Sharing favorite finds from across the archipelago
Fire trucks hold a fascination for certain segments of the population - mainly little boys and spotted Dalmations. My offspring had never shown much interest in them when she was younger, so I was a bit nervous when I suggested a summer excursion for my daughter and her (female) friend to check out the Fire... Continue Reading →
Japan is full of densha otaku (train fans), but you don't have to be one to enjoy this hands-on museum in the Tokyo "suburb" of Omiya dedicated to all things railway-related. The Omiya Railway Museum opened in 2007 in one of Tokyo's largest bedroom communities just across the border in Saitama Prefecture. The museum sprawls over... Continue Reading →
Some travel professionals will try to convince you that there are a host of activities to do with kids in Kyoto. I have decided that these well-intentioned travel professionals don't have kids of their own 🙂 Kyoto is a city that has fascinating temples and shrines, beautiful gardens and delicious food. But in all honesty,... Continue Reading →
The weather this past weekend was perfect, not too cold and with clear blue skies. The sudden severe chill of the end of last week has lifted and we're blessed with what looks like at least another week of temperatures in the 50s (that's Fahrenheit, remember 😉 ). Taking advantage of that, my family and... Continue Reading →
Last month, my lack of preparation for the September Silver Week holiday (a move, two major summer trips, a new apartment in Tokyo ... yup, totally slipped my mind!) saw me hanging out in Tokyo with my daughter for the duration while my husband was off hiking the Japan Alps. Normally I'd be jealous of... Continue Reading →
When we were up north earlier this month, we were lucky enough to catch the Neputa Festival in Hirosaki, which I highly recommend to anyone of any age. But if you're in Hirosaki outside of the festival dates (August 1st-7th), make sure to swing by the Neputa Mura, the "village" that houses some former Neputa... Continue Reading →
In the past few years, my family and I have been frequent visitors to Sasebo, a seaside city in Nagasaki Prefecture. In all that time, however, we had never once stopped into the Huis Ten Bosch complex, a Dutch-themed amusement park just a few kilometers below the city. "Dutch?", you may be asking yourselves? But in... Continue Reading →
I am admittedly not a fan of bus tours. I usually find them too impersonal and too tied into the mainstream itineraries. But when I saw an ad for a ninja and samurai themed bus tour in my favorite Tokyo neighborhood of Asakusa, I knew we had to give it a whirl on our trip... Continue Reading →
If you're a longtime reader of this blog, you may be aware that I have a four-year-old daughter. You may also have gathered that she is a BIG fan of Anpanman, the animated television superhero who saves the world with his bean-paste-filled head. Trust me, I know it sounds bizarre, but it does eventually grow on you.... Continue Reading →
My daughter turns four years old next week (eeek!) and my husband and I have been debating gifts for her. My husband has been lobbying hard for a set of Legos for a few months now. Our daughter likes to build with blocks but I can't help but think the Lego push is more on... Continue Reading →
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