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A Different Side of Japan

Japan Travel Tips & Hidden Gems

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A Different Side of Japan

Japan Travel Tips & Hidden Gems

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The Takeda Castle Ruins | Japan’s “Machu Picchu” in Hyogo

Hyogo Prefecture's "floating" Takeda Castle Ruins from one of the Ritsuunkyo viewpoints

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…

  • Donny Kimball
  • January 5, 2021
  • Area Guides

Two of Eighty-Eight | My First Temples on the Shikoku Henro

A Buddhist statue near Tairyu-ji along the Shikoku Henro Pilgrimage

“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…

  • Donny Kimball
  • December 29, 2020
  • Area Guides

Tottori Prefecture | Mt. Daisen & the Iconic Sand Dunes

The sun sets over the iconic sand dunes of Tottori Prefecture.

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,…

  • Donny Kimball
  • December 11, 2020
  • Area Guides

Lake Chuzen-ji | My Autumn Adventures Deeper into Nikko

Lake Chuzen-ji and Mt. Nantai from the veranda of the Chuzen-ji temple building

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…

  • Donny Kimball
  • December 5, 2020
  • Area Guides

Fukuoka Prefecture’s Akizuki | Samurai Warriors Without War

Donny Kimball wears a kimono in Fukuoka Prefecture's Akizuki and looks out at the autumn leaves

“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.…

  • Donny Kimball
  • November 26, 2020
  • Misc. Other

Half Dead | My Grim Reflections on Turning Thirty-Five

A Japanese ink painting of a man on a boat fishing.

Update: Since originally writing this, I’ve come to realize that I am much better suited to being a mere freelance digital marketer and content creator… Today is November 21, 2020. As I sit down to write this, I am currently…

  • Donny Kimball
  • November 21, 2020
  • Area Guides

Niigata City & Tsukioka Onsen | See More of the Prefecture

Traditional Japanese umbrellas are lit up as decorations at Tsukioka Onsen in Niigata Prefecture.

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…

  • Donny Kimball
  • November 12, 2020
  • Area Guides

Yokohama’s Koganecho | A Transformation from Sleaze to Art

“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…

  • Donny Kimball
  • October 30, 2020
  • Area Guides

A Day Trip to Matsumoto | The Castle & Other Attractions

The a bridge over the moat leading to the ever-iconic Matsumoto Castle in Nagano Prefecture.

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…

  • Donny Kimball
  • October 22, 2020
  • Area Guides

Tokyo’s Top Onsen | The Best Places to Soak on a Rainy Day

Onsen water flows into a hot spring bath in Tokyo

I write this during mid-October in what has been one of the worst years in recent history (a.k.a. 2020). Right now, I should be trying to forget the fact that the entirety of our world has been upended by immersing…

  • Donny Kimball
  • October 15, 2020
  • Area Guides

Kanagawa’s Samukawa Shrine | Backyard Tourism Vol. 8

The main gate leading to Samukawa Shrine's inner areas.

Welcome back to yet another installment of Backyard Tourism. Like all previous articles in this ever-popular series, we’ll be examining an often overlooked part of Japan that many would never consider to have potential for foreign travels. Given the country…

  • Donny Kimball
  • October 9, 2020
  • Area Guides

Aizu-Wakamatsu | See Tsuruga Castle, the Sazaedo & Ouchi-juku

Aizu-Wakamatsu's iconic Tsuruga Castle during the spring while surrounded by cherry blossoms.

When most overseas foreigners think of Fukushima, their thoughts immediately flash to the devastating disasters of March 11, 2011. A decade ago, the prefecture as well as the neighboring regions were hit by a triple punch. This combination, known as…

  • Donny Kimball
  • October 1, 2020
  • Area Guides

Kyoto During the Pandemic | How the Old Capital Used to Be

Ninenzaka in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto without any tourists for once during the pandemic

Note: Sadly, the announcement that Japan’s borders would again open on Oct 11, 2022 brought the fleeting dream of a Kyoto without tourists to an end… It’s no secret that I’ve been very vocal about my animosity for Kyoto. While…

  • Donny Kimball
  • September 25, 2020
  • Area Guides

Hightail to Hyogo | Exploring the Cities of Kobe & Himeji

Kobe Harborland, the seaside port of Kobe City in Hyogo Prefecture

Hail and well met travelers! These days, there’s few out there who haven’t heard of the legendary beef that comes from the Kobe area. Despite the fame of these succulent and savory slices of meat, Kobe and the remainder of…

  • Donny Kimball
  • September 15, 2020
  • Misc. Other

Below the Bar | What I Learned from the Battle of Okehazama

A statue of Oda Nobunaga at the site of the Battle of Okehazama

Man’s life is fifty years.In the universe, what is it but dreams or illusions?Is there any that is born and does not die? — Oda Nobunaga For the longest time, I have had a profound sense of respect for the Japanese warlord Oda…

  • Donny Kimball
  • September 3, 2020
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About A Different Side of Japan
Exploring the sides of Japan that you can't find in any of the mainstream travel guides. Come follow the adventure!

Every week, I publish helpful travel tips and in-depth walkthroughs on how to visit some of the top hidden gems in Japan.

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