Francesca Annio, Author at Unseen Japan

The Kurdish community in Kawaguchi faces growing hostility, blamed by locals for neighborhood unrest. But how do they see it?

Katsuyama is Japan's second-fastest-growing tourist spot. Its stunning scenery, rich history, and recent investments have fueled this growth.

Hot springs are a hallmark of Japanese culture. Japan's oldest onsen is 1300 years old and still going strong. Here's how Keiunkan…

Weak yen, stagnant wages, and economic woes are creating a perfect storm, driving more Japanese youth to look for opportunities outside Japan.

Korean convenience stores now outnumber Japanese ones per capita. But what’s behind their success, and what makes them different? We look at…

Everyone loves Japan's combini. Foreign tourists are enjoying their eat-in spaces too. But are tourists unfairly taking the blame for not following…

This month's earthquake reignited fears of a mega-quake hitting Japan soon. Is Japan doing enough to equip tourists and foreign residents with…

Ramen shops have been struggling for years. But the combination of low prices and inflation is pushing more stores over the edge…

Francesca Annio