We’ve finally headed into rainy season, aka “tsuyu” in Japanese, where not only is it raining a lot, but the heat and humidity might also be making you sweat buckets.

Hamamatsu City in Japan’s Shizuoka Prefecture is home to tasty unagi eel, gyoza and oden in rich black broth.

Earlier this year, I traveled to the city of Atami, located in the eastern corner of the Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.Atami translates to “hot ocean” and is known for its famous hot springs.

Every year, thousands of hikers make the grueling trek for a view unlike any other atop Japan’s iconic Mt. Fuji. This year, however, hikers will have to pay a higher admission fee to hit the trails of this majestic UNESCO site.

From late May until late June, Fujimi Panorama Resort in Nagano Prefecture will host the annual 1.2 Million Lily of the Valley Festival.

Japan is a country enriched with deep spiritual traditions, most notably in the form of Buddhism and Shinto, the two main religions which intertwine and define many aspects of Japanese culture.

Located on the Pacific coast in central Honshu and within a 3.5-hour drive from most military bases in the Kanto Plain, Hamamatsu is a large castle city that is home to many natural and historical attractions.

I first visited Japan when I was sixteen years old. A friend from Tokyo had invited me.

Tea is an important part of daily life in Japan and an indispensable part of washoku Japanese cuisine.

Escape the city with a stunning Enoshima day trip.