Sharing favorite finds from across the archipelago
I haven't done a Manhole Monday post in quite some time, so I took a cruise through my photo archives today to try to find a unique one. I stumbled across this colorful one from a trip to Niigata a few winters ago: I usually do a little write-up on the scene that graces each... 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 →
I'm not a vegetarian but I do love my vegetables. And I'm even more willing to consume them when they're presented to me in a unique way. Enter Re:gendo, a charming cafe in an old Japanese home in the western Tokyo suburb of Nishi-Ogikubo. Unless you're a fan of ramen or anime, there's not much... Continue Reading →
It's been a busy spring with not much time for blogging, and for that I apologize. In late February, I had the chance to return to my "home" of Kumamoto, leading a small group of travelers on a tour to support the region. This month marks one year since the sudden and devastating quakes in... Continue Reading →
Alright, I'll admit it, I am a sucker for good food photography. If you can style your food and photograph it in such a manner that it makes me start drooling all over the page/screen, you've done your job VERY well. It does also help to have a "gimmick". Not in the way that you're... Continue Reading →
Every January for the past few years, I've started off the new calendar with a list of my travel goals for the upcoming months. I just took a glance back at the last few lists and I am pleased to say, I've covered a lot of what I set out to do. We did indeed... Continue Reading →
It's taken me awhile to get around to this post and not just because I was waiting until I returned from my latest trip to Japan. If you've ever gone through reverse culture shock, you know it can be rather insidious. Things feel overwhelming, then they settle down, then they overwhelm you, and the roller... Continue Reading →
When I picked up last month's Review selection (K is for Kabuki), I also grabbed another book called Real Samurai. This nonfiction book is written by Stephen Turnbull, a noted military historian. I haven't reviewed many samurai books so I thought I'd take it home and give it a go. Confession time - I find... Continue Reading →
It's foliage season, my favorite time of year, and I am stuck in 87*F southern California. Not that palm trees aren't pretty mind you ... 😉 I'm just very excited to head back to Japan in two weeks to catch the autumn leaves in their splendor. (I'm hoping at least. It's been a bit colder... Continue Reading →
November is my favorite month in Japan. For much of the low-lying areas of the nation (and a few mountainous areas that have yet to turn), November is foliage month. Autumn in Japan is unlike anywhere else in the world. In my home state of Pennsylvania, our neighboring mountains turned mottled hues of rust, gold and... Continue Reading →
