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

Lisa Wallin

I'm a senior editor at Tokyo Weekender, a Japan-based monthly lifestyle magazine. I have also worked with The Japan Times, Metropolis Japan, and Japan Travel. I have a diverse portfolio, …

Alice French

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, …

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, …

Naomi Schanen

Writing and documenting history.

Jess Esa | Freelance Writer | Travel Planner

Born in the UK, I now live in Los Angeles. I have over five years of experience writing engaging and informative content for various industries, including the Japanese and UK …

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

Sayama Green Tea School: Learn the Entire Process of Tea-making in Saitama

While picking tea leaves in the fields of the Sayama Green Tea School, I glanced up and saw a friendly Totoro statue standing outside a neighboring house...

By Kelsey Lark
10th September 2019 • Tokyo Weekender

Learn More About Saitama's Rugby Town Before Rugby World Cup 2019 Arrives

Until recently, Kumagaya City was a hidden gem in Japan’s rural landscape, and a place I was lucky to call home for five years. Now, with the Rugby World Cup soon approaching...

By Kelsey Lark
22nd March 2019 • 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 | Travel 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

A Day in the Life of a Japanese Tatami Maker

Many of us have taken off our slippers to shuffle barefoot across the soft, cushioned floors of a tatami mat-covered room at some point in our lives. Although this traditional flooring is disappearing in many households, it’s still an intrinsic part of Japanese culture.

By Lisa Wallin
2nd May 2018 • Tokyo Weekender

14 Traditional Japanese Towns That Still Feel Like They're in the Edo Period

With their charmingly retro architecture and atmosphere, these traditional towns around Japan offer a glimpse back in time to the Edo period — perfect for a strolling weekend getaway.

By Lisa Wallin
6th April 2018 • Tokyo Weekender

The Definitive Guide to Japan's 34 National Parks, from Hokkaido to Okinawa

The ultimate guide to all of Japan's national parks and what you can do there.

By Lisa Wallin
16th March 2018 • Tokyo Weekender

48 Hours in Nikko: A Complete Itinerary of What to Do, Where to Eat & Where to Stay

Nikko: one of the most famous areas in Japan, and home to Nikko Toshogu Shrine, one of the nation's most popular destinations. While it's a great starting point, we find out exactly what the area has to offer.

By Lisa Wallin
13th March 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

A Beginner's Guide to Goshuincho: How To Get One and How to Use It | Guides & Insights

The goshuin stamp and goshuincho book is a trend that has been developing in Japan over the last few years, and is particularly popular among women. But what is it exactly, and why do people do it?

By Lisa Wallin
8th November 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

A Day in the Life of a Rickshaw Driver

The rickshaw driver: a common sight around Asakusa and yet what do we know about them, other than they seem really fit?

By Lisa Wallin
22nd August 2017 • Tokyo Weekender

Breaking the Rules of Kimono

Kimono has long been pigeon-holed as the “national costume” of Japan, but there is so much more to this "traditional" garment than first meets the eye.

By Lisa Wallin
21st July 2017 • Tokyo Weekender