# Roam Japan

> Roam Japan is an independent Japan travel guide for English-speaking tourists, published by L7 Ltd. (Tokyo). Articles combine Hiraku Mori's firsthand travel experience and original photography with Roam Japan editorial planning guides grounded in official sources. The site covers regional cities, nightlife, food, shrines, and off-the-beaten-path destinations across Japan.

## About

- [About Roam Japan](https://roamjapan.com/about/): Mission, editorial approach, and what makes this guide different
- [Author: Hiraku Mori](https://roamjapan.com/author/hiraku-mori/): Background, travel experience across Japan, and published articles
- [Tours by L7](https://roamjapan.com/tours/): Small-group walking tours in Tokyo operated by L7 Ltd. via GetYourGuide

## Travel Guides
- [Lost Property in Japan: Where to Start](https://roamjapan.com/guides/lost-property-japan/): Identify the enquiry route, describe the item and journey, read the reply and confirm collection before changing the trip
- [Kabuki in Japan: Choose Your Performance](https://roamjapan.com/guides/kabuki-in-japan/): Compare program and single-act scope, seat access, language support and the actual performance schedule before planning a visit
- [Bicycle Rental Japan: Plan Pickup and Return](https://roamjapan.com/guides/bicycle-rental-japan/): Check the provider, pickup, permitted stops and return place, hours and completion before fixing a local outing
- [Baseball Games in Japan: Plan Your Visit](https://roamjapan.com/guides/baseball-games-japan/): Match the actual game and stadium, check support-seat conditions and resolve ticket delivery before planning the day
- [Kimono Rental Japan: Plan the Whole Visit](https://roamjapan.com/guides/kimono-rental-japan/): Check outfit choice, dressing, belongings, the outing and the exact return arrangement before fixing your sightseeing day

- [Grutto Pass: Is It Worth It for Your Trip?](https://roamjapan.com/blog/grutto-pass-worth-it/): Compare exact exhibitions, free eligibility and remaining fees with a dated2026 TNM/Teien example and blank worksheet

