Do You Know Nags? Nagoya’s Hidden Gems – Part 3

Feb 27, 2019 By Bert Wishart

Whether you have been here for a few weeks or know the city like the back of your hand, Nagoya is a city that is full of surprises. New restaurants and bars pop up all the time, and you can be strolling down a familiar street and suddenly notice a...[ Click to read more ]

Must See Shrines and Temples of Nagoya

Feb 26, 2019 By Bert Wishart

Japan is served by two predominant religions: Shinto and Buddhism. Shinto is a form of ancestor worship and is the traditional religion of Japan - though it was codified in the eighth century it had been around for many centuries before with evidence that it was around during the pre-historical...[ Click to read more ]

Aqua Net Ferry from Peace Park to Miyajima

Feb 25, 2019 By Matt Mangham

Two of the best things about Hiroshima are its rivers and its proximity to the UNESCO World Heritage Miyajima. Unfortunately, many visitors to the city take no more than a passing, sidelong glance at the rivers, and board crowded trains to the JR Miyajimaguchi station to take one of the...[ Click to read more ]

Things are Hotting up at Toba no Himatsuri Fire Festival

Jan 28, 2019 By Bert Wishart

Aichi sees a fair number of harvest festivals around the start of the Chinese New Year, with communities praying that their crops in the coming year will be bountiful and generous. However, very few of them are quite as, without wanting to seem disrespectful, terrifyingly crazy as The Toba no...[ Click to read more ]

Toyokawa Inari – One of Japan’s Big Three Inari Shrines

Jan 25, 2019 By Bert Wishart

About 75 minutes from Nagoya, in the Mikawa Bay region, you can find Toyokawa Inari, one of the most unique and unusual places of worship in the area. Along with Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari and the Yutoku Inari Temple in Saga Prefecture, Toyokawa Inari is considered one of Japan’s 'Big Three' Inari...[ Click to read more ]

Tokyo’s Romantic Valentine Spots

Jan 20, 2019 By Bert Wishart

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, you may be wanting to find that perfect place to cozy up to your loved one and not sure of quite what to do about it. But fear not, because there are actually quite a few romantic spots in this fair city of...[ Click to read more ]

Day trips from Nagoya – Tajimi, Gifu

Dec 26, 2018 By Bert Wishart

Just over the border from Aichi into Gifu Prefecture is the town of Tajimi, an area renowned for its ceramic manufacture, great natural beauty and peaceful streets. Being just 40 minutes by train from Nagoya it is an excellent destination for a day trip Tajimi's Famous Ceramics With clay in...[ Click to read more ]

Let’s Tour Sendai: Getting and Staying There

Nov 30, 2018 By Jason Gatewood

Located about 350 km (220 mi) to the northeast of Tokyo, the City of Sendai makes for a very pleasant getaway from the hustle and bustle of the Metropolis and due to its position on the Shinkansen “bullet train” network, along with various air and bus options along with low...[ Click to read more ]

Let’s Tour – Sendai: What to eat

By Jason Gatewood

No review of any part of Japan would be complete without talking about its contributions to the gastronomic scene, and Sendai has definitely done its part, and there are TONS of places to check out local delectables. Beef Tongue Ask any Japanese person anywhere what food Sendai is famous for,...[ Click to read more ]

Let’s Tour – Sendai: What to see & do

By Jason Gatewood

For a city its size (just over one million people, which is considered small by Japan standards), Sendai has a storied past, steeped in nature, and has a vibrant lifestyle for its citizens. This all adds up to a perfect place to check out if you’re looking for a change...[ Click to read more ]