Japan Travel Tips & Hidden Gems
“Time is like a river that will take you forward into encounters with reality that will require you to make decisions. You can’t stop the movement down this river, you can’t avoid the encounters. You can only approach these encounters…
In 1853, on the 8th of July, the American navy steamed four of its mighty warships into the bay of the Shogun’s capital city. The crew carried an ultimatum for Japan to open up for trade. Though not the first…
Let’s face it. When it comes to tourism and Japanese history, the period of World War II often gets skipped over completely. While visitors to Japan do indeed flock to Hiroshima’s Atomic Bomb Dome, rarely do you see anyone seeking…
As anyone who has visited Tokyo before can attest, Japan’s capital city is like one of those Matryoshka dolls. Every time you think that you’ve reached the bottom of what Tokyo has to offer, it always surprises you with something…
Much like those who call themselves content travelers in the inbound tourism space, I am no stranger to Hiroshima. Alas, though I’ve been in (and through) the city numerous times, I’ve never really had a chance to savor Hiroshima’s lesser-known…
Tokyo just never ceases to amaze me. Every time I think that I’ve seen most of the spots that I want to, something new pops up on the proverbial radar. Simply put, this megalopolis is like an onion. Every time…
Those who have visited Japan in the past are likely already aware that the country is home to a great many medieval-style fortresses. Alas, only a few of the structures in this collection are actually historic buildings. In fact, just…
As anyone who has planned (or is currently planning) a springtime trip to Japan likely already knows, the cherry blossoms tend to reach their zenith in Tokyo around the end of March. While still somewhat chilly, this annual flowering is…
Ah, Morioka — Known internationally for its three great noodles and well… not much else. What a tragedy! You see, my dear readers, the capital city of Iwate Prefecture has so much more on offer than just these famed delicious dishes. While…
Hey there, my fellow Kimetsu-no-Yaiba fans! Did you know that a lot of spots in everyone’s favorite anime series are actually based on real-life locales in Japan? For example, the home of the Kamado family is based on a peak…
Dear reader… Are you the type of person who will do just about anything for the Gram? Do you regularly make insane journeys to picturesque locations simply to snap the perfect selfie? If so, I have the superb spot in…
Years ago while I was on the Gram, a fellow creator here in Tokyo asked me out of the blue why I spend such a staggering amount of money traveling around and promoting my Japan travel blog. At the time,…
The subject of today’s post is an odd destination that has been on my to-visit list long before I started producing travel content in 2016. Known as the Site of Reversible Destiny, this peculiar attraction resides within Gifu Prefecture’s much…
Every time I think I’ve crossed Kanagawa Prefecture off my bucket list once and for all, something always comes along to capture my attention. Recently, while contemplating possible day trips from Tokyo, I realized that I had yet to cover…
“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…