The city of Kurashiki, in Okayama Prefecture, was once a bustling trade town during the Edo period. The traditional buildings, concentrated along the willow-lined Kurashiki River, have been preserved in…
Okayama is best known as the home of Momotaro, a beloved folktale about a boy born from a peach. But the prefecture is also the birthplace of Japanese denim. In…
Covered in black clapboards, Okayama Castle is known as Ujo, or “crow castle.” Fittingly, it sits atop one of three hills overlooking the Asahi river. Perhaps even more fittingly, it…
On the northern edge of Kyushu lies Mojiko—an international trade port that opened in 1889. Today, the area is preserved as a historical district, offering visitors the chance to step…
For someone who grew up with only two seasons (kak hot and a little chilly, respectively), autumn and spring are still a novelty for me. If I had to choose…
In September 2015, after visiting Miyajima in Hiroshima, I wrote about the island’s starving deer population. Just over nine years later, in November 2024, I went back to see what…
In the heart of Yamaguchi lies the city of Mine. With a population of just over 20,000, it’s one of the more rural areas of the prefecture. But what it…
Less than an hour outside of Kyoto is one of Japan’s most famous temples. So famous, in fact, that it appears on the 10-yen coin. Byodoin was originally built in…
Just an hour north of central Kyoto is a small village nestled in the mountains. Ohara is known for its gorgeous scenery, pickled cucumbers, and beautiful Buddhist temple.
Cosmos, which bloom from early to mid October in Japan, always remind me of home. The flowers aren’t native to South Africa, but they might as well as be. Brought…
About 80 km (49.7 mi) outside of Tokyo, there’s a 94,000 m² flower park, which is roughly the size of 17 American football fields. And inside the park, sits a…