For a small country, Japan comprises some strikingly diverse landscapes. We check out 10 of the most breathtaking towns in Japan.

Japan

The 10 Most Beautiful Towns in Japan

That Tokyo's Yanaka district is legendary as a sanctuary for the city's stray cats, has meant its bars and cafes have adopted a feline theme.

Tokyo

This Is Why You Need To Visit Tokyo's Cat Town

When it comes to luxury hotels, stylish Tokyo has a wealth of options to choose from.

The 9 Best Luxury Hotels in Tokyo

From hot spring-loving snow monkeys and amazing slopes to winter nabe and illuminations, these are the 10 reasons you should visit Japan in winter.

10 Reasons To Book a Wintertime Trip to Japan

From performing arts to contemporary versions of historical artisanal crafts, here are some of the best places in Tokyo to visit to learn about the city’s traditional art forms.

Where to See Traditional Japanese Arts in Tokyo

At once ultra-modern and enduringly traditional, Japan’s capital is a kaleidoscope of pop culture, history and innovation. There’s something to stimulate the senses around every corner, whether it’s the buzz of a pachinko parlour, the scent of incense at Sensō-ji temple, the neon lights of Kabukichō or the sight of blossoming cherry trees.

Tokyo’s tech-savvy reputation is embodied in its futuristic skyscrapers, high-speed bullet trains, robot restaurants and nine-storey electronics stores. Japan’s penchant for all things eccentric is evident everywhere, from eye-popping street style to stores, streets and whole districts devoted to manga, anime and kawaii culture. Meanwhile, old-world Japan can be found in the city’s historic shrines, Japanese gardens and in the narrow streets of old-fashioned quarters such as Asakusa.

Introducing Tokyo

Tokyo is an incomparable city where everything you do will be unlike anything you’ve known before. Eating is an experience in itself, with concepts ranging from monster, maid and animal cafés to traditional tea ceremonies. To eat and drink like a resident, head to Shinjuku and explore the Golden Gai’s maze of tiny drinking dens and Omoide Yokocho’s izakaya (Japanese pubs). Take in the sheer size of the world’s most populated city from atop the 634m-tall Tokyo Skytree, or by braving the crowds at the infamous Shibuya Crossing. Finally, make sure to enjoy quintessentially Japanese traditions, whether by watching a sumo tournament or soaking in an onsen (natural hot spring).

Tokyo travel and culture

Tokyo neighbourhoods

Things to do

Food & Drink

Places to stay

Stop for a meal of roast ox, risotto or caviar in the meandering streets of Riga's Old Town, with this guide to the area's best restaurants.

Europe

Latvia

Riga

The 10 Best Old Town Restaurants In Riga, Latvia

There are hundreds of unique attractions in Riga so it is important to know what you want to see and do before arriving.

20 Must-Visit Attractions in Riga

Explore the Latvian capital's incredible nightlife with our guide to Riga's top 10 bars.

The 10 Best Bars in Riga, Latvia

If you love gastronomy, you must visit Latvia and taste all the delicious traditional foods that you wouldn't find anywhere else.

9 Latvian Foods You Must Try to Eat Like a Local

As the first Riga International Biennial of Contemporary Art (RIBOCA) gets underway in Latvia, we take a closer look at how the biennial sets a new benchmark in the age of Biennial fatigue.

Creating a Sustainable Biennial in Riga, a Look at the First RIBOCA

Waking up hungry in Riga? Here's our guide to the best brunch and breakfast spots in the Latvian capital.

The 10 Best Brunch Spots in Riga, Latvia

Latvia offers an exciting range of chic dining establishments in stunning, historic venues. Explore Riga's ten best cultural restaurants and café's.

Riga’s Ten Best Cultural Restaurants

Check out this list of the most interesting museums to visit when in Riga, Latvia.

Riga's Most Fascinating Museums

Read our guide to discover the most beautiful neighborhoods in Riga that you must visit during your stay in Latvia.

A Comprehensive Neighborhood Guide to Riga

Check out the best galleries to admire Riga's Art, both classical and contemporary.

The Best Art Galleries in Riga

Miera Iela, "Peace Street, is Riga's Bohemian, artsy quarter, lined with boutiques and cafés. Here are the Culture Trip's Top 5 activities you won't want to miss.

The Top Things To See And Do In Riga's Miera Iela

We've put together a list of the best places to listen to live music in Riga in Latvia.

The 10 Best Places For Live Music In Riga, Latvia

Discover where to find Riga’s best food, from new Latvian cuisine to caviar and fine wines, with our gourmet city guide.

10 Best Restaurants In Riga, Latvia

Riga is perfectly located for exciting one-day trips to the most beautiful nature spots, ancient castles, and traditional Latvian towns.

The Best Day Trips from Riga, Latvia

Here, The Culture Trip shares our top picks for the best cultural hotels in Riga, Latvia.

The 10 Best Cultural Hotels in Riga

Discover Culture Trip's wishlist for Tokyo, a ready collection things to do, see and eat if you're travelling solo in the city.

The Wishlist: Solo Travel in Tokyo

Get out and explore Japan's wild and wacky side with these unusual Tokyo experiences.

The Most Unusual Experiences in Tokyo

The Best Travel, Food and Culture Guides for Japan, Asia - Local News & Top Things to Do