Use these guides to help plan your travels!
Visitors flock to Furano in Hokkaido during the summer months to catch a glimpse of the expansive lavender fields. What’s the best way to finish off a day of walking through these fields of purple? Cooling off with an icy melon smoothie and chomping down on a slice of freshly cut cantaloupe! Furano in Hokkaido […]
Tomita Melon House – So Good Even Non-Melon Lovers Will Enjoy Read More »
Hokkaido and Furano in the Summer Many people know that Hokkaido in Northern Japan boasts some of the best winter slopes and a magnificent Snow Festival. But did you know that Hokkaido is also a great place to escape from the summer heat and enjoy delicious dairy products? The sprawling countryside that makes up the
Furano Cheese Factory in Hokkaido – Make Your Own Mascarpone Cheese! Read More »
Plum Blossoms | 梅の花 Mid February Spring is in the air and pink, yellow, and white flowers are popping up all around the city. No, these are not cherry blossoms, but rather plum blossoms (梅の花)! Plum blossoms are much less famous than Japan’s sakura (cherry blossoms), but these flowers carry their own special beauty and,
Itsukushima, also known as Miyajima, is probably most known for its beautiful floating torii gate, nature spots (Momijidani Park in the fall is absolutely gorgeous), and aggressive deer. Okay, maybe people don’t know about the deer, but take my word for it, they are crazy for food! Speaking of food, don’t miss out on the
Best Food to Eat on Itsukushima Island (Miyajima) Read More »
When the weather starts to get chilly, that means one thing… it’s oyster season! Oyster huts or (kakigoya) are mainly found on the Itoshima coast of Fukuoka and are a winter treat you won’t want to miss. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through my links,
Winter Kakigoya Oyster Huts in Itoshima – A Kyushu Specialty Read More »
Kawachi Wisteria Garden: A Purple Paradise The first time I Googled Fukuoka, I saw the most incredible images of long purple flowers forming a majestic tunnel. What was this beautiful plant? Where could I see it for myself? Soon I was researching all the best places to view wisteria near Fukuoka, Kyushu… April is wisteria
Kawachi Wisteria Garden: The Most Beautiful Place to See Wisteria in Kyushu? Read More »
Sumo Wrestling: Japan’s National Sport Japan’s National sport is…. sumo wrestling! Yes, the sport of large men wearing minimal clothing fighting to push each other outside of a small circle. While simple in theory, there is actually so much more to the sport than first meets the eye. I had the opportunity to attend the
Sumo Grand Tournament: How to Get Tickets and Watch Japan’s National Sport Read More »
What is Bungo Beef? Today I’m going to introduce one of Japan’s premium wagyu dishes, Bungo Beef! I’m sure you’ve heard of Kobe Beef and wagyu before…. so how does Bungo Beef fit into the mix? Simply put, wagyu (和牛) means Japanese cow. (和 is pronounced ‘wa‘ and means Japanese, while 牛 is pronounced ‘gyuu‘
A recent visit to the Chikugo region of Kurume brought me to the steps of a workshop specializing in the production of indigo textiles. The most highly regarded products are called Kurume Kasuri which feature intricate, handcrafted, dual-tone patterns. To be considered true Kurume Kasuri (an official national handicraft of Japan), textiles must follow rigid
