Japan’s obon = お盆: its origins, history, and how it is observed to increase your enjoyment and understanding of the upcoming season. 

Japan pays families up to ¥3 million to relocate to rural towns. Here's who qualifies, how much you can get, and what the fine print actually says.

Not every old house in Japan is worth saving. Kominka are the ones that are. Learn what separates these traditional folk houses from standard akiya, what it actually costs to buy and renovate one, and how foreign buyers can navigate the process from anywhere in the world.