Osaka’s Chūō Ward distills the city’s contradictions into nine square kilometers—history at Osaka Castle, neon in Dotonbori, commerce in Shinsaibashi. Here Michelin dining meets takoyaki stalls, and boutique hotels rise over smoky izakaya. MK Travel guides you through the heart of Osaka: where to eat, drink, stay, and wander in a district that is at once chaotic, charismatic, and endlessly alive.

Journey through Hyōgo’s living past on MK Travel’s History of Hyōgo Course. Begin with Himeji Castle, Japan’s White Heron fortress and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll through Koko-en Garden, a timeless Edo-style retreat beside the castle walls. Then ascend Mt. Shosha to Engyō-ji Temple, a thousand-year pilgrimage site where emperors once prayed and sutras still echo. Together, these sites reveal resilience, renewal, and devotion across centuries.

High above Himeji on Mt. Shosha, Engyō-ji Temple has stood since 966 as a place of prayer, pilgrimage, and power. Once supported by emperors and daimyō, its halls and mountain paths still echo with a thousand years of devotion. From the stilted Maniden Hall to the vast Mitsunodō, the complex blends natural beauty with spiritual depth—and even served as a cinematic stage in The Last Samurai.

Koko-en Garden, beside Himeji Castle, unfolds across nine Edo-style landscapes where koi glide beneath bridges, waterfalls murmur, and seasonal flowers bloom. Built in 1992 on the site of the castle’s former samurai residence, it blends teahouses, Tsuji-bei walls, and Kassui-ken restaurant into a setting that feels timeless. Whether under spring blossoms or autumn flames, Koko-en offers a refuge where the past guides the present.

Himeji Castle, the famed White Heron, soars above the Harima Plains as Japan’s finest surviving fortress. Built for war yet never tested in battle, its labyrinth of gates and towers once promised confusion and death to intruders. From Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s first tower to Tokugawa Ieyasu’s grand reconstruction, and through legends of Musashi and Osakabe, the heron has endured fire, neglect, and war to rise again as a phoenix of resilience and beauty.

Osaka is Japan’s kitchen, and Naniwa is its beating heart. MK’s Foodie Course weaves you through Shinsaibashi’s neon arcades, Dotonbori’s carnival chaos, Nipponbashi’s pop-culture streets, and Shinsekai’s retro skewers. More than a food tour, it's a plunge into history, humor, and character—made effortless with MK.

In Kanda Ogawamachi, Tokyo’s historic sports district, Mizuno Tokyo rises as the brand’s global flagship. Open since 1989, this seven-floor store blends heritage and innovation with everything from baseball gloves to cutting-edge running shoes and a state-of-the-art golf fitting studio. Visitors can shop Japan-exclusive gear, enjoy duty-free service, and even leave with custom clubs built in days, making Mizuno Tokyo a true sporting pilgrimage.

Shinsaibashi is Osaka’s most iconic shotengai—an endless corridor of commerce where Edo-era independence meets neon chaos. Stretching nearly 600 meters through the heart of Minami, it blends designer flagships and street food stalls, Ame-mura’s street fashion and Triangle Park’s skaters, izakayas and cabaret clubs. More than a shopping street, it’s Osaka distilled: wild, stylish, and unforgettable.

Avoid crowds and costly tickets—Tokyo’s top free city view is in Shinjuku. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building’s twin towers provide a cinematic view, with Mt. Fuji visible on clear days, and surprising sights like Yayoi Kusama’s polka-dot piano or a staff cafeteria that feels Kafkaesque. Let MK guide you to this hidden Gotham in the sky.

Hidden behind Jimbocho’s bookstores, Bondy Curry is the legendary birthplace of Tokyo’s European-style curry. Founded in 1973 by Koichi Murata, an artist turned chef inspired by French brown sauces, Bondy set the standard for Jimbocho’s rise as “curry town.” Expect steaming potatoes with house butter, rich beef curry with a hint of fruit, and a line of devotees winding through the Showa-era stairwell.

