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Time Travel Turtle

A travel blog with stories beyond the brochure

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JAPAN

LAND OF THE RISING SUN

There’s no doubt about it – Japan is my favourite country. I love the combination of tradition and modernity and there’s nothing else like it in the world. Let me show you the best it has to offer!

Michael Turtle – TIME TRAVEL TURTLE

Whenever I would think of Japan, I would think of the neon lights of Tokyo, the restaurants with robots, and the other crazy examples of modern technology. What I didn’t realise until I spent more time in the country, is that it’s actually more traditional than anywhere you could visit.
 
This is what makes it such a fascinating place. It pursued an isolationist policy for so long that, as the technology advanced, the old customs became more embedded in the culture than ever before. It’s why you now have a unique country with little outside influence, where a video game arcade can sit next to an inn with tatami mats and paper walls.
 
You could spend weeks in the big cities and not run out of time. But I would encourage you to see some of the natural sites and small traditional towns to really start to understand Japan. This is where you’ll find the strongest connection to the culture.
 
I still have a lot of the Japan to explore because I move slowly when I’m there, but I hope these stories will help with your travel planning.

BEST TEMPLES IN NARA >> HOW TO PLAN YOUR DAY

One of the most spectacular World Heritage cities in Japan is Nara. Close to Osaka, not too far from Tokyo, it’s a perfect way to see the glorious history of Imperial Japan. If you’re not sure where to start, this guide will show you the best spots to see.

JAPAN ISN’T EXPENSIVE >> MY GUIDE TO SAVE

Whenever I talk about Japan, people always mention how expensive it is. The funny thing is, it’s actually much cheaper than you realise if you know what you’re doing. And I’m happy to share what I’ve learned.

JAPAN IN 30 DISHES >> EAT THEM ALL!

Do you like sushi? Great! But what else are you prepared to eat? Japan is more than just what you can get at your local takeaway. I’ve tried more then 30 different dishes and hope this guide will help you on your next trip.

Travel stories about Japan

To explore more of my stories about Japan, you can

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Read one of my featured articles

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FEATURED STORIES

Monkeys in a Japanese hot spring

When the winter becomes too much, these snow monkeys head to the hot spring. This incredible natural sight in Japan has to be seen for yourself!

Journey into Dreamland

Photos from inside Nara Dreamland, Japan. The park was abandoned in 2006 and nothing’s been done with it since. It’s all locked off.. but I found a way in.

What a hoot!

You may know of cat cafes but what about the latest trend in Tokyo – owl cafes? Spend an hour holding and patting these magnificent birds. Only in Japan!

Read all my stories >> HERE <<