Tokyo’s Christmas Markets
Nov 28, 2022 By Michael Stigall
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Europe right before the holiday season was underway. One upside to this trip was experiencing the Christmas Markets that pop up in both major cities and small villages. These markets sell festive food and drink and all sorts of Christmas...[ Click to read more ]
The Toy Stores of Tokyo
By Michael Stigall
With Thanksgiving behind us, we are officially into the Christmas season. For most of us in the Capital with children, it is time to get busy shopping for presents. While there are still plenty of online options, there is something much more satisfying about going to a good toy store...[ Click to read more ]
Touring Tokyo on Sharebike
Oct 31, 2022 By Michael Stigall
Bike sharing has been a thing in Tokyo for more than a decade now, but it still feels like a relatively new thing only known and used by the savviest of Tokyo residents. Starting in Yokohama, bike sharing is now all over the Kanto area, and they are quite a...[ Click to read more ]
Activities for Kids Under 5 in Kobe
Oct 24, 2022 By Justin Hanus
If you have kids under 5, you’ll know how tiring it can be to keep them occupied throughout the day. Children don’t start school in Japan until the age of six, and although there is nursery and daycare provision, not all kids attend full-time. Plus, of course, there are weekends...[ Click to read more ]
The Tokyo Metro Museum
Sep 28, 2022 By Michael Stigall
One great thing about living in Tokyo is the trains and subways that crisscross the megalopolis. Most of us use the subway for commuting and getting around almost daily. That said, they can be something we all become familiar with and even ignore, but there is a rich history here....[ Click to read more ]
A Guide to Onsen and Super Sento in and around Tokyo
By Michael Stigall
The onsen is one thing that immediately comes to mind when one thinks of Japan, and it's no mystery why. In addition to appearing in most tourism-related media, they are excellent places to relax. With so much seismic activity, from small sento bathhouses to entire onsen towns, sento and onsen...[ Click to read more ]
Museum of Yebisu Beer
Jul 25, 2022 By Michael Stigall
Yebisu Beer has a long and storied history beginning in 1887 when the Japan Beer Brewery Company cleared an area of farmland to build a brewery. At this new modern brewery, they would use German methods to create their new premium beer, Yebisu. In time the area came to be...[ Click to read more ]
The Snoopy Museum Tokyo
By Michael Stigall
Snoopy Museum Tokyo is an exciting addition to the museums of Tokyo. The Peanuts comic strip characters are popular in Japan but are collectively eclipsed by Snoopy, the dog, to the extent that most people probably couldn’t tell you who Charlie Brown is. Snoopy is, however, a serious draw, and...[ Click to read more ]
Family Days Out in Hiroshima
Jul 19, 2022 By Justin Hanus
Hiroshima is sadly internationally famous for the destruction caused at the end of the Second World War. However, there is more to this city and plenty to do there on a day out. Plenty ranges from educational activities where children can learn about the bombing of Hiroshima in 1945 to...[ Click to read more ]
Why Everyone (Not Just Train Fans) Need to Visit Kawasaki World
Jun 28, 2022 By Justin Hanus
Although the Kawasaki brand is known for motorcycles, a highlight of Kawasaki World in Kobe has to be the trains. Train fan or not, you should check out this museum. What’s So Great About the Shinkansen Exhibition? To understand why the Shinkansen exhibition is fascinating, you need to know a...[ Click to read more ]
