• Searching for Sakura

    After leaving the snow in Nagano behind, and spotting hundreds of tree lilacs on the drive from Nikko to Ibaraki, John and I were starting to feel spring fever. Which…

    April 20, 2015

  • Toshogu Shrine Nikko

    More than 1 000 years ago, a Buddhist priest named Shodo Shonin crossed the Daiya River on his way to Mount Nantai and founded the first temple at Nikko. Today,…

    April 11, 2015

  • Kegon Falls

    If you’re prone to motion sickness, the road up to Kegon Falls is a challenge. Ascending 400m in just a few kilometres, it snakes around 20 hairpin bends (yes, 20!)…

    April 5, 2015

  • The Onsen-Bathing Monkeys of Yamanouchi

    Because of Japan’s high volcanic activity, thousands of hot springs are scattered throughout the country. Locally known as onsen, the mineral-rich water is believed to cure a wide range of…

    April 1, 2015

  • Zenko-ji Temple Nagano

    “Oh this isn’t so bad,” I thought as we entered the tunnel. But as we walked further and further, the air became thick with black and eventually I couldn’t even…

    March 30, 2015

  • Sekino-o Falls and the Oketsugun Potholes

    “Woaah!” I exclaimed to Mark. “Are you seeing this?” The red shrine that he was investigating wasn’t enough to distract me from the roar of water falling down. An unexpected stop on our roadtrip…

    March 23, 2015

  • Doll Festival in Aya Town

    At this time of year, special dolls are set out on displays in homes and shops around Japan for the annual hinamatsuri (doll festival) celebration on March 3. I’ve always been a teddy…

    March 2, 2015

  • Volcanic Island Sakurajima

    I have never seen an active volcano in real life before, so when John reminded me that there was one just a 15 minute ferry ride away from where we would…

    February 10, 2015

  • Walking Tour of Obi Castle Town

    After  Naked Man Festival, we decided to drive the hour south to see Obi Castle Town (飫肥城下町), the “Little Kyoto” of Kyushu. The town was built on the remains of Obi…

    February 7, 2015

  • Naked Man Festival

    When I returned to Japan after Christmas break, I found it only a couple of degrees warmer than I left it. Averaging a high of 13°C a day (about 55°F),…

    February 4, 2015

  • Christmas Lights in Miyazaki

    For a country that doesn’t really celebrate Christmas, Japan sure knows how to do Christmas lights. They are the romantic backdrop for Christmas Eve – a night celebrated like Valentines Day,…

    December 15, 2014
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