Hi, I’m the writer behind Mamalu Travel — a Japanese mom living in Japan, writing about this country the way it actually is rather than the way it looks in a brochure.
Why This Blog Exists
Most English-language guides to Japan are written by visitors. They’re often useful, but they miss the everyday details: what things really cost, which rules matter and which don’t, where the crowds are unbearable, and what locals actually do instead. I write the version I’d want if I were planning the trip — honest, specific, and occasionally unflattering about my own country.
What You’ll Find Here
- Culture and etiquette — the unspoken rules nobody explains, from taking your shoes off to what to do in a restaurant
- Food — ramen, convenience stores, supermarkets, kaiseki, and where the good cheap food actually is
- Travel — Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, theme parks, and practical advice for families and solo travellers
- Honest costs — what a day, a meal, or a night actually costs in yen
Who I Am
I’m a Japanese mom based in Japan, and I travel both inside and outside the country — across Asia and Europe — which means I know what feels normal to a visitor and what feels bewildering, because I’ve been on both sides of it.
I’m not a tour company and not sponsored by anyone. Recommendations here come from places I’ve actually been. Where a link earns a commission, I say so.
Get in Touch
Questions about planning a trip to Japan, or something you’d like me to write about? Send me a message through the contact form: https://www.mamalutravel.com/contact/