Why Japan Editor

Why Japan Editor writes the site's first-hand pieces, based on the editor's own experiences in Japan, and reviews the site's researched guides before they are published.

Mechanical umbrella-bagging machine at a building entrance in Japan.

The Japanese Machine That Puts a Plastic Bag on Your Wet Umbrella

At a building entrance in Japan, I pushed my umbrella into a machine and pulled it out already wrapped in a plastic bag. It is one of three systems I photographed.

Guides

Entrance to Tokyo Tower's outdoor stair route with the tower visible above.

I Took the Stairs Up Tokyo Tower — About 600 Steps

I climbed Tokyo Tower's outdoor stairs without a rest, in around 15 minutes as I remember it. It was harder than I expected, and I walked back down as well.

Guides

Illustration of a quiet street running beside an urban railway, with the street bending away from the tracks and a barrier blocking the road ahead.

I Cycled the Yamanote Line, Then Walked It: Detours, Long Gaps, and Nearly Giving Up

I cycled Tokyo’s Yamanote Line loop, then walked it on another day. What the route length doesn’t tell you: the road alongside the tracks keeps ending, and the backtracking is what wears you down.

Daily Life

Mount Fuji rising above green foothills under a clear summer sky.

Mount Fuji Took Me About 11 Hours. Once Was Enough.

I climbed Mount Fuji as a day trip from the fifth station. It took about 11 hours up and back, and the hardest part was near the summit.

Guides