For more than 1,270 years, Kanda Myojin Shrine has protected Tokyo’s core. From Tokugawa Ieyasu’s prayers at Sekigahara to its role at the demon gate of Edo Castle, it has withstand earthquakes, firebombing, and the burden of vengeful spirits. Today, merchants, anime fans, and entrepreneurs gather under its bright gates, where tradition meets modernity and the city’s veil feels thin.

Nezu Shrine combines storm-god mythology, Edo-period architecture, and natural beauty in Tokyo’s historic Bunkyo ward. Founded by Prince Yamato Takeru and relocated by the Tokugawa shogunate, this rare survivor of war and fire features Tokyo’s last two-story Romon Gate, sacred azalea gardens, and red torii paths leading to Inari foxes. A peaceful sanctuary filled with history, ritual, and hidden power.

Just off Shinjuku Sanchome’s C5 exit, Chakura Curry Tokyo is a hidden six-seat counter operated by a solo chef with a talent for soulful, spice-rich dishes. Coconut shrimp, mango chutney, turmeric rice, and pickled beets come together in a dish that defies genres and sparks wanderlust and quiet introspection. With self-serve sparkling water and posters encouraging travel around the world, this unassuming second-floor spot attracts Tokyo’s in-the-know creatives for good reason

Tucked behind Ueno Zoo is Toshogu Shrine, a rare survivor from the Edo period enshrining Tokugawa Ieyasu. From dragon legends to a 600-year-old ginkgo, this golden sanctuary withstands earthquakes, war, and modern change. Intricate carvings, spiritual silence, and the mythic past come together behind its gilded doors. A living relic of Japan’s shogunate history hidden in plain sight.

Toeizan Kan’ei-ji in Ueno Park was once one of Edo’s most influential religious centers—built to shield the city from evil spirits and serve the Tokugawa shogunate. Although much of it was destroyed in the Boshin War, the remaining hall, mausoleums, and scattered relics whisper of a vanished political and spiritual empire. Surrounded by cicadas and silence, this hidden temple still breathes history into Tokyo’s busiest park.

Nestled in the quiet streets of Sasazuka, Mils Tacos delivers authentic Mexican flavors to Tokyo with giant burritos, bold nachos, and a cantina-style warmth that feels like home. Chef Roy’s mission is rooted in memory, family, and a love for the true taste of Mexico—no shortcuts, no imitations. This is where locals and expats gather over Jarritos and Tecate, savoring each bite as if sharing a well-kept secret.

Tucked away in the quiet hills of Nagahama, Shakudoji Temple guards a powerful spiritual heritage. Known only to locals, it houses an eleven-faced Kannon carved by Saichō, the founder of Japan’s Tendai Buddhism. Surrounded by 130 ancient idols and rooted in a village of 40 households, the temple survived Nobunaga’s fires and the Meiji purge. Every autumn, it displays its treasures during the Kannon no Sato Festival. A place of silence, secrecy, and faith—unchanged for over a

Explore Kobe’s cultural highlights with MK’s Mini Gourmet Course: enjoy refined sake in Nada, taste Chinese street food in Nankinmachi, and unwind by the sea at Meriken Park. An expertly curated, flavorful experience in one of Japan’s most cosmopolitan cities.

Nada Sake District in Kobe has brewed Japan’s most beloved sake for centuries. Fed by Mt. Rokko’s pure water and cooled by seasonal winds, this historic region produced 80% of Edo’s sake and continues to craft world-class brews today. Discover the brewing villages, legendary producers, and centuries-old techniques that made Nada the heart of Japan’s sake culture. Just remember—sip, don’t chug.

MK’s Kyoto Short Tour guides you through golden pavilions, castle corridors, geisha alleyways, and mountaintop temples—all in 5.5 hours. From Kinkakuji’s mirrored stillness to Gion’s lantern-lit grace and Kiyomizudera’s spiritual stage, each moment is crafted for depth. With MK’s multilingual drivers, luxury vehicles, and local expertise, this is Kyoto made personal, intimate, efficient, and unforgettable.