Japan Travel Tips & Hidden Gems
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…
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…
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…
Welcome back to yet another one of my Japan area guides. Like with all other installments, we’ll be taking a look at an oft-neglected part of the country. This time, the topic at hand will be Wakayama’s hot spring town…
“I’m pretty sure that by now, I can hit the age verification button at every convenience store chain with my eyes closed…” — Donny Kimball Greetings dear readers! In a second, I’ll get to how Kumano Nachi Taisha and the gods of…
Welcome back to another off-of-the-beaten-path adventure in Japan. This time, we’ll be taking a look at Oiwa Shrine. Located up in the northernmost part of Ibaraki Prefecture, this sanctum has existed deep in the mountains of the Hitachi Alps since…
As anyone who has ever had the pleasure of visiting Japan during the sultry months of summer already knows, things can get downright unbearable here. In addition to the intense heat, the humidity combines with the sweltering temperatures to create…
For some time, I’ve been wondering why I adore traveling in Japan SO much. In one sense, this should be self-evident; after all, Japan is, hands down, the best place on the planet. And so, it only makes sense that…
Despite being one of the most popular places in all of Japan, few international visitors realize that Kyoto City itself is but one part of a much, much larger prefecture. Confusingly called Kyoto Prefecture, this slot of land is simply…
These days, almost everyone has heard of Nagano. Thanks to its capital city being the host of the 1998 Winter Olympics, this part of central Japan has a lot of recognition internationally (even among those who have never visited the…
Today, I want to take a second to introduce a pair of attractions from my adventures this spring. Known as the Hitome Senbonzakura and Funaoka Castle Ruins Park, this duo of destinations can be found up in the southernmost portions…
Lately, the many spots for cherry blossoms in northern Japan’s Tohoku region have been getting more and more attention. Perhaps partially due to my incessant promotion of places like the ever-amazing Hirosaki Castle Park, I am now seeing a lot…
Today, I’d like to introduce you to yet another part of Japan that is amazing during the springtime. Locally known as the Kumagaya Sakura Tsutsumi, this hidden gem can be found up in Saitama Prefecture along the Arakawa riverbank. Every…
Today, I’d like to introduce you all to a cherry blossom spot that most overseas visitors to Japan have never even heard of. Referred to in Japanese as the Senbonzakura of Torayama (lit. “The 1,000 Cherry Blossom Trees of Mt.…
At least insomuch as my own personal outings have been concerned, the 2023 cherry blossom season has largely been a wet one. I guess that is part and parcel of being what the Japanese call an ame-otoko (lit. “rainy guy”).…