Japan A to Z | Hideo Tanikawa | Substack

#175 Autumn at Its Edge

A gentle look at Japan’s fading colors and the quiet feelings they leave behind.

Nov 30, 2025 • Hideo Tanikawa

#203 How to Read the Imperial Palace

What guiding a group through the East Gardens revealed about one of Tokyo's most visited places.

Jun 14 • Hideo Tanikawa

#202 As the Rainy Season Begins

A quiet transition between spring and summer

Jun 7 • Hideo Tanikawa

#201 The Japan Between the Famous Places

Why places like Ueno-Hirokoji matter more than they first appear.

May 31 • Hideo Tanikawa

#200 Posts Later

A small thank-you to the readers of Japan A to Z.

May 24 • Hideo Tanikawa

Recent posts

#199 Hiroshima Is Changing

The city I remembered as a place of memory now feels like a city quietly in motion.

May 17 • Hideo Tanikawa

#198 The Short Season of New Green

In the weeks between blossoms and rain, ordinary trees briefly become the main subject.

May 10 • Hideo Tanikawa

#197 Before You Reach the Ticket Gate

How to choose between Suica, QR tickets, and special passes

May 3 • Hideo Tanikawa

#196 What Foreign Visitors Need to Know Before Cycling in Japan

The rules did not suddenly appear. They just became harder to ignore.

Apr 26 • Hideo Tanikawa

#195 The New Europe–Japan Stopover Map

Nonstop, East Asia, Helsinki, Istanbul — the alternatives are there, but none is simple.

Apr 19 • Hideo Tanikawa

#194 Tokyo, as Cherry Blossom Season Slips Away

Six small sketches from a season that never stays long.

Apr 12 • Hideo Tanikawa

#193 How Not to Lose the Season

Not a guide to escaping spring crowds, but to keeping the season intact

Apr 5 • Hideo Tanikawa

#192 Why Japanese Spring Revolves Around Cherry Blossoms

How the cherry blossom season quietly takes over Japan.

Mar 29 • Hideo Tanikawa

#191 How Japanese Use Convenience Stores

Useful, but not always the first choice

Mar 22 • Hideo Tanikawa

#190 What Convenience Stores Don’t Solve

For short stays in Japan, they feel almost perfect. For longer stays, their limits start to show.

Mar 15 • Hideo Tanikawa

#189 What Travelers Misunderstand About Food Safety in Japan

Expiration Labels, Convenience Store Food, and the Small Risks Visitors Overlook

Mar 8 • Hideo Tanikawa

#188 Conversation with the Cherry Blossoms

How to Miss the Peak Without Regret

Mar 1 • Hideo Tanikawa