JAPAN TRAVEL
Saving the world with sweet bean paste and love
Kochi is sometimes referred to as the "Manga Kingdom" of Japan due to the large number of well known manga artists who were born here. Perhaps one of the most famous manga from Kochi is also now a popular anime: Anpanman. This is a tale...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Shared house in Tokyo neighbourhood, Higashikoganei
Tucked away in the peaceful and friendly neighborhood of Higashi Koganei is Oakhouse accomodation: Higako Sports.  Higashi Koganei itself is a lovely neighborhood with a fantastic park nearby, quaint local restaurants, and even home...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
A hot spring theme park perfect for onsen beginners
The Ooedo Onsen Monogatari is a lavish hot spring theme park on Odaiba. It is a great place for the uninitiated to first experience a Japanese hot spring bath, and is also a fun, special treat for people of all ages.
Opened in 2003,...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
A Rverside Cafe in Rural Kochi
The rural town of Kami in Kochi Prefecture is best known for its Anpanman Museum. What it doesn't have in spades are enticing eateries, at least not that I could tell. So when I saw the signs for a cafe and onsen on the other side of the town's river, I...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Shopping—and home of Odaiba's only Shinto shrine?
Even in a city like Tokyo, putting two huge shopping centres directly next to each other seems, to me, like a little bit of overkill - even more so when they're sharing a train station, a boardwalk and a fairly good portion of beachfr...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Step Back in Time Into This Beautiful Studio Museum
One of my favourite parts of Tokyo is Yanaka, with its quiet atmosphere, quaint old shopping street, and dozens of tranquil temples and shrines. A short walk from Nippori station, the Asakura Museum of Sculpture is another of the ar...

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ROCKET NEWS
In Tokyo, there’s a very special type of Starbucks that forgoes the usual green-and-white mermaid logo for more subdued, warm-brown hues. They also serve a variety of beers and wine sets paired with cheese or cake.
Called “Inspired by Starbucks”, only four of these special cafes exist...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Wonderful Farmhouse and Ideal Base for Climbing Mt. Yufu
If you are looking for an alternative to Beppu, I can only highly recommend the wonderful onsen (hot spring) village Yufu City (or Yufuin in Japanese).
I have to say that during our trip through Northern Kyushu my husband and I...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
One of Japan's Most Beautiful Waterfalls
Ibaraki’s famous Fukuroda Falls is located near the northern city of Daigo, roughly two hours’ drive from the capital of Mito. As it has been named as one of the three most beautiful waterfalls in Japan there is never a bad time to come take i...

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ROCKET NEWS
When you hear the word “piranha,” the image that comes to your mind may be of hordes of vicious fish with razor-sharp teeth stripping you down to your bones in a matter of minutes.
But it seems the tables will be turned for a limited time at the Suma Aqualife Park in Kobe, where guest...

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