- [Karuizawa Snow Park vs Prince: No-Car Guide](https://roamjapan.com/blog/karuizawa-snow-park-vs-prince/): Distinguish two snow-play facilities by2026–27 dates, station transfers and return reservations; no snow guarantee
- [Hiroshima and Miyajima: 1-Day vs 2-Day Plan](https://roamjapan.com/blog/hiroshima-miyajima-one-day-two-day-plan/): A conservative city-and-island route with museum, ferry, shrine, weather, and pacing decisions
- [Kamakura and Enoshima Day Trip](https://roamjapan.com/blog/kamakura-enoshima-day-trip-route-timing/): A flexible temple-and-coast route with a midday go-or-stop checkpoint
- [Sendai First-Time Guide](https://roamjapan.com/blog/sendai-first-time-guide/): Samurai-history, downtown food, covered arcades, and a conservative night-walk plan
- [Nara Beyond Deer Park](https://roamjapan.com/blog/nara-beyond-deer-park-gardens-route/): A respectful deer, Todai-ji, garden, and Naramachi route with weather fallbacks
- [Sapporo and Otaru: Split a Hokkaido City Day](https://roamjapan.com/blog/sapporo-otaru-hokkaido-city-day/): A Sapporo-only versus two-city decision guide with rail and winter buffers
- [Fushimi Inari at Night](https://roamjapan.com/blog/fushimi-inari-at-night/): A local's guide to visiting Fushimi Inari shrine after dark, based on 6 years living in Kyoto
- [Things to Do in Kanazawa](https://roamjapan.com/blog/things-to-do-in-kanazawa/): Complete guide from two visits (summer and winter 2025) covering samurai districts, Kenrokuen, and local culture
- [Kanazawa Food Guide](https://roamjapan.com/blog/kanazawa-food-guide/): Where to eat in Kanazawa — Omicho Market seafood, conveyor belt sushi, and local specialties
- [Kanazawa Nightlife Guide](https://roamjapan.com/blog/kanazawa-nightlife-guide/): Bars, izakaya, and late-night spots in Katamachi from a December 2025 bar-hopping experience
- [Kifune Shrine Kyoto Guide](https://roamjapan.com/blog/kifune-shrine-kyoto-guide/): Complete guide to Kibune — hiking trails, kawadoko dining, and seasonal highlights from years of visits
- [Things to Do in Asakusa: Beyond Senso-ji](https://roamjapan.com/blog/things-to-do-in-asakusa-beyond-sensoji/): Hidden shotengai, matcha sweets, Hoppy Street nightlife, and shitamachi walks — written by an Asakusa resident
- [Akihabara Tokyo: Local's Otaku Guide (2026)](https://roamjapan.com/blog/akihabara-guide-anime-otaku-culture/): Tokyo-raised local's guide — upper-floor gems, real shop prices, retro game hunts, maid cafe etiquette, 3-hour itineraries by interest, and Akihabara vs Otome Road comparison
- [Tanabata Festival: Japan's Star Festival Guide](https://roamjapan.com/blog/tanabata-festival-japan/): The Orihime/Hikoboshi legend, tanzaku wish traditions, and the best Tanabata festivals in Sendai, Asagaya, Shonan, and Kyoto
- [Aomori Nebuta Festival: Ultimate 2026 Guide](https://roamjapan.com/blog/aomori-nebuta-festival/): Complete guide to Nebuta Matsuri 2026 — August 2-7 schedule, haneto dancer participation, best viewing spots, fireworks finale, and where to stay
- [Japan Summer Festivals: Your Matsuri Guide](https://roamjapan.com/blog/japan-summer-festivals-guide/): The Big Five summer matsuri (Gion, Nebuta, Tenjin, Awa Odori, Tanabata), Tokyo festivals, yukata basics, and a month-by-month 2026 calendar
- [Gion Matsuri: Kyoto's Greatest Festival Guide](https://roamjapan.com/blog/gion-matsuri/): Kyoto's month-long July festival — full schedule, best viewing spots for the Yamaboko Junko parades (July 17 & 24), Yoiyama nights, and practical heat/accommodation tips
- [Obon Festival Japan: Guide & Travel Tips](https://roamjapan.com/blog/obon-festival-japan/): Japan's festival of the dead — August 13-16 traditions, Bon Odori dancing, Gozan no Okuribi bonfires in Kyoto, and how to travel through peak domestic holiday season
- [Best Time to Visit Japan in 2026: Local's Guide](https://roamjapan.com/blog/best-time-to-visit-japan/): Tokyo-based local's month-by-month guide — real weather, 2026 sakura forecasts, hay fever season warnings, daylight-hours table, packing list, and Golden Week survival
