Tokyo Weekender

Tokyo's longest-running English lifestyle magazine, packed with food, travel, tips, city guides, news, interviews, and more.

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Featured Writers

Naomi Schanen

Writing and documenting history.

Alice French

Will Heath

Thank you for visiting my writing portfolio. Here you'll find writing about Japanese culture, world travel, and literature.My name is Will and I am a freelance writer specialising in literature, …

Gabrielle Doman

Japan-based freelance journalist, copywriter, PR and presenter who writes for content agencies, national newspapers, lifestyle magazines and online titles.In my 20-plus years of writing, I have worked in the UK, …

Jess Esa | Freelance Writer | Editor | Trip Planner

Born in the UK, I now live in Los Angeles. I'm a professional writer with over six years of experience writing engaging and informative content for various industries. This includes …

Latest Articles

The Timeless Swag of Japanese Tabi Shoes

2023 was the year of the tabi shoe. Specifically the Maison Margiela Tabi. Celebrities including Dua Lipa, Nick Jonas, Cardi B, Chlöe Sevigny and Pedro Pascal all sported the hoof-like split-toe footwear this year. But perhaps the most powerful marketing tool for the shoe was a viral TikTok in September, …

By Gabrielle Doman
21st December 2023 • Tokyo Weekender

Strongirls Festival: Muscular Women Raising the Bar in Japan

Colorful balloons, a DJ spinning bops and the buzz of anticipation at Yokohama’s PRagmatic Academy on a public holiday in November: it looked like the setting for a lively party. Yet, despite appearances, it was the scene of Japan’s second Strongirls Strength Festival, a women’s powerlifting competition (known as a …

By Gabrielle Doman
9th November 2023 • Tokyo Weekender

Studio Sedic: Yamagata's Hidden Hollywood

Yamagata Prefecture boasts endless mountain landscapes, an abundance of terraced rice fields, 70 percent of Japan’s annual cherry yield and not a lot else. Or so the humble rural idyll would have you believe. Look closer and you will find, in the mountains of Yamagata’s northern Shonai region, Japan’s best-kept …

By Alice French
8th July 2021 • Tokyo Weekender

This is What Sets ‘Ghost of Tsushima’ Apart from the Rest

By Will Heath
30th July 2020 • Tokyo Weekender

11 Video Games To Socialize With The World From Home

By Will Heath
26th June 2020 • Tokyo Weekender

The Secret Behind Animal Crossing: New Horizons' Epic Success

By Will Heath
19th June 2020 • Tokyo Weekender

10 Contemporary Japanese Authors You Should Know

The last few years have seen sales of Japanese translated fiction booming in the West. As a result, more of these talented writers are finally being translated for people to enjoy. Here are some of the contemporary Japanese writers people are talking about, and where you should start. Author of …

By Jess Esa | Freelance Writer | Editor | Trip Planner
14th November 2018 • Tokyo Weekender

Convenience Store Woman: New Novel Offers a Rare Glimpse Behind the Konbini Counter

By Will Heath
19th October 2018 • Tokyo Weekender

Murakami's Latest Novel a "Gothic Retelling of The Great Gatsby"

By Will Heath
10th October 2018 • Tokyo Weekender

10 Top Tokyo Bonenkai (End-of-Year Party) Spots

Every December in Japan, as the year comes to a close, groups of friends and companies gather for bonenkai, or “forget the year parties.” Here are some of the finest places to say goodbye to the year in style.

By Naomi Schanen
5th December 2017 • Tokyo Weekender

6 Spots Around Tohoku for Halal Hunters

Breathtaking scenery, delicious delicacies, and colorful culture – Tohoku has it all. However, as with the rest of Japan, finding Muslim-friendly food here can prove difficult.

By Naomi Schanen
7th November 2017 • Tokyo Weekender