Sampo Kuokkanen
I have been living in Japan for over 10 years, but only recently started going to a lot of different sights around here.
Guides by Sampo Kuokkanen
Japan's Black Castles: A Guide to the Kuroi Shiro (Crow Castles)
Japan's Black Castles: A Guide to the Kuroi Shiro (Crow Castles) Not every Japanese castle is a white one. Alongside famous white keeps like Himeji, Japan has a striking family of black castles,...
Awaji Island and Nushima: An Off-the-Beaten-Path Itinerary (2026)
Awaji Island and Nushima: An Off-the-Beaten-Path Itinerary (2026) Awaji Island sits in the sea between Kobe and Shikoku, crossed by most people at 100km/h on the highway bus and seen by almost n...
Hyogo's Hidden North: A San'in-Side Off-the-Beaten-Path Itinerary (2026)
Hyogo's Hidden North: A San'in-Side Off-the-Beaten-Path Itinerary (2026) Almost everyone who comes to Hyogo sees Himeji Castle and Kobe and goes no further. Head north from Himeji, though, and t...
Lake Biwa and Hidden Shiga: An Off-the-Beaten-Path Itinerary (2026)
Lake Biwa and Hidden Shiga: An Off-the-Beaten-Path Itinerary (2026) Shiga sits right next to Kyoto, barely fifteen minutes by train, yet almost no visitors stop. That is their loss. Wrapped arou...
Off the Beaten Path in the Kii Peninsula: A Kumano Kodo Itinerary (2026)
Off the Beaten Path in the Kii Peninsula: A Kumano Kodo Itinerary (2026) Most first trips to Kansai never leave the Kyoto to Osaka to Nara triangle. The Kii Peninsula, the big forested block of ...
The Weirdest and Most Exciting Soft Serves in Kansai
The Weirdest and Most Exciting Soft Serves in Kansai Soft serve is a road-trip institution in Japan, and the best place to find it is a michi-no-eki, the roadside stations that double as farm ma...
When Do Japan's Beaches Open in 2026? Swimming Season Dates by Region
When Do Japan's Beaches Open in 2026? Swimming Season Dates by Region Most Japanese beaches are only open for swimming during a fixed season. A beach holds an "umibiraki" (海開き), the official ope...