- [Gion at Night: Kyoto's Geisha District Guide](https://roamjapan.com/blog/gion-at-night/): Lantern-lit streets, hidden bars, and geiko/maiko sightings — evening guide to Kyoto's most atmospheric district from a 6-year Kyoto resident
- [Golden Gai Shinjuku: Local's 2026 Bar Guide](https://roamjapan.com/blog/golden-gai-shinjuku-guide/): Tokyo regular's Golden Gai guide — alley-by-alley map, etiquette, real bar prices, what to do if refused entry, solo female & LGBTQ+ tips, conversation starters, and a ¥9,800 4-bar night plan
- [Osaka Nightlife Guide: After-Dark Essentials](https://roamjapan.com/blog/osaka-nightlife-guide/): Dotonbori, Shinsekai, Namba, Amerikamura, Umeda — neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide focused on street food, cheap drinks, and local atmosphere
- [Tokyo Izakaya Tour: Food & Drink Guide](https://roamjapan.com/blog/tokyo-izakaya-tour/): Yurakucho, Shinjuku Omoide Yokocho, Ueno, Asakusa — the best izakaya neighborhoods with prices, ordering tips, and etiquette from regular Yurakucho visits
- [Best Onsen Towns in Japan: 10 Hot Spring Escapes](https://roamjapan.com/blog/best-onsen-towns-japan/): Ranked overview of Japan's 10 most distinctive onsen towns — water types, access, cost, and what makes each town worth a stay, based on 30+ towns visited across Hokkaido to Kyushu
- [Japan Nightlife Guide: Where to Go After Dark](https://roamjapan.com/blog/japan-nightlife-guide/): Country-wide nightlife overview — izakaya, bars, clubs, night temples, karaoke — city-by-city from Tokyo to Kanazawa with practical tips for every budget
- [Beppu Onsen Guide: Japan's Hot Spring Capital](https://roamjapan.com/blog/beppu-onsen-guide/): Hells tour, sand baths at Takegawara, steam cooking, and practical Beppu logistics from five trips across 10+ years
- [Tattoo-Friendly Onsen in Japan](https://roamjapan.com/blog/tattoo-friendly-onsen-japan/): Which onsen allow tattoos, how to read facility policies, best picks by region, private bath options, and Japanese phrases for asking
- [Kinosaki Onsen: Tattoo-Friendly Guide](https://roamjapan.com/blog/kinosaki-onsen-tattoo-friendly/): All 7 soto-yu bathhouses with tattoo policy details, ryokan picks for tattooed guests, day-planning guide, and transport from Osaka and Kyoto
- [Tokyo Sento Guide for Foreigners](https://roamjapan.com/blog/tokyo-sento-guide/): How to use Tokyo's public baths, 8 sento picks (Koganeyu, Daikoku-yu, Thermae-yu and more), tattoo policies, etiquette, and entry fees
- [Kobe in a Day: Kitano Hillside to Harbor Route](https://roamjapan.com/blog/kobe-kitano-to-harbor-day-route/): A hillside-to-harbor day route through Kitano, the Nunobiki ropeway, Nankinmachi, and Meriken Park with a weather fallback
- [Niigata City Walk: Bridge, Sake, and River](https://roamjapan.com/blog/niigata-bandai-bridge-sake-city-walk/): A half-day river-and-sake loop through Bandai Bridge, Ponshukan, and the Furumachi old entertainment district
- [Takayama Old Town and Morning Market Route](https://roamjapan.com/blog/takayama-old-town-morning-market-route/): An early-start route through the Jinya-mae morning market, Takayama Jinya, and Sanmachi Suji's merchant streets
- [Uji Day Trip: Byodo-in Temple and Tea Route](https://roamjapan.com/blog/uji-tea-town-byodo-in-river-walk/): A river-anchored Kyoto-area day trip through Byodo-in Temple, Ujigami Shrine, and a Taiho-an tea tasting
- [Yokohama Day Trip: Harbor, Bay, and Chinatown](https://roamjapan.com/blog/yokohama-minato-mirai-chinatown-harbor-walk/): A waterfront route through Minato Mirai, the Air Cabin ropeway, Yamashita Park, and Japan's largest Chinatown
- [Morioka Castle & Red Brick: First-Timer Route](https://roamjapan.com/blog/morioka-first-time-guide/): A compact castle-park, Nakatsu River, and Iwate Bank Red Brick Building walk with a time budget and weather fallbacks
- [Nagasaki 1-Day Itinerary: Port to Peace](https://roamjapan.com/blog/nagasaki-1-day-itinerary/): A one-day route from Peace Park and Dejima to Glover Garden and Mount Inasa with tram logic and rain fallbacks
