The 12th Short Shorts Film Festival, started by actor Tetsuya Bessho, is here to correct the situation. The festival was first organized in 1999 in an effort to familiarize Japanese audiences with short films.

Tucked away in one of Shibuya’s lesser-known side streets, you’ll find Uplink X, a building brimming with Tokyo’s most creative offerings.

So the Golden Week is upon us and you haven't made any plans to leave the city. It's almost impossible to get a hotel reservation or Shinkansen ticket and even if you do, you know most places are packed with visitors this time of the year.

The relatively quiet city of Yamaguchi boasts an amazing Center for Arts and Media, which includes a beautiful library, a cinema, a theater, and a never-ending display of various exhibitions.