Tokyo Station’s postwar journey reflects Japan’s own revival — from losing its domes in 1945 to the rise of the Shinkansen, the 1964 Olympics, and the ambitious 2012 restoration that brought Tatsuno Kingo’s vision back to the capital. Once humbled by war, the station transformed into a symbol of renewal, innovation, and national resilience in a rapidly changing Tokyo.

Tokyo Station began as a Meiji-era vision to unite a newly modernizing nation — an architectural gateway built on ambition, steel, and national pride. From the triumphant 1914 opening through political assassinations, the Great Kantō Earthquake, and the devastation of World War II, this is the story of how Japan’s most iconic station was born, tested, and ultimately transformed.

Beneath the chaos of Tokyo Station lies Tokyo Ramen Street — eight legendary ramen shops packed into a single hallway. What started in 2009 has become a pilgrimage spot for office workers, ramen lovers, and Shinkansen travelers seeking one perfect bowl before their train departs. Follow the aroma through the maze, pick a shop, press a button, and let Tokyo’s underground ramen hub unveil itself.

Between mountains and the Genkai Sea, Itoshima unfolds as a living hymn to creation. On MK’s driver-guided tour, explore Sakurai Futamigaura’s wedded rocks, pause in seaside cafés, taste Mataichi salt pudding born of patience and prayer, and voyage into the divine Keya no Ōto sea cave. This is Itoshima — where nature, craft, and spirit move in quiet harmony, and every road leads a little closer to creation itself.

On Fukuoka’s western coast, Itoshima’s cafés unfold like a peaceful journey — from sea to mountain, from flavor to tranquility. Sip coffee by the waves, enjoy farm-fresh sweets outdoors, and finish with matcha in a moss garden. These 11 cafés embody the spirit of Japan’s slow life, where every cup, view, and moment reflects a gentle harmony between nature and craft.

On Itoshima’s coast, seawater is turned into sacred salt through sun, wind, and prayer. At Kobo Tottan Saltworks, patience produces the famed Hana Shio Pudding — creamy custard topped with crystals from the Genkai Sea. Each spoonful is a quiet revelation: the taste of creation itself, where human craftsmanship meets divine rhythm.

Off the tranquil coast of Itoshima, where the sun sets between Meoto Iwa’s sacred rocks, Keya no Ōto rises like a divine cathedral from the sea. This colossal basalt cave—64 meters deep and 90 meters high—can only be reached by boat. Local folklore ties it to ancient deities, its energy flowing through sea, stone, and air. Join MK on a journey where creation itself seems to breathe.

Often dismissed as “boring,” Nagoya hides its brilliance in plain sight. In Naka Ward—the city’s beating heart—history, craftsmanship, and nightlife converge. From the gold-crested towers of Nagoya Castle to the neon pulse of Sakae and the timeless calm of Osu Kannon, this is Japan unfiltered: industrious, genuine, and alive. MK reveals the real Nagoya—bold, grounded, and unforgettable.

Architect Yoshiro Taniguchi’s sorrow for the lost Rokumeikan became the spark that created Meiji-mura—a living museum preserving Japan’s first modern century. Walk through its preserved churches, hotels, and halls to witness how beauty survived progress.

Below the white-walled keep of Inuyama Castle lies a town untouched by time. Once home to blacksmiths and merchants, it now hums with teahouses, festivals, and rickshaws echoing the laughter of the past.

From Edo’s ashes to neon glory, Akihabara’s journey from samurai fires to otaku paradise defines Tokyo’s electric spirit.

Born from Tokyo’s postwar black market, Ame-Yokocho still buzzes with grit and charm. Beneath the JR Ueno tracks, hawkers shout, lanterns flicker, and the air mixes grilled squid with nostalgia. Rough, loud, and lively—Ame-Yoko is the Tokyo that never sold out, where authenticity flourishes amid the chaos.

Sapporo’s Chūō Ward is the city’s core—Odori’s green corridor, red-brick Akarenga, observatories overlooking night lights, and markets filled with crab, uni, and steaming miso ramen. Explore shrines, ride ropeways, enjoy jingisukan fresh off the grill, and relax in an urban ryokan. MK’s guide takes you to the best spots—quietly, precisely, deliciously.

Once a rival city to Fukuoka, Hakata still embodies Kyushu’s soul—a port filled with temples, ramen, and riverside neon lights. Walk where monks once met merchants, where the smell of broth and sea breeze fills the air, and where festivals still thunder through the streets. Let MK guide you through Hakata Ward’s shrines, yatai stalls, and hidden bars—the living spirit of Fukuoka revealed.

On the eastern shores of Lake Biwa lies Hikone—a castle town where time slows and beauty endures. Wander its Edo-period gardens, savor Omi beef in quiet restaurants, and rest beneath the gaze of a centuries-old fortress. Let MK guide you through Shiga’s still waters and hushed paths to discover Japan as it truly is—unhurried, reflective, alive.

Kobe’s Chūō Ward is the city’s cosmopolitan core, where harborfront icons meet hillside shrines and world-class dining. Walk Meriken Park’s open waterfront, ride the Nunobiki Ropeway into green calm, and taste the legend of Kobe beef in steakhouses that perfected marbled flavor. From Nankinmachi’s lantern-lit lanes to intimate cocktail bars and museums designed by masters, Chūō Ward carries Kobe’s story in every view, flavor, and quiet corner.

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.

Higashiyama Ward is Kyoto distilled—a living watercolor of stone lanes, willow-shaded riversides, and lantern-lit teahouses. Spared wartime destruction and preserved as Japan’s cultural ambassador, it anchors the nation’s past while Tokyo races toward the future. From World Heritage temples to discreet kaiseki kitchens, Higashiyama offers subtlety, depth, and immersion. Let MK guide you beyond the crowds into Kyoto’s most elegant and enduring heart.

Shinjuku is Tokyo’s beating heart—a district where neon streets, hidden bars, and tranquil gardens collide. From cherry blossoms at Shinjuku Gyoen to panoramic views at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, smoky yokochō alleys, Golden Gai nightlife, and luxury hotels, this guide covers it all. Discover where to eat, drink, shop, and stay with MK’s curated picks, offering the authentic side of Shinjuku beyond the crowds.

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.