Discoveries from around the archipelago
Tokyo has no shortage of museums and cultural institutions to explore. For most visitors passing through the city in just a few short days, these excellent, well-curated displays compete for time with other muse-see sites and experiences, often coming out on the short end of the stick. But for those planning to be in Tokyo... Continue Reading →
October 1st is a great day to be in Tokyo. The city celebrates Tokyo Citizens' Day by opening up numerous attractions to the public for free. If you've always wanted to see the capital's best museums, zoos, aquariums and gardens, now's your chance to do it for no charge. Many of Tokyo's top sites can... Continue Reading →
A friend of a friend recently contacted me and mentioned she was coming to Japan. She had never been before and wanted to know "What can I expect?" Life has been busy but i wanted to honor her request so I sat down and quickly typed out the following thoughts. It's based mostly on my... Continue Reading →
As Japan welcomes spring with flowers and festivals, a whole range of benefits for travelers also seem to be cropping up. I know I usually mention travel developments in a post at the beginning of the year, but as Japan gears up for the Olympics in a few years, things seem to be moving a... Continue Reading →
Every year we flip on the calendar means just that much closer to the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. While the games have had some notable hiccups in these early planning stages (still no stadium OR logo ...), the steps the country is taking to spruce itself up for the massive international event will... Continue Reading →
Ack, it's mid-November! I swear, we just celebrated Halloween yesterday, right? Right ....? I'd meant to post this about a month ago, but for those of you in the Kansai and Tokyo regions, you'll still find some of the information relevant. I've just done my first leaf-peeping here in Tokyo (Showa Kinen park is a... Continue Reading →
A bit of a monetary snafu this past summer while traveling is prompting me to write this post. Many of you may already know that Japan's banking system is quite unique, but the details aren't terribly important. What's important is knowing how to withdraw money while traveling in Japan and I hope the following tips... Continue Reading →
The other week, I flew to Tokyo to begin the house hunting process for our move to the capital this summer. We had booked tickets on Jetstar, the Australia-based budget airline that has been making serious inroads into the Japanese domestic market and flew from Kumamoto into Narita Airport. Little did we know that we... Continue Reading →
If you're looking to taste the best sushi of your life, look no further than Japan. Most of the time, I'm content with the local kaitenzushi. (That and the fact that I have a four-year-old. I'm NOT paying the big bucks to have her eat all my uni.) But sometimes, when I'm traveling on my own, it's... Continue Reading →
Following on the heels of my book review this week, I thought I'd write about making the most of your sushi experience in Japan. While some of you may be lucky enough to go for more than just your average plate of sushi (see the upcoming entry on Friday), a great alternative for anyone on... Continue Reading →
