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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

  • Area Guides

Yasukuni Shrine | Why Western Tourists Should Dare to Visit

The main hall of Tokyo's infamous Yasukuni Shrine

Oh boy… I can already anticipate the negative backlash I am going to get from this one. You see, at least when it comes to international relations, Yasukuni Shrine is about as touchy a subject as they come. For those…

  • Donny Kimball
  • June 21, 2019
  • Area Guides

The Hundred Caves of Yoshimi | My Visit to Japan’s “Cappadocia”

The Hundred Caves of Yoshimi in Saitama Prefecture, the so-called "Cappadocia of Japan"

Let’s face it. Saitama gets a pretty bad rap. Known to many Tokyoites as little more than a lame bedroom community for the capital, the prefecture is rarely something that foreign tourists even consider visiting. As a big fan of…

  • Donny Kimball
  • June 14, 2019
  • Misc. Other

On #DonnyThings | A Rant on Finding Happiness in Life

The sun rises of Lake Suwa in Nagano Prefecture

“Are you really interested in such things?” she asked me, blinking her eyes a few times in bewilderment at my inquiry. In my mind, the question had not been all that out of left field or anything. I mean, what…

  • Donny Kimball
  • May 31, 2019
  • Travel Tips

Share Cycling Across Tokyo | Exploring What’s Between the Stations

One of Docomo’s iconic shared bicycles somewhere in Tokyo

Anyone who has visited Japan before can attest the country has one of the most efficient transportation networks on the planet. This is especially true in the nation’s capital of Tokyo where you can easily get from point A to…

  • Donny Kimball
  • May 24, 2019
  • Area Guides

Meguro Parasitological Museum | Japan’s Strangest Curation

All sorts of parasites inside Meguro's freaky Parasitological Museum in Tokyo

Anyone who has done a bit of digging likely already knows that Japan’s capital features an eclectic selection of museums to choose from. No matter where your interests fall, there’s something for everyone in Tokyo whether you’re a hardcore history…

  • Donny Kimball
  • May 17, 2019
  • Area Guides

Shirahige Shrine | Where to Pray if You Wish to Live Forever

The floating torii gate of Shiga Prefecture’s Shirahige Shrine

“What the hell am I doing!” I quietly bemoaned to myself as I checked Google Maps for the umpteenth time to make sure I was on the correct course. It was late April and I was traveling the upper rural…

  • Donny Kimball
  • May 10, 2019
  • Travel Tips

Japan’s Golden Week | Avoid this Peak Travel Period

The flag of Japan and a chalkboard that reads Golden Week

It’s the very beginning of May and for the first time in longer than I can remember, I actually have nothing pressing to do. As I write this, I’m lazily lounging about in one of Tokyo’s many Starbucks. All around…

  • Donny Kimball
  • May 3, 2019
  • Area Guides

Osaka’s Daisen Kofun | Behold Emperor Nintoku’s Mausoleum

An artist’s arial rendition of Emperor Nintoku’s Daisen Kofun mausoleum and the Mozu Tomb Cluster in Sakai, Osaka

As much as it pains me to write this, I absolutely loathe Osaka these days. This is really saying something as the city once ranked among my all-time favorite places to party. Sadly, much like Kyoto sitting only 30 minutes…

  • Donny Kimball
  • April 26, 2019
  • Area Guides

Chiba’s Nokogiriyama | Scaling “Sawtooth Mountain”

The Jigoku Nozoki or "Hell's Lookout" on Nokogiriyama in Chiba Prefecture

While it pains me greatly to write this, the only place in Chiba Prefecture that most foreign tourists ever really visit is Narita International Airport. This is a real shame as the region is nothing short of a treasure trove…

  • Donny Kimball
  • April 19, 2019
  • Area Guides

Nakano Broadway | Tokyo’s Alternative Nerd Wonderland

A collection of anime figures at Tokyo’s Nakano Broadway

If you have any pride at all as a fan of anime and manga, you must have heard of the legendary area of Tokyo known as Akihabara by now. After all, this place is basically the geek capital of the…

  • Donny Kimball
  • April 19, 2019
  • Area Guides

Mie Prefecture | A Once in a Lifetime Journey in Japan

The famous Meoto Iwa off of the coast of Mie Prefecture.

For the longest time, I have actively asserted that Kanagawa is the most well-rounded of all the prefectures. Between the history of Kamakura, the hot springs and nature of Hakone, and the urban landscape of Yokohama, there’s little that this…

  • Donny Kimball
  • April 5, 2019
  • Area Guides

Saga Prefecture | An Area Guide for Fans of Ceramics, Sake & Foxes

A porcelain bridge spans a river, connecting the hidden village of Okawachiyama with the mountain road.

Welcome back to another Japan area guide. As always, I’ll be going incredibly deep to ensure that you, the reader, are equipped with all that you need to know to get off the beaten path. Today we’ll be taking a…

  • Donny Kimball
  • March 29, 2019
  • Area Guides

Charming Himeshima | Oita’s Bucolic “Island of Princesses”

Himeshima's Sennin-do Buddhist hall set against the backdrop of the setting sun

In my journeys across Japan, I have come across two distinct types of places. On the one hand, there are hidden gems like Kanazawa or Atami that are very popular with Japanese tourists but have yet to establish much notoriety…

  • Donny Kimball
  • March 22, 2019
  • Travel Tips

Teetotaling in Japan | What to do When you Don’t Want to Drink

Someone pours sake into a small drinking cup for another person in Tokyo

Today’s post is one of those articles that hits home pretty hard. As anyone who has visited Japan in the past can attest, this country is very much like heaven on earth for tipplers. Regardless of whether it’s 2:00 PM…

  • Donny Kimball
  • March 15, 2019
  • Travel Tips

Ballin’ on a Budget | How to Travel Cheaply in Japan

A poor visitor to Japan tries to enjoy the country on a budget

If you’ve been dreaming of traveling to Japan, chances are you’ve seen some spectacular imagery. These days, social media is littered with shots of spacious rooms at luxurious ryokan, verdant foliage, exquisite kaiseki ryori course meals, and bullet trains whizzing…

  • Donny Kimball
  • March 8, 2019
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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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