Japan Travel Tips & Hidden Gems
Somewhere off the beaten path… well off the beaten path… lie the remains of a dilapidated Inari shrine that’s nestled within the hills near the base in Yokosuka. This hidden gem is known as Fushimi Hakuseki Inari Shrine and is…
It often seems almost every place in Japan is famous for SOMETHING. Over the years, regional cultural quirks have combined with geographical features to produce a surprisingly wide variety of local specialties. Though many outsiders often mistake Japan as homogeneous,…
Today, we will be journeying back up north to the capital of Ibaraki Prefecture for a hidden gem that is often overlooked, the city of Mito. Though firmly located off the beaten path, Mito is by no means a “countryside”…
How in the nine hells did a piece of what was once a massive fortress in central Tokyo make its way to neighboring Saitama Prefecture? Let’s unravel this mystery by starting with a brief historical overview. Today we will be…
When most people start searching for ancient shrines and temples their thoughts immediately turn to Kyoto. I mean, why not? After all, the city is famous for being known around the globe as the “old capital” Nevertheless, those on the…
In the spring of 2017 the city of Nikko finally finished refurbishing the Toshogu Shrine where the legendary founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, Tokugawa Ieyasu, is enshrined. The refurbished Yomeimon gate, which is registered as a national treasure, is absolutely…
Japan’s Strangest Celebration MAJOR DISCLAIMER! This post is obviously not safe to read at the office or near your grandmother. I take no responsibility for any of the consequences that might stem from the consumption of the following text. That…
When I tell people that some of the BEST ramen I’ve ever had was actually in the bowels of a monolithic train station, they tend to give a inquisitive look at best. Who can blame them? They must think of…
Today we’ll be exploring of one of Yokohama’s best kept secrets and one that many Tokyoites are oblivious to. Noge is a hidden gem sandwiched between the bustling business and entertainment district of Minato Mirai (a popular date spot) and…
Ever since hitting up Kusatsu Onsen, I’ve been on a real hot spring kick. I have been visiting as many onsen as time allows. As such you can imagine my delight when I found that Azabu Juban, an area I…
Hanami (lit. “flower viewing”) is the traditional annual Japanese custom of enjoying the transience of the country’s legendary cherry blossoms or sakura as the locals call them. Every year, beginning in the latter half of March, Japan’s sakura emerge from…
Nestled 1,200 meters above sea level in the mountains of Gunma Prefecture, the rustic town of Kusatsu Onsen is a hidden gem that goes unnoticed by many visitors to Japan. Considered to be a top hot spring in Japan, its…
Today we are going to take a look at one of my favorite little hidden gems in Tokyo, Atago shrine. There’s really not that much to see at this centrally located shrine so it will be a relatively short post.…
Most would venture to guess that Osaka is Japan’s second biggest city. But, in fact that title belongs to Yokohama. Yokohama is located a mere thirty minutes southwest of the Tokyo megalopolis and stands in stark contrast to its older…
“A civilization stands or falls by the degree to which drink has entered the lives of its people, and from that point of view Japan must rank very high among the civilizations of the world,” — Yoshida Kenichi Booze, hooch, sauce — call…