The last ten chapters of The Tale of Genji are set in the small town of Uji in Kyoto, and the city has a small yet delightful museum dedicated to it. The Tale of Genji Museum first opened in 1998, but it’s been upgraded in recent years with some fun interactive and digital elements. If you’re a fan of the novel, or want to escape the tourist crowds in Kyoto, it’s well worth a look.

With its unique Edo-period street display, visitors to The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living can literally walk into history, and make some very modern memories taking photos in kimono.

Yatsuhashi are one of the most popular traditional sweets sold in Kyoto. They come in two varieties: a crispy baked version, or a soft, sweet-bean-paste filled steamed version known as ‘nama’ (raw or unbaked) yatsuhashi. Next time you are in Kyoto try the Yatsuhashi making tour.

You’ve never seen a puppet show like this before. Ningyo Joruri is a 500-year-old tradition that combines three traditional Japanese arts: storytelling, music and puppetry. It’s a spellbinding combination and ranks alongside Noh and Kabuki as one of Japan’s greatest performing arts.

If you’re moving to Japan for work or study, deciding where to stay is no simple decision. Here’s why you should seriously consider a share house. There are now over 2,800 share houses in Japan. They’re easy to get into, interesting to live in, and much easier on your wallet than renting your own place.

Make sure to look out for theme cafés like Funassyi’s when you visit Japan, as they’re always fun!

When you visit Japan, you’ve got to get at least one set of ‘purikura’, or print club, stickers to take home as a souvenir. These fun photo booths come in a variety of styles, but they’re all easy to use. Here’s how to work them even if you don’t speak Japanese, plus a bit of history.