Updated August 2026: all 13 ryokan re-checked for availability and prices, plus a live price map. Staying in a ryokan in Hakone with private onsen was one of the best experiences we had in Japan. There’s subtle luxury, traditional Japanese hospitality and culture, incredibly tasty food (kaiseki is something else when you’re in a ryokan)……
There are as many different types of travellers (or tourists) as there are types of people. Some people are thrifty, some spend on luxury items. Some prefer relaxing at home, others head into the mountains. Travel is no different. During our extensive travels over the years, we’ve tried out different “types” of travelling. I’ve couchsurfed,…
Updated August 2026: transport, onsen and event tips re-checked for the coming winter season. If you’re thinking about going to Hakone in winter, I say go for it! We accidentally got to enjoy winter in Hakone during our visit to Japan in November – unexpectedly, it snowed there quite heavily. And you know what, when…
Updated August 2026: prices and picks re-checked across all nine dishes. Food alone is an excellent reason to visit Japan. All those mouth-watering teppanyaki, sukiyaki, okonomiyaki and other yaki, as well as ramen, sushi, and so on. Japanese food will tickle your taste buds and make them scream with happiness. Yup, Japan is a gastronomic…
Updated August 2026: connections, prices and picks re-checked. There are so many great places to visit near Venice, Italy. If you’re looking for day trips from Venice or even short breaks, you have a lot to choose from! There’s the sea, there are mountains, cities and towns, and you can even go abroad! So if…
![Ryokan Experience in Japan: Why You Need It [2026 Guide]](https://www.wanderlustdesigners.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/ryokan-dinner-768x512.jpg "Ryokan Experience in Japan: Why You Need It [2026 Guide] ryokan dinner")
Updated August 2026: prices and booking tips re-checked. Ryokan stays keep getting more popular, so book the good ones several months ahead. Let’s start by saying that time Ryokan experience is a must while traveling in Japan! It’s a time to enjoy a peaceful atmosphere.Time to be surrounded by beauty.Time to indulge in a relaxing…
First-time flying tips from an ex-flight attendant. Fun fact: most small in-flight essentials from this article also make perfect presents – see our travel stocking stuffers guide. I’ve been giving advice and tips to friends, family, and acquaintances lately so it made sense to put it all together. So here are my first time flyers…
Updated August 2026: weather, events and the access fee calendar re-checked. We’ve visited Venice multiple times, and my favourite was definitely the time we visited Venice in April. April in Venice is such a good time – the weather is nice enough for exploring, the crowds are still lower, and the prices are not that…
I decided to interrupt my Venice posts with a lovely little packing list for a mountain vacation. Packing for someone you love instead? Many of these items appear in our gift guide for travel lovers, too. The reason for that? Well, let me tell you why. Storytime We went on a weekend trip to Tatry…
When you’ve chosen a place you want to go to, maybe you’ve even checked out some things to do there and where you’d like to stay. But now it’s time to figure out a way of travelling to your destination. There are so many different ways to travel that you can get confused about which…