See Tokyo from a new perspective. Explore isolated volcanic islands, witness ancient fire rituals, wander nostalgic alleys, and hike lush alpine wildernesses.
The ultimate off-the-beaten-path Tokyo experience lies a staggering 1,000 kilometers south of the city mainland in the Pacific Ocean. The Ogasawara Islands (also known as the Bonin Islands) are an archipelago so remote they have never been connected to a continent, resulting in a unique evolutionary ecosystem that earned them UNESCO World Heritage status. Because … Read more
To understand what Tokyo looked and felt like before the modernization boom, the devastating 1923 earthquake, and WWII, one must wander through Yanaka. Located just a short walk from Ueno Park, this neighborhood is the heart of Tokyo’s Shitamachi (traditional downtown). The area moves at a wonderfully slow pace, characterized by narrow, winding alleys, preserved … Read more
For travelers looking to escape the concrete jungle without leaving the Tokyo prefecture, the Okutama region provides a rugged, alpine wilderness. Located in the far western reaches of Tokyo within the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park, this area replaces neon signs and skyscrapers with deep gorges, rushing emerald rivers, and towering cedar forests. Okutama is Tokyo’s premiere … Read more
Tucked away in Tokyo’s eastern Koto Ward, Fukagawa Fudō-dō is a Shingon Buddhist temple that offers one of the city’s most visceral and intense spiritual experiences. While most tourists crowd into Asakusa’s Senso-ji, this modern-meets-traditional temple remains a relatively hidden gem. Several times a day, the monks perform the Goma fire ritual in the main … Read more
When people think of Tokyo, they rarely picture a remote, isolated volcanic island rising dramatically from the Philippine Sea. Located 358 kilometers south of the city mainland, Aogashima is technically part of Tokyo Metropolis but feels like a different planet. The island is defined by its breathtaking topography: a massive double caldera, meaning there is … Read more