Manhole Monday: Ginzan Onsen/Obanazawa

One of the best things about summertime in Japan is the fruit. Big (and I mean BIG) juicy peaches, tart cherries, and the abundance of melons of all varieties. Watermelons are a big product in Ueki, a small town near my former home of Kumamoto, but the town of Obanazawa in Yamagata Prefecture is also... Continue Reading →

July 27, 2015 0

Spotlight: Yamadera (Yamagata)

Happy August! My family and I are on our annual summer holiday in Japan, which we try to arrange so that it never falls with that OTHER summer holiday in Japan (Obon), a time of year that makes travel around the island nearly unbearable for a period of 3-7 days. This year, I had high... Continue Reading →

August 4, 2014 5