Take the quiz
Ten quick questions about how you like to travel, like what you'd do at 7am in Tokyo.
The value gap
What the English guides still get wrong
Most of our gems aren't secret places. They're places you already planned to see, plus the one fact that changes your visit. That fact is usually on the official Japanese site and missing from everything written in English.
PlaceEnglish guides sayThe official record says
Ōtagi Nenbutsu-jiKyoto · Arashiyama
English guides¥300 admission
Official record¥1,000, and closed on Saturdays
Kenroku-enKanazawa
English guidesPay at the gate when it opens
Official recordFree entry before opening hours, through two specific gates
Toyosu tuna auctionTokyo
English guidesWatch from the public gallery
Official recordA free lottery for the best viewing deck
Shirakawa-go illuminationGifu
English guidesWalk in for the light-up
Official recordAdvance reservation required since 2024
Every gem lists its sources and the date it was last checked.
How it works
Two minutes to a map made for you
Start with the quiz. It matches you to one of eight travel styles, and the map highlights the gems that suit how you like to travel.
Explore the map
25 gems are free to read in full. Filter by city, interest, or your travel style.
Unlock what you'll use
$4.99 unlocks one gem's full dossier: exact timing, how to book, and what to avoid. It stays on your account on every device.
112places, each with its own dossier
25free to read in full, no account needed
99re-checked against official sources this summer
36%of those re-checks found something had changed
Plan the trip everyone takes, on better information.
Start with the quiz. Once you've unlocked a few gems, the trip planner turns them into a day-by-day schedule.