A quick guide for planning your own trip vs. other options So you’ve decided to visit the land of the rising sun. You’ve written down a list of the places...
When we think about famous flowers of Japan, we often first picture the sakura, or cherry blossom. The delicate sakura bloom along streets and rivers across the country, and signify...
Japanese cities are special because of the way they combine modern, high-tech life with traditional culture and historical buildings. It can feel as though life has become fully urbanized. Like...
The beginning of spring marks the start of the new work/school year in Japan. The harbinger of this change of season is the cherry blossom tree. The bloom starts as...
If you have ever been to Japan, you’ve probably visited at least one shrine/temple if not more. When debating which Shinto or Buddhist spiritual centers to visit while here, you’ll...
It was the third week of March when I made a trip to the Kisoji Valley and its famous Nakasendo trail. I can still feel the winter breeze wrapping around...
One of the things that attracts thousands of visitors to Japan, is the opportunity to appreciate multiple stunning shrines and temples. These spiritual centers vary from simple to ornate, but...
In this time of social distancing, we all need something to give us a bit of comfort. Nintendo‘s March release of ‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons’, a new installment in the...
It’s happened. The COVID19 infection which started in China and seemed so distant, has now touched almost every country in the world. Some are handling it better than others, like...
One of the bonding moments of families in Japan is seeing the winter light-ups. These usually run between the 2nd week of November until the 2nd week of January. Japan...
Izu Peninsula is often overlooked in favor of other more famous destinations such as Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto. For the many residents in and around Tokyo however, it is a...
