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 Over the years, I’ve been quite weary of visiting Japan’s former capital. Simply put, the place has been overrun with…
Dear reader, allow me to begin this one with an intriguing folktale. According to this legend, back in the early mists of time, a deity descended from the heavens. Seeking a place to spend the night, this divine being beseeched…
“I am going to burn them with the flames of war and let the true Buddha be called forth from these ashes!” — Oda Nobunaga Imagine this. You’ve just consolidated control over most of Japan but there’s still a constant thorn in…
“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,…
Ladies and gentlemen, this is a daikon (lit. “big root”). Known internationally among culinary circles in English as the daikon radish, this mild-flavored winter radish originally hails from China’s northern reaches. Though common to many Asian countries, the vegetable is…
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…