Having grown up and lived in the US my entire life, my first night in Tokyo as a fresh college graduate was a full-on culture shock. I couldn't read the restaurant menu, so I had to point at pictures ...

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Emery Bowles, a 52-year-old who lives between Japan and the US. The following has been edited for length and clarity. In 2008, I got divorced and ...

If you grew up on Miyazaki films like I did, there’s a good chance you have an idealized image of Japan in your mind. The beautiful scenery and magical worlds he depicted in Spirited Away, My Neighbor ...

Here's a number that might make you put down that second donut: In the United States, around 40 percent of all adults are considered obese. In Japan, the obesity rate is only one-tenth of that. We're ...

For nine years, I lived in Japan, pursuing what I thought was my dream job. I had always been captivated by Japanese culture and learned the language at age 16. Later, I got a master’s degree in ...

While working as a teacher in Atlanta, Georgia, Lexi Smith, 24, found herself dreaming of seeing more of the world and living a simpler life. "I wasn't quite loving the school system from having an ...

From affordable living costs to cultural richness, discover how far your money might go if exploring Japan and what it means to be wealthy in the land of the rising sun. Japan is a fascinating ...

Japan has a powerful grip on the imagination of many Black travelers. Anime, street fashion, food, cherry blossom season, and hyper-efficient trains all help paint a picture of a country that is both ...