Tokyo’s bar scene operates on the same principle as its kitchens: deep craft, no excess, an almost intimidating commitment to getting it right. These are the bars worth your evening.

Kanazawa is one of Japan’s most underrated cities — and one of its most rewarding. This is my guide to the best of what it has to offer, from cult-status curry and fresh crab croquettes at Omicho Market to hand-painted kutani porcelain, urushi lacquerware ateliers, and tea experiences tucked inside Edo-period geisha houses. If you’re ready to go beyond the obvious, this is where to start.

Hakone is a mountain escape best done slowly — two nights, a ryokan, and enough time to do the ropeway, the open-air museum, and the quietly excellent eating and drinking scene in Gora. Here’s where to go.

Twenty minutes south of Kyoto, Uji is the undisputed home of Japan’s finest matcha — and one of the most rewarding day trips you can make from the city. Here’s where to go, what to buy, and how to make the most of every hour.

Kyoto is Japan’s cultural soul — and its food scene reflects exactly that. From intimate kaiseki hidden inside Nishiki Market to Prohibition-era speakeasies and 300-year-old matcha producers, here are the best places to eat and drink in Kyoto.