Hokkaido is Japan's final frontier, a vast (VAST) island of mountains, lakes and stretches of emptiness that seem otherworldly in a country so densely populatedĀ as this one. It is also the home island of much of Japan's only remaining indigenous culture, the Ainu. Pushed to the far northern reaches by the race that became known... Continue Reading →
Spotlight: Miyama Kayabuki no Sato (Kyoto Pref)
After three weeks back in the US for the Christmas and New Year's holiday, it feels good to be home again. Sure, it's winter here too but oh. my. gosh. it was COLD in the Northeast. The three or four times it snowed did seem magical in the beginning (and we even got enthusiastic about... Continue Reading →
Family Fun: Hida Folk Village (Takayama)
A few miles outside of the mountain town of Takayama, the Hida Folk Village (or Hida no Sato) provides an excellent example of how the area's residents lived in years past. Alright, a bit of a boring intro (my creative juices just aren't flowing today) but this place is anything but. Over 30 houses from... Continue Reading →