Japan Travel Tips & Hidden Gems
Dear reader, allow me to begin by apologizing for all of the upcoming scatological puns and innuendos in the following paragraphs. This is truly going to be one crappy post. Today, we’ll be taking a look at Tokyo’s Unko Museum.…
If you’re an avid fan of traveling to Japan (which is now thankfully again possible as of Oct 11, 2022), you’ve probably heard of the amazing Shimanami Kaido. Running from Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture all the way to Imabari in…
Today, I am going to take you to Toyama Prefecture. Sandwiched between the Sea of Japan and the mountainous core of the country, Toyama is a treasure trove of both natural and cultural wonders. Alas, many overseas visitors to Japan…
Today we’ll be looking at the former castle town of Gujo-Hachiman. Located in Gifu Prefecture, this riverside hamlet has long been on my to-visit list. Best known for its pristine waterways and its famous summer obon dance festival, the Gujo…
Welcome back to another installment of Backyard Tourism. Today, we’ll be taking a look at the island of Osaki Kamishima in Hiroshima Prefecture. Located 30 minutes off of the coast in the ever-picturesque Seto Inland Sea, this island rarely, if…
If you’re active at all on social media, chances are high that you’ve seen photos of the northern parts of Gifu Prefecture somewhere before. From the ever-picturesque hamlet of Shirakawago to the historic town of Hida-Takayama, this part of Japan…
In today’s article, we’ll be heading back to a different side of Hiroshima Prefecture to explore the isle of Okunoshima. Famous as the “Rabbit Island” overseas, this small landmass is home to anywhere between 700 and 900 adorable bunnies. While…
Try as I might, I just couldn’t believe what I was hearing. We had just been informed by the station attendant that the Akita Shinkansen would not be running for the rest of the night. Yup, you read that right.…
In my many travels across Japan, I’ve visited A LOT of shrines. Though I’ve certainly been moved by many of these Shinto sanctuaries over the years, none ever managed to bring me to tears. That all changed recently when I…
These days, it would be hard to find anyone who hasn’t heard of Kyoto.. That said, there’s so much more to the prefecture than just what most people envision when they think of the ancient capital. Today we’ll be taking…
How I ended up in Katsuura is a bit of a strange tale. The afternoon that I decided on a whim to go was a hectic Thursday. Exhausted to the core but also revved up by caffeine, I felt emasculated…
Today, we’ll be getting off the beaten path again to examine Nagano Prefecture’s city of Iiyama. Truth be told, it was only recently that this part of Japan popped up on the radar for me. While I had some vague…
Today, we’ll be venturing back to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Though this city is already somewhat of an off the beaten path destination, the topic of this article is an even more obscure hidden gem (at least for inbound tourism…
Welcome back to another one of my crazy adventures in Japan. Today, we’ll be taking a look at Mt. Myogi and Myogi Shrine, the ancient sanctuary that sits atop this mysterious mountain. Found in the westernmost reaches of Gunma Prefecture,…
The other week, I found myself in Kyoto for client-related work reasons. While I’d of course not pass up the chance to enjoy the city’s cherry blossoms, the primary purpose of my trip was professional. Still, I am a travel…