Japan Travel Tips & Hidden Gems
In my many travels across Japan, I’ve visited A LOT of shrines. Though I’ve certainly been moved by many of these Shinto sanctuaries over the years, none ever managed to bring me to tears. That all changed recently when I…
These days, it would be hard to find anyone who hasn’t heard of Kyoto.. That said, there’s so much more to the prefecture than just what most people envision when they think of the ancient capital. Today we’ll be taking…
The other week, I found myself in Kyoto for client-related work reasons. While I’d of course not pass up the chance to enjoy the city’s cherry blossoms, the primary purpose of my trip was professional. Still, I am a travel…
Unfortunately, most overseas visitors to Japan only ever experience Nara as a day-long excursion from Osaka or Kyoto. As soon as these travelers arrive in the city, they make a beeline for attractions like Todai-ji’s Daibutsu and the venerable Kasuga…
Today, I’d like to introduce you to Omiwa Shrine, a spiritual sanctuary that has long been on my bucket list. Found in the southern portions of Nara Prefecture, this ancient sepulcher is regularly considered to be Japan’s oldest shrine. The…
Just recently, I had a harrowing realization while reviewing the locations that I’ve covered here on this blog thus far. Somehow, I had managed to skip featuring Shiga Prefecture’s charming town of Nagahama. Despite spending my most formative years nearby…
For someone like myself claiming a serious addiction to Japan, there are countless areas in this amazing country that I treasure. For example, the northern Tohoku region will always hold a special place in my heart. Home to sacred sites…
Ever since I started producing travel content in 2016 (and indeed even before that), I have wanted to check out Wakayama Prefecture’s three ancient Kumano shrines. Allegedly dating back to before the founding of the Yamato polity and the imperial…
“This is really taking a long time…” I thought to myself while sitting on the Hashidate №1 limited express train bound for Kyoto’s Amanohashidate. Due to the heavy rains, my departure had been delayed by over an hour now. Little…
“While this article was originally written during the pandemic, all of the locations and information featured are still valid…” — Donny Kimball Over the years, I’ve been quite weary of visiting Japan’s former capital. Simply put, the place has been overrun with…
“I am going to burn them with the flames of war and let the true Buddha be called forth from these ashes!” — Oda Nobunaga Imagine this. You’ve just consolidated control over most of Japan but there’s still a constant thorn in…
“While this article was originally written during the pandemic, all of the locations and information featured are still valid…” — Donny Kimball It’s really no secret that I’ve not been a fan of Kyoto over the years. Though I am sympathetic towards…
Standing alone in the middle of a secluded forest, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by a sense of something supernatural. Just before me was a behemoth-sized boulder known as the Itto-seki that had been split down the middle in…
If you’ve been following me for a half year or so, you’ll know that I once foolishly tried to take on most of Hyogo Prefecture in a single outing. While I hit many of the main stops on that overly…
Note: Sadly, the announcement that Japan’s borders would again open on Oct 11, 2022 brought the fleeting dream of a Kyoto without tourists to an end… It’s no secret that I’ve been very vocal about my animosity for Kyoto. While…