Evangelia Papoutsaki MA Leeds, PhD Cardiff, MRSNZ

...I traveled north to the Shiretoko UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site and National Park, where I entered an enchanted realm of lakes. The name "Shiretoko" comes from the Ainu words “sir etok”, meaning “the end of the earth.”

Lake Akan is more than a scenic place on the tourist trail —it’s a place where the past is remembered, and where healing, both personal and collective, is unfolding. There’s still much work to be done before true justice is achieved, but this is a start. Imperfect, yet necessary.

When I stepped out of Kushiro Station—the gateway to my Lake Akan trip—I felt underwhelmed. Hmm, I thought, how am I going to spend four...

The Amami Islands, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site since 2021, face complex challenges in reconciling economic development with...

“They’re building another tunnel!” And like clockwork, I respond: “What?! Another one?! Why?!”

...it made me think, is that the kind of tourism Amami Oshima, Japan’s newest UNESCO World Natural Heritage site wants or even needs?

But islands, contrary to popular belief, are not isolated. They are living, breathing ecosystems, intimately connected to the oceans...

Our journey began with a boat ride from the river mouth, taking us upstream through breathtaking scenery.