Sharing favorite finds from across the archipelago
A handful of new art museums opened in Tokyo this past year, and one that immediately went to the top of my list was the Mori Building Digital Art Museum Epson teamLab Borderless … whew. Let's just call it teamLab from here on out, as most people do, and make all our lives easier. teamLab... Continue Reading →
It's been a few days since we arrived back in Japan and settling into life in Tokyo once more is like slipping back into your favorite pajamas - familiar and comfortable. With cheek numbingly brisk weather this week, it seemed a good time to head out and reacquaint myself with some of the city's (well-heated)... Continue Reading →
Japan is chock full of temples and shrines and frankly, not all of them are worth adding to your itinerary. In some cases, they're too old or run-down or out of the way to make the effort. In other instances, visiting in one season may leave a bland impression ... while visiting at just that perfect... Continue Reading →
Back in the Edo Period (1603-1868), the city of Edo (now called Tokyo) became the de facto capital of Japan. While Kyoto remained the cultural capital, the administration of the Tokugawa Shiogun operated out of Edo. Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun, had already unified much of Japan; his descendants strengthened the ties between the various... Continue Reading →
There's a new museum in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward, just a block from the well-known Robot Restaurant. The Tokyo Samurai Museum only opened in late 2015, but already, it has managed to attract a small crowd of international visitors. The Samurai Museum is the creation of a private collector who wanted to share his passion for samurai... Continue Reading →
As of today, I think it's safe to say that we're wrapping up sakura season 2016. Whew! I have to say I'm a bit relieved. I've been running around like a madwoman this past week (hence the lack of blogging!), attempting to capture the fleeting beauty both for my own personal collection and for one... Continue Reading →
Japan has a lot of iconic sights (Golden Pavilion, Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Shibuya Scramble) but few are more instantly recognizable than the view of a snow-capped Mt Fuji from the viewpoint just behind the red and white trimmed Chureito Pagoda. Yet for such a famous panorama, it took a lot to track down the... Continue Reading →
The days surrounding the New Year are a remarkably difficult time to travel in Japan and yet for some reason last month, I went ahead and planned a trip anyway. I really should have known better but I was certain that something would be open in the city of Niigata, where we were to spend December... Continue Reading →
We're just back from a weekend in Gunma Prefecture, admittedly my first to that part of Japan. The weather started off a bit rainy but cleared by noon on Saturday and stayed brilliant throughout the rest of the weekend. Thank goodness, as the foliage in some parts of Gunma is already at its peak and... Continue Reading →
It's nearly Tsukimi (moon viewing) here in Japan and we've just celebrated the autumnal equinox today. I've been praying for a lessening of the near constant rain lately so I can make the trek out to Kinchakuda in Saitama. If you're a flower lover (or just someone who appreciates stunning natural scenery), this out-of-the-way park... Continue Reading →
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