We’ll round out this miniseries on tea with a family friendly activity in Shizuoka. You might remember Kanaya station from the post a few days ago on the Oigawa Railway. A short taxi ride in the other direction from the station brings you to Greenpia Makinohara.
Shizuoka Prefecture is well known for its tea fields – especially with the iconic Mt Fuji looming over them – but if you happen to be traveling the southern reaches of Japan instead, you can get your tea fix at the Yame Central Tea Garden in southern Fukuoka Prefecture. Admittedly, the name is a bit … Continue reading »
You might think I am deviating from the theme of tea, after promising more entries on Japan’s “green gold” last week. However, this unique experience will have you riding through some of Shizuoka’s most picturesque tea growing regions.
Though Starbucks has indeed invaded the Japanese archipelago, this country has traditionally run on tea. Since its importation from China sometime in the 9th century, tea has become the drink of choice, the gatorade of the samurai class and the Miller Lite of the masses.
It’s time I branched out from the Tokyo neighborhoods I’ve been covering in this series and start introducing some other cities. So, on to Kyoto, a city that I just can’t seem to get enough of lately. I was just up there in March and already I am scheming on how to go back before … Continue reading »
It’s nearly iris time again here in Japan. I love how Japanese seasons – even specific months or weeks really – can be determined by what’s in bloom. The azaleas are currently ablaze on the hillsides and the wild wisteria are just reaching their end. Still, with a lifelong love of the color purple, I … Continue reading »
In my life, I have lived in two societies that had set vacation times. In France, everyone would hightail it from the cities to the coasts for nearly the entire month of August. And in Japan, the week of April 29-May 5 is practically labeled “national vacation week”. Golden Week is made up of four individual … Continue reading »
My local neighborhood market has been having a run on strawberries lately. Granted, these red gems made their entrance to the fruit/produce area back in January, but as of late, the deal of ¥100 a basket has been too good to pass up. There’s nothing like a box of fruit delivered practically to your doorstep, but … Continue reading »
Most foreigners think of sushi when they think of Japanese cuisine, but noodles are an extremely popular item here. There are your standard cold soba (buckwheat) noodles, your thick wheaty udon noodles (often served with tofu or vegetables) … and then there is ramen. Nothing starts an argument faster in Japan than proclaiming one type … Continue reading »
A few months ago, I reported on what I considered the most beautiful festivals I’ve stumbled across to date in Japan – the Yamaga Winter Lantern Festival. Before it got too dark that day, I managed to shoot this very artistic manhole cover in the center of town: Yamaga is not only known for its … Continue reading »
