Japan Travel Tips & Hidden Gems
Hey everyone! Did you know that this year (2018) actually marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of modern-day Tokyo? That’s right! It was just a mere century and a half ago that the Tokugawa shogunate’s stronghold of Edo was…
Today we’ll be taking a look at one of my all-time favorite hidden gems that is rarely, if ever, featured in the English language media. Known as Mitsumine Shrine, this mountaintop sanctuary can be found in the densely forested ridges…
Are you on a diet or trying to eat more healthy? Well then, let me be frank, and say that this post is DEFINITELY not for you! Instead, I’ll direct you to this one which details how I lost over…
Dear passengers in transit to Asia & those flying out of Narita… Did you know that the area surrounding one of the major entry points to Japan is actually host to an impressive collection of attractions and adventures? That’s right…
Are you sick and tired of Tokyo’s neon-lit concrete jungle? Well, I’ve got just the day-long excursion for you! Known as Chichibu, this idyllic destination is located to the northwest of the capital up in Saitama Prefecture. Though often looked…
As you may have gleaned from the headline, today we’ll be journeying back to one of my all time favorite spots in Japan, Kamakura. I’ve traversed many of Japan’s diverse prefectures but few places have managed to so capture my…
Quick! Name the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word Tokyo. If, like most people, you didn’t immediately think of hiking or mountains, well then I have a bit of a surprise for you. You see,…
Ah, Nikko… Few popular locations are simultaneously both well-known by many tourists and at the same time so egregiously misunderstood. On that note, I’d like to welcome you back to another installment of my area guides. I’ll be diving into…
Several astute readers have noticed lately that I have been trying to focus on establishing distinct tourism destinations. While locales such as Kamakura, Hakone, and Nikko linger on the radars of more informed foreign visitors, they are rarely, if ever,…
This week, we are traveling back in time to follow the footsteps of Nikko’s founder, the Buddhist saint Shodo Shonin. Unfortunately, the vast majority of travelers to Nikko gloss over this hidden narrative and instead make a beeline for the…
And… we are off on another adventure! In this article we’ll take a look at one of my favorite hidden gems, Kashima Jingu. Much like Nagoya’s Atsuta Jingu, this ancient shrine hides a long-forgotten legacy. The shrine lays claim to…
The bayside city of Yokohama is one of my all time favorite getaways from Tokyo. While I often head out to the prefectures for much needed retreats, Yokohama has been my go-to choice for an urban escape for quite a…
When it comes to visiting a medieval military stronghold in Japan, most tourists tend to conjure thoughts of the Osaka and Himeji Castle. While these fortresses are definitely worth visiting, they are located to the west in the Kansai region…
Themed dining experience are one of the things that Tokyo has no shortage of. Sadly though, the foreign media tend to only focus on a few places such as the Robot Restaurant or the Kawaii Monster Cafe (which both tragically…
Welcome back to another one of my area guides where I detail all the things you need to know for a successful, hassle free trip! This time, we’ll be looking at the charming Hakone area in the western reaches of…