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Japan Travel Tips & Hidden Gems

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Japan Travel Tips & Hidden Gems

  • Misc. Other

On Being a Creator | My Random Musings On the Last 8 Years

Whelp… another 365 days have passed. It’s hard to believe that I am now already 38! Where the hell did the time go? Despite traveling 3–4 days out of every week, I’ve barely made a dent in my ever-growing bucket…

  • Donny Kimball
  • November 21, 2023
  • Area Guides

Heavenly Hida-Takayama | A Famed Part of Gifu Prefecture

Despite using this picture of Nakabashi Bridge and the Miyagawa River for years and having visited Takayama in 2012, I somehow never got around to covering Hida-Takayama and the traditional Japanese Hida-no-Sato folk village until now.

Recently when I was slowly making my way back to Tokyo from Komatsu up in Ishikawa Prefecture, I had the shocking revelation that I’ve yet to feature the famous town of Hida-Takayama on this blog. Despite using a photo of…

  • Donny Kimball
  • November 12, 2023
  • Area Guides

Aichi’s Town of Tokoname | One of Japan’s Top Kilns

The pottery footpath in Tokoname is one of the main highlights in addition to its kiln collection, tea, clay teapot making and other such ceramics. You'll find it in Tokoname City to the south of Tokonyan.

In today’s article, I am going to take you to the artisanal town of Tokoname. Located on the western side of Aichi Prefecture’s Chita Peninsula, Tokoname has long been famous as one of Japan’s six ancient kilns. As far back…

  • Donny Kimball
  • November 4, 2023
  • Area Guides

Come to Sera Kogen | The Highlands of Hiroshima Prefecture

Fields of tulips and other flowers at Sera Plateau in Sera-cho during the early spring. It's located at 3-3 Kamitsuda Sera-cho Sera-gun Hiroshima.

Today, I want to showcase a different side of Hiroshima than most people envision when they think of the prefecture. While the likes of the Atomic Bomb Dome and Miyajima are indeed great (and I do encourage first-timers to Japan…

  • Donny Kimball
  • October 28, 2023
  • Area Guides

Make Time for Tono | Iwate’s Town of Yokai & Folklore

Like with other museums that seek to preserve the vibe of villages, the Tōno Furusato Village in Tono Iwate shows what traditional family life would have been lack back in the beginning of the Edo period (1603–1868).

When I started producing travel content back in the spring of 2016, Iwate’s town of Tono was one place that I knew I was going to need to feature. Known nation-wide for its local legends, Tono has often been described…

  • Donny Kimball
  • October 8, 2023
  • Area Guides

Welcome to Ito | A Hot Spring Town on the Izu Peninsula

The former ryokan of Tokaikan in the center of Izu City

In the years since I started writing about Japan, I’ve been down to the Izu Peninsula a shockingly high number of times. Somehow though, I never managed to make it to Ito. Located a mere stone’s throw past the timeworn…

  • Donny Kimball
  • October 1, 2023
  • Area Guides

Asama-dake Kongosho-ji | The Shield of Ise Jingu

In addition to its main hall called Hondo, Asamadake Kongoshoji Temple is home to a sanctuary called Okunoin. This very unique graveyard is like a miniature temple within the greater grounds of Asamadake Kongoshoji Temple and feels very similar to Koyasan.

It’s been a while since I featured a truly off of the beaten path location so this week, we are going to do just that. The topic of this piece will be the Buddhist temple complex of Kongosho-ji. As you…

  • Donny Kimball
  • September 24, 2023
  • Area Guides

Saruhashi Bridge | One of the Top Three Bridges in Japan

During koyo Saruhashi Bridge is at its best. Though the nearby area has some heavenly hydrangeas during late June, they can't hold a candle to what Saruhashi Bridge looks like when the beautiful autumn leaves are out in full force.

Well folks, it’s that time of year again! As the sultry summer finally comes to a close and the temperatures gradually start to drop, the autumn leaves are again about to grace us with their magnificent presence. Beginning in October,…

  • Donny Kimball
  • September 17, 2023
  • Travel Tips

Japan’s Three Great Unifiers | History Before You Go Vol. 1

Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu, the three great unifiers of Japan.

Japan’s history is a rich and complex tapestry of warriors, emperors, poets, and philosophers. At the core of this narrative is the Warring States period (1467–1603), a time marked by social unrest, political intrigue, and almost ceaseless warfare. During this…

  • Ai Mirai
  • September 11, 2023
  • Area Guides

Takehara City | The “Little Kyoto” of Hiroshima Prefecture

Takehara Hiroshima (meaning "Bamboo Field") is a mercantile town on the Setouchi region of Japan that has a truly historic vibe to it.

Today, I’d like to introduce you to a part of Hiroshima Prefecture that not many tourists know about. Known as Takehara (lit. “Bamboo Field”), this locale was an important port town on the Seto Inland Sea during the Edo period…

  • Donny Kimball
  • September 10, 2023
  • Area Guides

Hangout on Hatsushima | The “Unofficial” First Izu Island

In addition to its Asian Garden R Asia, the Pica Hatsushima Island Resort is also home to some other great options for fun such as Hatsushima Adventure SARUTOBI and Shimano-yu.

Ever since I first visited the timeworn hot spring town of Atami, I’ve wanted to venture out to Hatsushima. Located just off of the coast, this small island is the first of a long chain that collectively is known as…

  • Donny Kimball
  • September 3, 2023
  • Travel Tips

Again & Again | Why You Need to Return to Places in Japan

As I write this, I am on a limited express train heading down from Nagoya to Toba for my 4th meal with the ama divers of Mie Prefecture. Due to escorting some family around (who were unable to visit for…

  • Donny Kimball
  • August 3, 2023
  • Travel Tips

Jiyuseki Tricks | How to Take Advantage of Your Freedom

A bullet train on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line departs from Kanazawa Station for Tokyo. Jiyuseki seats are in the front four cars.

This really shouldn’t come as a surprise given how much I travel, but I take a lot of bullet trains. In fact, when people ask me where I live, I often say that my official address is in Tokyo, but…

  • Donny Kimball
  • July 26, 2023
  • Misc. Other

Spending on Japan | A Rant on My Insane Investing Strategy

Hydrangeas from Donny and Cheesie’s visit to Kamakura in 2021 where the topic of this article first was discovered.

Disclaimer: This is not financial advice… — Donny Kimball It was the summer of 2021 and somehow Cheesie and I found ourselves down in Kamakura for the hydrangeas. At the time, I was just transitioning out of my role as…

  • Donny Kimball
  • July 17, 2023
  • Area Guides

Fukushima’s Iwaki City | An Unsung Side of the Prefecture

In addition to the beaches in Iwaki Fukushima, Spa Resort Hawaiians is one of Iwaki’s most iconic spots and is beloved by the population of Japan.

As many readers will already know, I’ve long been fascinated by Fukushima. Normally neglected by international visitors due to the stigma surrounding the March 11 triple disaster, the prefecture just can’t seem to shake its lingering bad rap. Alas, much…

  • Donny Kimball
  • July 2, 2023
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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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