Japan Travel Writing / Jess Esa | Freelance Writer | Editor | Trip Planner

- Japan Travel Writing and Trip Planning -

Based between LA and East Asia, I specialize in Japan-based travel writing, Japan trip planning, and itineraries. I also write about translated Japanese literature, film, food, and culture. Welcome to my portfolio which includes some of my photography and writing examples.

I have written for the Japan National Tourism Organisation based in the US and am a regular contributor to Tripsavvy, Japan Journeys, and Japan Objects as a contracted Japan specialist. I also contribute to a number of other publications, which you'll see below. I manage an award-winning Asia travel and literature blog, Books and Bao. We currently receive 60,000 viewers per month.

You can find out more about me and what I offer here, or you can view some of my photography or culinary travel writing.

To commission an article about Japan, contact me using the form at the bottom of the page or via email at jesawriting@gmail.com

On this page, you'll find:

Japan Travel Articles
Japan Art and Culture Articles
Articles created for JNTO
How to contact me

Japan Objects

Tango Chirimen: 7 Best Places Along Kyoto’s Silk Road

One of the first places to go if you want to learn about silk production, and to see the undyed fabric and raw silk being made, is Tayuh Textile. There, you can take one of their free factory tours. Within this building they do everything from making the threads from silk cocoons and dyeing the fabrics to manufacturing and selling the fabrics; it all happens here. It takes 3,000 silk cocoons to make a single kimono so the level of work undertaken here, and the dedication to the craft and its me

Culture Trip

A Wine Lover’s Guide to Furano

Make sure to take a walk through the winding forest and shopping cabins of Ningle Terrace to reach . Ningle Terrace is one of Furano’s top attractions, and local creators’ products are showcased in its log cabins. It’s open from noon daily but is particularly stunning at night when the trees and cabins are lit up with fairy lights. This is a perfect time to meet local creators and purchase artisanal products, which vary from food and drink (including wine) to handmade fashion accessories and or

Tokyo Grave

ANA Intercontinental Tokyo

Fukushima

Ine, Kyoto

Kyoto Silk

Japan Travel Articles

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Tripadvisor • 8th April 2024

3 days in Kyoto: The perfect itinerary

Morning: Greet the dawn at two amazing temples Morning: Get lost in the bamboo groves of Arashiyama Afternoon: Eat your way around Nishiki Market There are more than 100 vendors here, each with a story and a specialty. Many offer bite-sized...

Tripadvisor • 20th March 2024

3 days in Osaka: The perfect itinerary

MORNING: Step into the past at Osaka Castle There are plenty of ways to spend your night in Dotombori. Start with a stroll along the alley of Hozenji Yokocho. Splash some water on the Buddha statue at Hozenji Temple for luck, then check out the bars,...

31st May 2023

Kiyosumi Fukagawa, Tokyo's Artist Heaven

Morning Calm Magazine (Korean Air) Spring 2023

TripSavvy • 25th August 2021

The Top 10 National Parks in Japan

As an island nation with a varied landscape and climate, Japan offers visitors an astonishing wealth of variety—from mountain ranges to coastlines to lakes and wetlands. A visit to Japan’s best national parks is what best showcases this variety....

TripSavvy • 30th June 2021

The Top 25 Things to Do in Japan

In a country as diverse as Japan, there's no end to the fascinating things to do but it's often difficult to know where to start. With over 20 UNESCO world heritage sites to visit and outstanding natural beauty right across its five main islands,...

TripSavvy • 30th June 2021

Your Trip to Hiroshima: The Complete Guide

Hiroshima is one of the southernmost cities on Japan's main island of Honshu. While its tragic modern history has given it an unshakeable global image, Hiroshima is a city of outstanding food, warm weather, a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, and some...

TripSavvy • 30th June 2021

Nikko National Park: The Complete Guide

Full of centuries-old shrines, temples and areas of outstanding natural beauty, it’s difficult to know where to begin when it comes to Japan's majestic Nikko National Park. The Japanese town of Nikko can be found within the park, making this a...

Culture Trip • 8th May 2020

The Story of Kitakata's Ramen and Where To Eat It, According to an Expert

If you don’t know where to commence your Kitakata ramen journey, consider trying Genraiken because – as Hanami says – it is “said to be the ‘original Kitakata Ramen restaurant’” and is the descendent of the original street cart mentioned above. Close...

