JAPAN TRAVEL
The village with more scarecrows than humans
Deep in Tokushima's Iya Valley, in Japan's smallest island Shikoku, lies a village inhabited by more scarecrows than humans — almost a 400 to 30 ratio.
Iya Valley on its own is quite an inaccessible place, with rental cars the best way to ...

More

JAPAN TRAVEL
Delve into this educational hub about Mt. Fuji
The Fujisan World Heritage Center is a visitor information center in Yamanashi Prefecture that provides insights on Mt. Fuji, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Located near Mt. Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes, this center, opened in June 2013, ...

More

JAPAN TRAVEL
Time travel to an Edo Period manor in Kashiwa City
Yoshida-Tei, an Edo Period house a little distance from Kashiwa City’s center, is an architectural treasure that will transport you to another time and a genteel way of life.
The estate was the home of the Yoshida family, the patriar...

More

JAPAN TRAVEL
A history lesson in first and seconds
It took just one hundred and sixty years to transform this sleepy fishing village into the second largest city in Japan.
After two centuries of isolation, Japan pressured by Commodore Matthew C. Perry’s fleet relented and agreed to open four port...

More

JAPAN TRAVEL
A side trip to the back of an elephant
Have you ever heard of the Kumano Kodo? If not, you should definitely check it out. The Kumano Kodo consists of several ancient pilgrimage trails on the largest peninsula of Japan and is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site. These trails h...

More

JAPAN TRAVEL
An architectural treasure in Nagano
Before I pitch a visit to this gem of architectural history, a word of caution: if you like throngs of sightseers, busy souvenir traps and long, clamorous lines outside noodle and ice cream shops, Unnojuku is not the day trip for you.
This old post...

More

JAPAN TRAVEL
Ride the Tokyo Sakura Tram to find a slice of old Tokyo
The Toden Arakawa Line is one of the only remaining streetcars in Tokyo (the other being the Setagaya Line) and the last remaining vestige of the streetcar system that sprawled over Tokyo for the first half of the 1900s.
 
The c...

More

JAPAN TRAVEL
A little bit of the Netherlands in Japan
One of the largest theme parks in Japan is located in southern Kyushu near Nagasaki. In 1609 the Dutch began trading with Japan not far from where Huis Ten Bosch is located.
Huis Ten Bosch means 'house in the woods' and was named after one the...

More

JAPAN TRAVEL
Convenient, refurbished mall at Kawasaki Station
Atre Kawasaki, located within Kawasaki Station in Kanagawa, is a mall that has diverse food and lifestyle options for people passing through the station daily.
 
This newly renovated space that opened in February 2018 introduces three ...

More

JAPAN TRAVEL
Itinerary by train through seven prefectures
Incorporating the stunning Japan Alps, picturesque coastline and historic cities, not to mention a rich cultural and culinary culture, the Hokuriku area is an unmissable part of any Japan trip.
For my latest journey, I bought a Hokuriku Ar...

More