Arigato Travel

Japan is known for its bullet trains, polished stations, and famously efficient rail network. But there is one train ticket that still feels like a bit of an insider secret among international visitors: the Seishun 18 Kippu. At first glance, the name can be misleading. “Seishun” means youth, and “18” sounds like an age limit. But despite the name, this ticket is not ju...

Soba is a traditional and popular Japanese staple food, loved across the land of the rising sun for its soft and chewy texture, as well as for the positive connotations and favorable symbolism it holds, being associated with longevity due to the length of its noodles. Soba, principally made from buckwheat, represents a healthier alternative to ramen that doesn’t skimp on the ...

Picture this: you’re a salaryman, a corporate worker in Japan who’s just finished a 12-hour workday with overtime. You enter an izakaya with your colleagues, order jugs of beer, cheer, and chug the whole thing. You let out a sigh of relief. This is what it means to wind down in Japan. But ever wondered how to do this yourself? After all, there can always be a lot of cultural ...

It’s another bright and sunny day in Tokyo, and there is a special feeling in the air: it’s match day at the Japan National Stadium! Before the stadium is even in sight, the atmosphere begins to build. Fans move through nearby stations in team colors, while groups gather outsid...

This year marks something truly special for us: 10 years since Arigato Travel began. Over the past decade, we’ve had the joy of exploring Japan alongside so many of you, sharing meals, stories, cultural experiences, and unforgettable moments. And wow… a lot has changed since 2016.

So, to celebrate our anniversary, we thought we’d take a step back and look at how travel...