JAPAN TRAVEL
The forest of the bodhisattvas
Usuki is an old castle town about an hour's train ride south of Oita, Japan. It is surely one of the prettiest places in the prefecture, if not on the entire island of Kyushu. The castle environs include Meiji-era homes, and everywhere along the narrow ...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Whales of August cocktail bar in Shibuya
Planning to enjoy the exciting nightlife of Japan? Stuck on somewhere to go? Whales of August just may be the place you are looking for.
This quaint and hidden bar in the backstreets of Shibuya is the perfect place if you are looking for somew...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Majestic views from Kyoto's day trip ski resort
The lovely cities in Kansai rarely get an abundance of snow in winter, if at all. To find a white wonderland, we need to go high up to the mountains. The thing is, not every mountain has snow, and some of the ski resorts closest to the ...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Healthy Ramen on the East side of the island
One of the best things about food in Okinawa is the amount of accessible Ramen or noodle shops on the island. If you like ramen, Taketora is a great idea for a relaxing lunch or dinner. Luckily, my husband and I love ramen so we were very ...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
A Kumamoto town lights up its winter nights
Venue: Yamaga When: Feb 3rd - Feb 25th 2018,  5:00pm - 10:00pm
While the small city of Yamaga is best known for its summertime Obon lantern festival, the month of February sees the streets lit up in beautiful fashion.
Several blocks along Y...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
New vegetarian menu available at classy restaurant
Nestled on the fifth floor of AO Building—a short walk from Tokyo's Omotesando Station—is TWO ROOMS Grill | Bar, an elegant restaurant offering lunch and dinner menus curated by the seasons.
 
In January, TWO ROOMS launched their fir...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Tokugawa Ieyasu lives, and his message is one of peace
Several years ago I was perusing traditional crafts at the Japan Pavilion of a Las Vegas trade convention when a minor disturbance caused me to glance over my shoulder.
A tall Japanese man in lordly samurai garb had appeared upon...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
One of Hiroshima's most loved annual events
Venue: Miyajima Island When: Feb 10th - Feb 11th 2018,  10:00am - 3:00pm
The oyster (kaki 牡蠣) festival on Miyajima island is held each year in February during oyster season. It's right next to the ferry port and a no-brainer if you are in...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
A great place to enjoy ski, snowboard and relax after
Many places in Japan are well known for great powder to ski or snowboard, yet somehow, Iwate is often overlooked for more popular places like Hokkaido or Nagano. Iwate has over a dozen great places to enjoy, 19 in all, there's cer...

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JAPAN TRAVEL
Mouth-watering sushi at Haneda Airport
 
Ariso Sushi is not the average sushi parlour you see on every corner in Japan. Located at Haneda Airport's International Terminal, this restaurant is perfect for people craving a final taste of delectable sushi before they leave Japan, or thos...

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