Wabunka Overnight Stays • Beginner’s Guide to Sumo • Japan Rail Pass: Is it Really Worth It? • Cheap Tokyo Hotels

The best cultural experiences provider Wabunka has just introduced a number of curated overnight stays – making a select number of new experiences even more immersive.

Experience the perfect harmony of opulent comfort and authentic Japanese culture with Wabunka’s Curated Stays.

Their carefully selected collection combines premium accommodation with exclusive cultural experiences, creating unforgettable journeys that nourish both your soul and your senses.

Stays include the Izu Peninsula – Heritage Luxury at Ochiairo Ryokan. Three of Kanazawa’s Hidden Treasures:

• Geisha Evening in Higashi Chaya
• Culinary Journey at Maki no Oto
• Traditional Arts Experience

There’s even a chance to stay in one of Kyoto’s sacred spaces: Exclusive Ninna-ji Temple Stay.

These five are just the start, they’ll be more to come in the future.

I’ll be publishing a more detailed guide to these over the coming weeks.

Sumo wresting, Japan’s most iconic sport, evolved from a religious ritual performed in Shinto shrines more than 1,500 years ago, making it the oldest organised sport in the world.

Six tournaments (known as basho) take place every year in four of Japan’s major cities: Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka.

Even if you only have a passing interest in sumo, watching the colourful spectacle live with 10,000 fans is an experience not to be missed.

Includes the 2025 tournament schedule, tips for buying tickets, guide to seating options and links to pre-book your tickets and seats (essential).

In this episode of my Deep Dive podcast we take a look at The Real Japan article Japan Rail Pass: The Ultimate Guide.

It’s an extensive guide to using the Japan Rail Pass, offering a comprehensive overview of its benefits, costs, restrictions, and how to purchase and activate it.

It includes detailed explanations of how the Japan Rail Pass works, its coverage, alternative regional rail passes, and frequently asked questions.

It also provides tips on planning your trip, making seat reservations, luggage restrictions, and booking travel essentials like Wi-Fi and meet-and-greet services.

I’ve had an account on Bluesky for some time but have only recently started posting on a regular basis. (Bluesky was started by the guy who originally founded Twitter.)

If you’re on Bluesky and would like to connect with me click the button below. If you’re not yet on there – take a look. I like it a lot.

In this episode of the Deep Dive podcast we focus on my Travel Planning Calls Service.

The service provides one-to-one consultations via Zoom with me, helping you plan your trips to Japan by offering:

• feedback on existing travel plans
• guidance on itinerary building
• tips on accommodation
• advice on hidden gems
• and pretty much anything related to travelling in Japan

The service comes with a range of benefits, including video and audio recordings of the call, follow-up notes, and links to further resources, apps and trip planning tools.

Testimonials from previous clients highlight the value of the service, particularly for those seeking experiences beyond Tokyo and Kyoto.

If you’d like to see a clip from one of my Travel Planning Calls with a real client CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO.

One of the most common, recurring myths about Japan is that it is prohibitively expensive.

So expensive in fact that, as much as you’d love to go, you’re simply not sure you can afford to go for any decent amount of time.

Tokyo in particular has the reputation of being amazing but pricey. The sights, the food, the entertainment, the works.

But what if I told you that great hotels don’t have to mean emptying your wallet?

You want a comfy, well-placed spot to stay and you don’t want to have to eat instant ramen after your flight’s arrived.

Can you even find a decent priced hotel in Toyko? Oh, and with breakfast included?

But in Tokyo you do have options – if you know where to look and which little-known website to use.

Play this latest episode of the Deep Dive podcast to get the answers to all these questions and more.

An update on my popular Travel Planning Support service:

At the moment I only have the 1 Week plan available as I’m currently travelling in Japan for 3 months. I will be reopening my longer term plans – but that will not be until mid-March.

Travel Planning Support is my dedicated Q+A service where I will any any questions you have about travelling in Japan. You can check out the full service FAQs HERE.

Also, a heads up that I will be increasing my prices in the next few weeks, but you’re welcome to purchase the service now at the current pricing and use the service at a later date (up to 6 months) if you need to.

There’s also my premium Concierge service if you need me to proactively get involved in your trip planning, rather than simply answer questions you email me.

If you have any unanswered questions about any of my services just email me and I’d do my best to answer them.

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