Posts about the wonders (and weirdness) about living in Japan!
Hi Travelers! This article is all about planning a Japan road trip. I recently went on a 2-week journey around the Tohoku area of Japan. The fantastic fall colors, new car camping experience – it was an incredible time! Since a lot of planning and learning went into making the trip happen, I’ll share everything […]
For two weeks, I lived in a tiny car – one that had been retrofitted with lights, an external battery, and a flat sleeping space, turning it into an agile, incognito campervan. Each day of my travels, I discovered new areas in Tohoku, off-the-grid places seemingly untouched by other travelers. Outside the window, breathtaking views
Tohoku Campervan Adventures – 2 Weeks Chasing Fall Colors – Road Trip Guide Read More »
Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village is a small, remote village located in the mountains of Toyama, Japan. I call it Shirakawago’s “little cousin” since, while it too features beautiful wooden houses with pitched thatched roofs, it is much smaller and less crowded. Winter is a perfect time to visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site, since the pathways
Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village: Japan’s Hidden Winter Wonderland Read More »
There was one main activity and scenic view that prompted my travels all the way to Toyama Prefecture in the middle of Japan’s Honshu Island. It was this sightseeing cruise along the Shogawa River. Isn’t the view stunning? After seeing pictures, I knew I had to visit myself, so I made the journey to Toyama
Majestic Winter Scenery at Shogawa Gorge – Toyama Read More »
Many travelers in Japan find themselves in Kyoto – walking along the peaceful Kamogawa River, climbing the snaking stairs of Fushimi Inari Shrine, or gazing up at the towering bamboo at Arashiyama. Kyoto is a wonderful place, but one thing is for certain: Everyone goes to the same places. The streets and buses swell with
Forging Steel in the Mountains of Kyoto: Knife-Making Experience Read More »
Welcome to the Nakasendo, the ancient mountain road that connected Kyoto to Tokyo during the Edo period. The Nakasendo, which snakes through modern-day Nagano, Shiga, Saitama, Gunma, and Gifu prefectures, used to link sixty-nine post towns, some of which have been carefully preserved to this day. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may
Walking the Nakasendo: Yabuhara and Narai Post Towns Read More »
Kamikochi is a spectacular mountain resort situated in the western part of Nagano prefecture. The area is inside the Chubu Sangaku National Park and is surrounded by tall mountains and the clear flowing waters of the Azusa River. Due to the area’s high altitude, the temperatures in Kamikochi are much cooler than in other parts
Last winter, I flew to Hokkaido to explore the region’s various snow and ice festivals. I got to walk through illuminated ice caves, see the sprawling Sapporo Snow Festival from high above, step into a cafe made entirely of ice, and much more! The white powdery snow that blanketed the landscape around made views in
This weekend I went Majaku (mud shrimp) fishing in Kumamoto! Majaku are also called “na-jako” because they look like “shako,” Japanese mantis shrimp, but live in holes called “ana.” Welcome to the Arao Mud Flats, located along the Ariake Sea. The water here changes greatly, revealing Japan’s largest tidal flat at low tide. I visited
