• The “Little Kyoto” of Kumamoto

    “Please visit Miyazaki again,” a sign reads at the entrance to the prefecture’s last tunnel burrowing through the Kyushu Mountain Range on Route 219. When you emerge on the other…

  • The Nishimera Gibier Festival

    “You ate what?” Maria-san asked with surprise. “Wild boar and deer.” She scrunched up her nose in disgust, “Urgh…really?” “Yeah, it was delicious!” “Oh no,” she frowned unconvinced, “I’ve never…

  • A Quick Guide to Yufuin Onsen Town

    In Japan, you’d be hard-pressed to find a city or town that doesn’t have at least one onsen (温泉). Thanks to abundant geothermal activity on the archipelago, there are thousands…

  • 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…