Meet Takehiko — Your Local Guide to Japan

Hi, I’m Takehiko — a born-and-raised Japanese living in Saitama, just north of Tokyo.

I’ve spent my entire life in Japan. That’s over 50 years of navigating Tokyo’s hidden alleyways, eating at neighborhood spots that never make it into guidebooks, and watching this incredible country evolve while keeping its traditions alive.

Takehiko - Japan By Local author

Why Japan By Local?

I started Japan By Local because I noticed something while reading travel blogs about Japan: most of them are written by visitors, not locals.

Don’t get me wrong — there are some fantastic travel bloggers out there. But there’s a difference between someone who visited Tokyo for two weeks and someone who was born here. I know which convenience store onigiri is actually good (hint: it’s not the one TikTok tells you). I know why you shouldn’t walk in the middle of a shrine path. And I know that the best ramen in Tokyo isn’t at the places with hour-long tourist lines.

This blog is the guide I’d write for a friend visiting Japan for the first time.

What Makes This Blog Different

  • Born and raised in Japan — Not just “living in Japan for a few years.” I grew up here, went to school here, and this is home.
  • 52 years of local knowledge — I’ve seen Tokyo transform from Showa to Reiwa era. I know the history behind the neighborhoods, the culture behind the customs.
  • Saitama-based, Tokyo-savvy — Living just outside Tokyo gives me the best of both worlds: deep knowledge of the capital plus access to incredible day-trip destinations that most tourists miss entirely.
  • Honest recommendations — I only recommend places I’d take my own friends to. If something is overrated or overpriced, I’ll tell you.
  • Always updated — I physically visit and re-verify the places I write about. Prices change, restaurants close, new spots open — I keep this blog current.

What You’ll Find Here

  • Destination guides with real prices, hours, and insider tips
  • Food guides from someone who actually grew up eating this food
  • Cultural context that explains the why behind Japanese customs
  • Money-saving tips that only locals know
  • Hidden gems in places tourists rarely venture

My Promise to You

Every recommendation on this site comes from personal experience. I visit (and revisit) the places I write about. When I share a “Local Tip,” it’s genuinely something that most travel blogs won’t tell you.

I also believe in transparency. This site uses affiliate links — when you book a tour or hotel through my links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps me keep creating free, honest content. But my recommendations are never influenced by commissions. Read my full affiliate disclosure.

Get in Touch

Have a question about your Japan trip? Want to suggest a topic? I’d love to hear from you.

Japan By Local is a one-person project — just me, Takehiko, sharing the Japan I know and love. Thanks for being here.

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