experiences that upgrade their trip from a holiday into…
Explore is offering savings of up to £200pp on trips to Japan including its Shogun Trail and Walk Japan – Kumano Kodo Trail trips. To make a trip to Japan…
Spring may still feel far away as we get ready for Christmas here in the UK, but in Japan’s Shizuoka prefecture – just one hour from Tokyo by bullet train – it won’t be long…
Perhaps few countries evoke such a sense of mystery imbued in a timeless culture as Japan. From the ancient samurai to sumo wrestling there is something about the eastern country that is shrouded in mystique.
This is why a holiday in the country is such a rich and rewarding experience. From the natural delights of the cherry blossom season Japan via the fun fertility festival of Kanamara Matsuri or Japan Penis Festival, to skiing in Hokkaido and taking an onsen beneath the majestic Mount Fuji, there is so much to do in this most amazing country. That the land of the rising sun is not only about tradition and history can be witnessed during the Setouchi Triennale, one of the island’s biggest festivals of modern art. If you have missed the one in 2019, then pencil 2022 in your agenda – it only occurs every three years.
The capital Tokyo is one of the most vibrant and throbbing cities in Asia. But even within this sprawling testament to modern man, you can still find space for your own yen in the wonderful Imperial Gardens.
However, it is the country’s food which perhaps stands high above all the other attractions on offer. From sushi to sashimi, udon and ramen noodles and teppanyaki grill, the choice seems endless. Just make sure you take advantage of eating in a traditional Japanese house. For the cuisine is as much about ceremony as it is the quality and freshness of the food.