- [Okayama and Kurashiki: Castle, Garden, Canal Day](https://roamjapan.com/blog/okayama-kurashiki-castle-garden-canal-day/): A decision guide for combining Okayama Castle, Korakuen Garden, and Kurashiki's Bikan canal district in one day
- [Matsue and Tottori: San'in Coast Two-City Plan](https://roamjapan.com/blog/matsue-tottori-sanin-coast-plan/): A one-day-versus-two-day guide linking Matsue's castle and samurai quarter with the Tottori Sand Dunes
- [Takamatsu and Matsuyama: Shikoku Route Plan](https://roamjapan.com/blog/takamatsu-matsuyama-shikoku-route/): A cross-Shikoku decision guide pairing Takamatsu's Ritsurin Garden with Matsuyama's castle and Dogo Onsen
- [Kitakyushu & Shimonoseki: Kanmon Route](https://roamjapan.com/blog/kitakyushu-shimonoseki-kanmon-route/): Compare Mojiko Retro and Shimonoseki across the Kanmon Strait, with route order, time-budget choices, rain fallbacks, and when to stay on one side
- [Kumamoto & Kagoshima: A 2-Day Kyushu Route](https://roamjapan.com/blog/kumamoto-kagoshima-kyushu-route/): Plan Kumamoto and Kagoshima as a two-day Kyushu route: choose a city anchor, protect rail buffer, and know when the transfer is not worth rushing
- [Wakayama, Koyasan or Kumano Kodo?](https://roamjapan.com/blog/wakayama-koyasan-kumano-kodo-route/): Choose Wakayama city, Koyasan, or the Kumano Kodo by time, walking comfort, and travel style, then build a route that leaves room for change
- [Nagoya and Gifu: A 2-Day Central Japan Route](https://roamjapan.com/blog/nagoya-gifu-central-japan-route/): Plan a first-time Nagoya and Gifu route by choosing a city base, a riverside day, and a pace that leaves room for changes
- [Hakodate and Hirosaki: A Cross-Strait Route](https://roamjapan.com/blog/hakodate-hirosaki-cross-strait-route/): Plan a Hakodate and Hirosaki cross-strait route by choosing a night-view city base, a castle-town day, and when the transfer is worth it
- [Miyazaki Travel Guide: Aoshima and City Days](https://roamjapan.com/blog/miyazaki-travel-guide/): Choose a city base or an Aoshima coastal day, then confirm current official visitor and transport information
- [Fukuoka First-Time Guide: Hakata and Canal Days](https://roamjapan.com/blog/fukuoka-travel-guide/): Plan a flexible Hakata city day or a separate Dazaifu side trip around a wider Kyushu route
- [Sawara First-Time Guide: Merchant Town Walks](https://roamjapan.com/blog/sawara-travel-guide/): Plan a slower historic merchant-town walk with optional cultural stops and current local information
- [Tokyo Airport Luggage: Send, Store or Carry](https://roamjapan.com/blog/tokyo-airport-luggage-delivery/): Choose delivery, storage or carrying using actual airport handover time, next use of the bag and staffed receiving arrangements

- [Tokyo Autumn Leaves: Where to Go by Date](https://roamjapan.com/blog/tokyo-autumn-leaves-by-date/): Compare Nikko, Mt. Takao and Shinjuku Gyoen by fixed dates, walking comfort, closure days and return constraints

- [Overnight Ferries in Japan: Plan Your Trip](https://roamjapan.com/guides/overnight-ferries-japan/): Check cabin labels, both terminals, ticketing before boarding and the complete journey before replacing a hotel night
- [Capsule Hotels in Japan: Stay Checks](https://roamjapan.com/guides/capsule-hotels-japan/): Compare sleeping privacy and shared facilities, check consecutive-night daytime access, and prepare a full-party accommodation quote
- [Shrine vs Temple in Japan: Visit Etiquette](https://roamjapan.com/guides/shrine-vs-temple-japan/): Compare general prayer customs, check entry and photography boundaries, and prepare a respectful visit or goshuin request

- [Cooking Classes in Japan: Choose Your Lesson](https://roamjapan.com/guides/cooking-classes-japan/): Compare shared and private formats, participation and menu choices, then prepare the complete party and day arrangement

## Contact

- Company: L7 Ltd., Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
- Website: https://lnana.jp/
- Email: info@lnana.jp