Culture7 min
Going to a sumo tournament in Tokyo: the practical guide
Tickets, timings, masu-seki boxes, etiquette and the ideal day at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan: everything you need to see a sumo basho in Tokyo.
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JournalJapan Japan
Japan
Japan
The Kotoba Interactive journal.
Editorial features on the cultures, history and languages of Asia. Filter by culture, by topic, or search for what inspires you.
6 articles
Culture7 min
JR Pass: when it is still worth buying in 2026
Price, coverage, Nozomi, regional passes: the full calculation to know whether the Japan Rail Pass is worth its 50,000 yen, and the routes where it no longer is.
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Culture9 min
Travel apps for Japan: IC card, Tabelog and translation
An IC card on your phone, shinkansen booking, Tabelog and its misleading scores: the apps that actually work in Japan, and the ones that will not work for you.
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Culture11 min
Tokyo: the district guide that makes the city legible
Yamanote and Shitamachi, special wards, terminal stations: how Tokyo is organised, what each district is for, and why the streets have no names.
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