Japan Travel Tips & Hidden Gems
Welcome back to the second installment in my in-depth series on Yamanashi Prefecture’s hidden destinations. As explained in part one, Yamanashi is a location that holds quite an unique predicament when it comes to attracting foreign visitors. You see, the…
It’s no real secret that my favorite time of year in Japan is autumn. After all, I have been hammering this point almost daily now on social media. While spring may have its cherry blossoms and summer its festivals, these…
“Maybe if more people actually visited the Sea of Trees, as opposed to just imagining it based on multimedia, it would help dispel some of the spooky notions that are floating around out there.“ — Beyond Death & Pain: The Truth…
Welcome back to yet another one of my in-depth area guides. Today, we will be taking a look at a section of Tokyo known as Ryogoku. Home to both the Kokugikan Sumo Arena and the amazing Edo-Tokyo Museum, Ryogoku is…
Okay, now that I’ve basically scared off all my female readers with a title like that, let’s get down to the dirty business. I don’t think I need a disclaimer if you’ve gotten this far so just know the following…
The clock struck 4:00 AM and my alarm went off with a bang. Still quite drunk from the night before, I rolled over to see what the commotion was all about. Through my alcohol induced stupor, I somehow managed to…
When push comes to shove, my absolute favorite thing about traveling in Japan is the nation’s long and undeniably palpable history. While it often requires one do a bit of digging, reverberations from Japan’s feudal era can still be felt…
It’s no secret that I am in love with Oita. I’ve been enamored ever since I first visited the prefecture in May of 2018 for a visit arranged by the governmental agency JETRO. Our experiences were captured in this amazing…
“Summer grass — all that remains of warriors’ dreams.” — Matsuo Basho When hankering for a unique historical experience, most foreign visitors immediately default to Japan’s former capital of Kyoto. After all, Kyoto is legendary across the globe for its rich and tangible…
Ah Yamanashi — known internationally for its wildly popular Mt. Fuji climb and…well, not much else. This is a real shame. You see, this landlocked prefecture is host to breathtaking natural wonders as well as a rich historical pedigree. In addition to…
Gather ‘round folks. For today’s article, I have something really special to introduce to you. I’ll be taking you on a journey far, far up north to the furthest reaches of Aomori Prefecture’s Shimokita Peninsula. Together we’ll explore a place…
Today we’ll be taking a look at one of my all-time favorite hidden gems that is rarely, if ever, featured in the English language media. Known as Mitsumine Shrine, this mountaintop sanctuary can be found in the densely forested ridges…
As long time readers, you may have noticed by now that I typically try to steer clear of introducing attractions in Kyoto. For one, the city tends to be overcrowded with visitors to the point where it has become akin…
Ladies and gentlemen, gather ‘round. It’s story time! Today we’ll be taking a look at the long-lost history of Oita Prefecture’s Usa Jingu. As far as I can tell, this is the first time the tragic tale of this amazing…
Much like everyone else on this planet, I absolutely love Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Taisha. Anyone who has visited knows there is just something ethereally awesome about that endless array of torii gates that is difficult to capture in words. However,…