PHOTOGUIDE.JP

Updated: March 22, 2023 Happy spring! Here’s an illustrated list of Tokyo’s top cherry blossoms (sakura). In Tokyo, cherry blossoms bloom from mid-March to early April, peaking in late March. Weeping…

Welcome back Tokyo Marathon! It was finally held at full scale (38,000 runners) on March 5, 2023 for the first time since 2019. Runners from overseas also ran en masse…

Next to Kyoto, Enryakuji Temple (延暦寺) on Mt. Hiei (Hiei-zan 比叡山) in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture is now offering a rare look at its massive, 10-year renovation of its main temple…

Updated: Feb. 18, 2023 Tokyo National Museum (東京国立博物館) in Ueno Park, Tokyo is one of Japan’s most prominent museums. Clustered in six museum buildings, one is the swank-looking Gallery of…

First in a series of blog posts on luxury cruising, cruise ships, and cruise ports in Japan in 2022. In early summer 2022 when COVID-19 cases in Japan were relatively…

Overview of Japan’s luxury cruise ships in 2022. On this page: As of 2022, Japan’s three major cruise ships are (largest to smallest) Asuka II, Pacific Venus, and Nippon Maru…

Japan’s largest luxury cruise ship. Asuka II (飛鳥Ⅱ Asuka 2) is the only cruise ship owned and operated by NYK Cruises Co., Ltd. based in Yokohama and a wholly owned…

Update: Sadly, Pacific Venus has retired from cruising with its final voyage ending on Jan. 4, 2023. Ship owner Japan Cruise Line announced on Nov. 1, 2022 that it will…

Distinctive look, famous name, and food. Built in 1990, Nippon Maru (にっぽん丸) is the smallest Japanese luxury cruise ship, but with the most distinctive paint job. Navy blue (almost black)…

Overview of Japan’s cruise ship ports. Being a stretched-out archipelago with a long coastline (34,600 km or 21,500 mi.) and hundreds of inhabited islands, Japan has many sea ports and…

Japan’s most historic and popular cruise ship departure port. Located on the west side of Tokyo Bay, Port of Yokohama is Japan’s most historic and storied port since it opened…