Sharing favorite finds from across the archipelago
Sakura season is upon us! While the somei yoshino are still just budding, the internet has been full of other cherry blossom flowers the past few weeks. So how does one tell just what kind of cherry tree they're enjoying? Use the handy guide below to help identify the various blossoms. Kawazuzakura Kawazuzakura One of... Continue Reading →
Happy spring! I know we technically have a few days left to winter, according to the calendar, but nobody's fooled here in Tokyo. The weather has been in the 60s (that's Fahrenheit, y'all - I'm still unapologetically American in my temperature scale) and the first cherry blossoms of the season were recorded to have opened... Continue Reading →
I feel like a broken record, but this has been a busy month. Cherry blossoms, a trip to Kumamoto, an earthquake in Kumamoto, a fresh batch of visitors, and now, Golden Week. April is always a month full of festivals and flowers, but this year, it has seemed exceptionally packed. Somehow, amidst the chaos, we... Continue Reading →
While Japan boasts dozens of castles dotted around its islands, only twelve of them are considered "original". Of those dozen, four are located on the little-visited island of Shikoku. Matsuyama Castle (also known as Iyo-Matsuyama) is one of Japan's hilltop fortresses, perched on a peak in what is now the downtown area of the capital... Continue Reading →
Alright, right off the bat, I'll admit this entry is a bit of a cop-out. 🙂 If you follow me at all on Facebook (just search Uncover Japan), you'll know that I just returned from a somewhat impromptu but rather amazing trip to Shikoku. (I'm a bit tired. Hence, none of the usual themed entries... Continue Reading →
Happy Spring! Here's another great post from fellow Japan resident and foodie friend Courtney. Spring has finally arrived in Japan signaling the end to a particularly brutal winter this year. As if trying to persuade spring to come earlier, everyone waits anxiously for sakura, whether it’s the actual cherry blossoms blooming or the arrival of sakura-flavored... Continue Reading →
I admit, this post would have been better timed a week ago, when the blossoms were out. But no one expected such an early blooming season and I was to busy enjoying myself in Kyoto itself to write up any related posts! What I did get was a preview of where the crowds were going to be... Continue Reading →
Well, I hadn't planned on posting this entry until at least next week, but some very strange weather patterns this year have resulted in a very early cherry blossom season. It appears that spring is officially here! Perhaps the most popular thing to do during cherry blossom season is to attend a hanami party. Hanami comes from... Continue Reading →
I just got back last night from a great food-focused weekend in Tokyo and then suddenly remembered I hadn't done a post for today. Racking both my brain and photo archives, I realized that I'm nearly out of manhole pictures. Luckily, I snapped a picture of this one over the weekend: Yes, astute readers, those... Continue Reading →
It's spring! It's spring! Alright, I'm exaggerating a tad. Even here in the southern reaches of mainland Japan, the cold weather is still lingering. But the other day, as I was running errands, I caught the first few cream and red buds on our city's plum trees. Call me sacreligious but I actually prefer plum... Continue Reading →
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