TRAVEL
Japan’s Best Mountain Towns for a Peaceful Getaway
Want to get away from it all on your trip to Japan? We ranked the best mountain towns that offer culture without…
gifu prefecture
TRAVEL
TRAVEL
Shirakawago, a World Heritage Site, Strains Under Record Tourism Numbers
The village, which sees a swell of tourists in the winter, wants to remind people it's a living community, not an open-air…
TRAVEL
Plagued by Overtourism, Shirakawagō Considers Reservation System for Tour Buses
The village of Shirakawagō has 1,500 residents but welcomes two million tourists a year. It may clamp down in a bid to…
TRAVEL
Shirakawa to Dramatically Raise Parking Rates to Combat Overtourism
Shirakawa sees 1,000 times more tourists than residents every year, leading it to seek new strategies to manage traffic.
TRAVEL
This Japanese Village Gets 1000x More Tourists Than Residents – And Loves It
Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture is a village of 1,400 people that sees over one million tourists yearly. And they want more.
SOCIETY
Japan City to Give Kids Free Lunches by Taking Money from 100-Year-Olds
A city in Gifu Prefecture wants to give middle schoolers free lunches. However, it's sparked a debate by saying it'll fund the…
LIVING IN JAPAN
Why Popular Anime Tourism Spots Want Otaku to Move In
Would YOU move to your favorite anime? Increasingly, some hardcore fans are doing just that. Here's why some locales in Japan want…
TRAVEL
Tourists Love Japan’s Shirakawago. But Is The Feeling Mutual?
Japan's Shirakawago is beloved by visitors. But the locale is suffering under the weight of age and disrespectful tourists.