Japan Travel Tips & Hidden Gems
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…
Hail and well met travelers! These days, there’s few out there who haven’t heard of the legendary beef that comes from the Kobe area. Despite the fame of these succulent and savory slices of meat, Kobe and the remainder of…
Let’s get one thing straight. I absolutely loathe ninja, at least so much as they are portrayed in popular culture. won’t bore you with the details of how these stealthy warriors, also known as “shinobi,” managed to seep into Hollywood…
“While this article was originally written during the pandemic, all of the locations and information featured are still valid…” — Donny Kimball Greetings readers! I hope you’re all safe and staying sane. As I write this, most of the world is currently…
Grizzled veterans of Japan travel are likely cringing right now. Really, Donny? Mt. Koya? I thought you focused exclusively on off the beaten path destinations. What gives? Hasn’t this mountaintop Buddhist enclave gotten enough attention already? Honestly, here the answer…
Admittedly, I am a bit of a history buff and love to study the annals of Japan’s past. Alas, as a busy freelance digital marketer, I often don’t have the time to sit down and pour over original source material.…
Ah, Osaka… Neon lights, takoyaki and beautiful natural vistas. Wait, what? Hold on a minute! Since when was Osaka home to anything even resembling Mother Nature? Well, as it turns out, for eons. You see, while Osaka is far more…
Not too long ago, I found myself yet again in the vicinity of Osaka. Alas, this time, I was not traveling for pleasure as I usually do. Instead, I had made the trek down from Tokyo with a couple of…
“What the hell am I doing!” I quietly bemoaned to myself as I checked Google Maps for the umpteenth time to make sure I was on the correct course. It was late April and I was traveling the upper rural…
As much as it pains me to write this, I absolutely loathe Osaka these days. This is really saying something as the city once ranked among my all-time favorite places to party. Sadly, much like Kyoto sitting only 30 minutes…
For the longest time, I have actively asserted that Kanagawa is the most well-rounded of all the prefectures. Between the history of Kamakura, the hot springs and nature of Hakone, and the urban landscape of Yokohama, there’s little that this…
As long time readers, you may have noticed by now that I typically try to steer clear of introducing attractions in Kyoto. For one, the city tends to be overcrowded with visitors to the point where it has become akin…
Much like everyone else on this planet, I absolutely love Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Taisha. Anyone who has visited knows there is just something ethereally awesome about that endless array of torii gates that is difficult to capture in words. However,…