Japan Travel Tips & Hidden Gems
“While this article was originally written during the pandemic, all of the locations and information featured are still valid…” — Donny Kimball It’s really no secret that I’ve not been a fan of Kyoto over the years. Though I am sympathetic towards…
It should really come as no surprise to those who already follow me on the Gram that Asakura has a special place in my heart. Not only is this provincial section of Fukuoka Prefecture a treasure trove of bucolic delights,…
Welcome back to another installment of Backyard Tourism. As always, we’ll be taking a look at an often-overlooked part of Japan in an attempt to prove that just about anywhere in this amazing country has potential. This time, I’ll be…
Tochigi Prefecture is no stranger to welcoming overseas visitors. Home to several amazing national parks, as well as a cluster of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, there’s a lot to do in this area of Japan. Alas, when it comes to…
Standing alone in the middle of a secluded forest, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by a sense of something supernatural. Just before me was a behemoth-sized boulder known as the Itto-seki that had been split down the middle in…
For the longest while now, the city of Iwakuni has been on my radar. Though located a mere stone’s throw away from the sacred isle of Miyajima over in the neighboring prefecture, circumstances just never conspired to allow for a…
“This article was first written during the second year of the pandemic. The info about the destination is still solid though….” — Donny Kimball As I sit down to write this article at a Starbucks in Tokyo, it’s finally the first day…
If you’ve been following me for a half year or so, you’ll know that I once foolishly tried to take on most of Hyogo Prefecture in a single outing. While I hit many of the main stops on that overly…
“While this article was originally written during the pandemic, all of the locations and information featured are still valid…” — Donny Kimball Ever since first learning of the Shikoku Henro Pilgrimage’s existence many moons ago, my heart has been yearning to embark…
Hail and well met travelers… In this week’s article, we will be taking a look at some amazing attractions in Tottori Prefecture that I’ve been itching to visit for quite some time. Now, for those not already in the know,…
Anyone who has followed me for even a few days knows that I absolutely love Japan during the months of autumn. While the cherry blossoms always end up taking all the glory, they simply cannot compete with the awesome splendor…
“While this article was originally written during the pandemic, all of the locations and information featured are still valid…” — Donny Kimball Alright, confession time folks. For a good while now, I have wanted to revisit the lovely area of Kawaguchiko (lit.…
Not too long ago, I was invited up to Niigata for a meeting with the powers that be. The objective of the summit was to discuss how we could assist the prefecture with making the digital leap. Though a producer…
“To be honest, art was the only answer.” — Yamano Shingo Hail fellow travelers. This week, I want to introduce a slice of Yokohama that has long been on my radar. Known as Koganecho, this area has a rather dark and tragic…
As I sit down to write this article, it’s late afternoon on a surprisingly warm and sunny Sunday. Just yesterday, Typhoon Chan-hom rolled through and doused Japan in sheets of rain. Only twenty-four hours prior, I had come to terms…