JAPAN TRAVEL
Historic green tea cultivation region with a view
Green tea is one of Japan’s most representative products—and one of its most delicious. Green tea used to be such a prized commodity that it was used as a form of taxation in the late 1700s. One of the most prominent tea regions is Sh...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Old Tiger Henro eats eye candy
A little hunger never hurt anyone. Or so I told myself when I reached my hotel in Hiwasa, severely hungry, to discover my longed for dinner needed to be reserved at 11 am. I was too late! I was immersed in a gorgeous seascape, but can anyone, apart from...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
A cornucopia of cakes and desserts in Jiyugaoka
It’s a hot, humid day in Jiyugaoka, and I’m desperately trying to search for a specific restaurant. I can’t find it, and I’m losing hope. Then, in the distance, I spot a bright pink sign which promises sweets, cakes, and dessert delight...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Dye your blues away at the Iyo-Kasuri Kaikan
Shikoku is home to many talented craftspeople. Some of Shikoku’s most famous and enduring crafts include Awagami (Tokushima washi paper), Tobeyaki (Tobe’s distinctive blue pottery), and Iyo-Kasuri (hand-woven, blue patterned fabric).
 
The...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Dine with one of Tokyo’s leading chefs at L’Effervescence
An unassuming building in the residential streets of Minato is home to one of Japan’s most celebrated restaurants.
In 2010, chef Shinobu Namae opened L’Effervescence, tucked between the glamorous luxury brand flagships of Omot...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Scenic views in Ota City
Senzoku-ike is located in Northern Ota Ward, six stops from Ikegami Station. The area is named after the famous Buddhist priest Nichiren Shonin who washed his feet here on his way to Ikegami Temple. Senzoku literally means “washing your feet” which is exactly...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
One of the top sushi restaurants in JapanKameki Sushi (亀喜寿司) is touted as one of the top sushi restaurants in Japan, with Japan's elite often stopping by here when they venture north of Tokyo. It also features on the local government's 'Sushi Road' of establishments serving fresh...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
A shrine dedicated to the Japanese deity of education
Tenjin originally meant “Heavenly God” but later came to refer to the spirit of scholar Sugawara Michizane (845-903). Dazaifu Tenmangu is dedicated to the spirit of Sugawara. Michizane was born in Kyoto in 845 into a family of edu...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
 Exercising raw fish restraintI always lean on locals when it comes to advice on where to eat, and Kushiro has been no exception. I was fortunate in that my contact at my accommodation, the ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Kushiro, is Megumi, who was able to provide helpful advice and did so w...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
 The story of Japan's red-crowned crane The “God of the Marsh”, the “Red Crowns”, or simply, the Japanese Crane - who can deny the beauty of their red on white plumage, graceful bearing and hypnotic pair dance?
The crane has traditionally played an important part in Japanese culture,...

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