Japan Travel Tips & Hidden Gems
What’s up my nerds and nerdettes? Did you know that the word “otaku” actually originally referred only to people who were just really into electronic gadgets? Only thereafter did it started to be applied to things like hardcore fans of…
Located deep in northern Japan, Yamagata Prefecture was once the kind of place that rarely welcomed foreign tourists. For years, it flew almost entirely under the radar, known mainly to domestic travelers and the occasional adventurous visitor. These days, however,…
This is a good question; perhaps, THE question. Dictionary.com defines culture as: “The quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc.” — Dictionary.com More…
As you may have gleaned from the headline, today we’ll be journeying back to one of my all time favorite spots in Japan, Kamakura. I’ve traversed many of Japan’s diverse prefectures but few places have managed to so capture my…
Quick! Name the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word Tokyo. If, like most people, you didn’t immediately think of hiking or mountains, well then I have a bit of a surprise for you. You see,…
Have you ever heard of “industrial tourism?” Yeah, I didn’t think so… Truth be told, I hadn’t encountered the term either until recently when I was invited by the government to go check out Aichi Prefecture’s budding scene. According to…
One of the most peculiar things about Japan’s many tourism assets is the fact that a significant number of them are situated far away from metropolitan centers. While cities like Tokyo and Kyoto have large concentrations of venues to experience,…
“You what?!?!” Looking up across the table, I could see utensils paused halfway between plates and mouths as their holders stared at me, jaws agape. I was home in America for the holidays and I could tell that I had…
Ah, Nikko… Few popular locations are simultaneously both well-known by many tourists and at the same time so egregiously misunderstood. On that note, I’d like to welcome you back to another installment of my area guides. I’ll be diving into…
“Donny, why is it that you focus on off the beaten path destinations?” — Everyone Truth be told, I must get this question several times per week in one form or another. After all, aren’t the majority of tourists interested…
Several astute readers have noticed lately that I have been trying to focus on establishing distinct tourism destinations. While locales such as Kamakura, Hakone, and Nikko linger on the radars of more informed foreign visitors, they are rarely, if ever,…
Ahhh Christmas… cue the traditional festivities, costly shopping, Christmas melodies, glittering lights, and…KFC?!?! What the hell? Yes you read that right! Christmas in Japan is definitely a different beast when compared to Western countries. From good gone bad to straight-up…
Can you identify the differences between a shrine and a temple? With few exceptions, virtually all visitors to Japan include a visit to one or the other on their itineraries. After all, the traditional architecture is timelessly picturesque and appeals…
The island of Miyajima is one of the most popular attractions in all of Japan. Located to the west of Hiroshima city, the island welcomes boatloads of tourists every day (and even its own Starbucks as of 2017). The island…
I was getting visibly uncomfortable… For several minutes, the museum attendant had been trying to tell a group of tourists in broken English that photos were not allowed. As is sometimes the case, they weren’t having any of it and…