Japan

High-speed trains, irridescent laneways, endless ramen and underground izakayas—time to get booking.

Despite being a struggle in the wee hours of the morning, pulling yourself out of bed and venturing out for a sunrise mission is always worth setting the alarm.

The future is now and a hotel in Japan is leading the way, replacing staff with holograms and robots. At the Henn-na Hotel, located in Tokyo’s buzzing Ginza district, you’ll be greeted by anything from a friendly ninja (who can speak five languages no less), to an even friendlier dinosaur who is pretty damn excited to meet a human. 

To celebrate the launch of their latest Chita Single Grain Whisky, for five nights only, Tommy’s Champagne Parlour in Seafarers building will be hosting a masterclass to take you on a journey of Suntory’s rich whisky distilleries with a highlight on The Chita.

There’s about 1,000 reasons why we’re so obsessed with Japan. The food, the culture, the people, the snow, the food… you get it. With Japan being so close to us, it’s always been a favourite holiday spot, but with a little thing called COVID-19 tearing up our getaway plans the thought of a trip the Asian island seemed unlikely.

Not so long ago it was pretty simple to navigate Niseko’s foodie scene, mostly because there was nothing but a few ramen shops, bakeries and one or two more upmarket spots to treat yourself after a long week on the snow. In the last few years though, there has been an influx of international powder hounds and the restaurants, cafes and bars have done a top job of keeping up with demand. 

Seeing as forest bathing is our new favourite wellness activity, we thought we better find a way to incorporate it into our travel plans for 2020. From tropical rainforests to 1000 year old trees, here are 10 of the world’s most incredible forests that are ready for you to bask in their glory.

Ready yourself for peak nostalgia—and the age-old debate of who is better… Mario or Luigi?—because the world is about to score a Nintendo theme park and it includes a life-size Mario Kart track! Super Nintendo World is set to open in 2020 (just in time for the Tokyo Olympics) at Japan’s Universal Studios in Osaka and will feature a bunch of your childhood faves like Peach, Yoshi and Bowser. And we’re crossing our fingers for a possible run in with the likes of Pikachu, Link and Zelda.

If you’ve ever found yourself in Bali during school holidays or hoiking your suitcase up 100-year-old staircases in Europe during a heatwave, you’ve probably learned that choosing where to travel is just as important as deciding when to go.

From the Summer Olympic Games to cultural extravaganzas and hot hotel openings, there are dozens of reasons to plan a holiday for 2020. Here are the cities and countries to add to your travel itinerary in the New Year. 

Everyone’s favourite label-less label MUJI has just opened its first domestic hotel, and they’re doing things a little differently.

If you’re feeling a bit wary about travelling solo, Tokyo is the perfect place to dip your toes in the water. It’s one of the safest places you can travel and there is so much to do you won’t even notice you’re on your own. And then there’s the plethora of micro-restaurants and bars you’ll be able to experience which just isn’t possible when you’re travelling in a bigger group. If you’re not convinced yet, here are 8 things to do in Tokyo if you’re travelling solo.

We probably could have called this article ‘Neighbourhoods To Check Out In Tokyo That Aren’t Shinjuku, Ginza, ShibuyaOr Roppongi’, because 99% of travellers are going to hit all of those multiple times. And there’s nothing wrong with that—there’s a reason Shinjuku and Shibuya draw millions of selfie-stick wielding visitors every year. They’re amazing. But if it’s your second or third time in Tokyo, or you just want to branch out and see something beyond the well-trodden tourist routes, try these on for size.