TripSavvy • 31st January 2020

The Top 12 Day Trips From Kyoto

There’s plenty to get up to in the urban hub of Nagoya. For some history, make sure to visit Nagoya Castle and Osu Kannon Temple before taking a peaceful stroll around Tokugawa Garden. You can also visit Nagashima Resort for some of the best roller...

TripSavvy • 31st January 2020

The Complete Guide to Kyoto's Nightlife

With its teahouses, geisha, and traditional temples and shrines, Kyoto is a popular destination for travelers in search of Japan's historic beauty and traditional arts. Although not as famous as Tokyo's, the old capital does have a thriving, varied,...

TripSavvy • 31st January 2020

How to See a Maiko Show in Kyoto

Geisha (known as geiko in Kyoto) are strongly associated with Japanese traditional culture and history. While you will likely see women dressed in traditional costume walking in the Gion district of Kyoto, they are very rarely a fully-trained...

Japan Objects • 31st January 2020

10 Best Places to Buy Japanese Fans in Tokyo

A traditional Japanese craft that has its roots in fashion, theatre, and etiquette; the fan is a piece of Japanese art that is so iconically Japanese that it has become fully entwined in the aesthetics and even the popular culture of Japan. In Tokyo,...

Japan Objects • 5th January 2020

20 Best Japanese Gardens in Tokyo for Every Season

Tokyo’s many Japanese gardens are a must-see when you visit the capital. They are popular and relaxing public spaces where you can view the sakura blossoms, picnic, stroll, and play with friends and family and totally immerse yourself in the beauty of...

Culture Trip • 5th January 2020

12 Quirky Experiences in Tokyo, Japan

Pet an owl at a café in Harajuku Due to high living costs and tiny apartments, most people in Tokyo don’t have the space to look after pets. The solution? Animal cafés. One of the most famous of these is the Harajuku Owl Café where you can get up...

TripSavvy • 5th January 2020

The Top 10 Museums in Tokyo

Dedicated to the studio that has brought us animation classics like Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, and Princess Mononoke, this is a whimsical visit and one of the best things you can do while in Tokyo. Set in a magical mansion, you make your way...

Savvy Tokyo • 13th December 2019

Asakusa: A Guide to Tokyo’s Traditional and Spiritual Downtown

The best way to explore Asakusa is on foot. Get lost, wander the side streets, and dip into some traditional culture. A little slice of traditional Japan within Tokyo, if you want to get lost in some history and explore the old shopping streets or...

Culture Trip • 9th August 2019

Top Things To Do in Harajuku, Tokyo

Ramen lovers will be pretty familiar with the name Ichiran . This popular Japanese chain has a constant string of eager customers awaiting their tailor-made ramen feast. From spice level to noodle density, here you can curate your own specific dish by...

Savvy Tokyo • 9th May 2019

Nakano: A Guide To Tokyo's Underground Otaku And Foodie Paradise

If you're looking for an alternative to Akihabara's busy streets or want to find some new enticing ramen spots, Nakano offers a charming escape from its busy neighbors. Although a seemingly local and residential area, anyone heading West on the Chuo...

Culture Trip • 22nd April 2019

48 Hours in Tokyo: Ideas for a Short Weekend Getaway

From the moment you master the sprawling train network that governs this city, the vast metropolis of Tokyo starts to unfurl before you. A dream holiday destination for most, Japan’s bustling capital doesn’t disappoint. Here, the truly vintage melds...

Culture Trip • 22nd April 2019

An Arts and Culture Walking Tour of Shinjuku, Tokyo

An Arts and Culture Walking Tour of Shinjuku, Tokyo Underneath the twinkling LED screens and skyscrapers, Shinjuku’s creative minds have let their imaginations fly. Take this manageable walking tour (with a little help from the subway) to see another...

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Japanese Film Festival

The world of Japanese saké as seen in Kampai! For the Love of Sake

Anyone who has tried good sake (pronounced sah-keh) can attest to the initial simplicity behind the drink giving way to depth and flavor. Drinking sake is an ancient tradition amongst the Japanese people, and can be found mentioned as far back as the 3rd century. Sake, or nihonshu (literally, Japanese liquor) as it is known in Japan, is very much intertwined with the culture of Japan, and is considered one of the country’s national beverages. Fascination with nihonshu is growing throughout the

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