Getting Away and Staying Local – Great Ryokan in Aichi
Sep 28, 2020 By Bert Wishart
2020 has been hard going for many reasons, but most majorly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic is our ability to travel. Whether due to behaving responsibly, fears of contraction, or...[ Click to read more ]
Getting Away in Japan: Toyama Prefecture
Sep 24, 2020 By Bert Wishart
While most regions of Japan seem to have their own perfect time of year to visit Toyama, the 'gateway to the Sea of Japan,' in northern Chubu, is spectacular all...[ Click to read more ]
Takayama Spring Festival
Apr 01, 2020 By Bert Wishart
Located in Gifu Prefecture, and surrounded by some of Japan’s richest natural areas just below the famous Northern Alps, Takayama is somewhat isolated and distant. This isolation allowed the city...[ Click to read more ]
Day Trips From Nagoya – Kamikochi, The Stunning Birthplace of Japan’s Casual Hiker
Mar 18, 2020 By Bert Wishart
Japan is a nation supremely blessed with its fair share of dramatic scenery. From the sandy beaches and deep blue oceans of Okinawa, by way of the high mountain peaks...[ Click to read more ]
Day Trips From Nagoya – Iwamura, a Quaint Castle Town, Shrouded in History and Mist
Mar 18, 2020 By Bert Wishart
For many visitors to Japan, getting a taste of the country's proud and storied history sits high on the checklist. To this end, most head to Gion in Kyoto, or...[ Click to read more ]
Therapeutic Spa at Gamagori’s Thalgo Laguna
Feb 26, 2020 By Bert Wishart
Whether natural spring onsen or communal bathing sentos, Japan's penchant for soaking in the tub with friends and family is legendary, however, for those of us who have not necessarily...[ Click to read more ]
Diamond Magic – Witness The Diamond Fuji Phenomenon
Dec 26, 2019 By Bert Wishart
Diamond Fuji is a twice annually occurring phenomenon during which the sunrise and sunset align perfectly with Mount Fuji’s summit, looking for all the world like a bright shining jewel...[ Click to read more ]
Nagano Ebisuko Fireworks Festival, Where It’s All Going off This Autumn
Sep 27, 2019 By Bert Wishart
For most of Japan, the coming of autumn marks an end to the almost nightly banging, crashing and gunpowder-scented air of the fireworks festivals. Yes, there may be a few...[ Click to read more ]
Brick or Treat – Getting Spooky at Legoland this Halloween
Sep 25, 2019 By Bert Wishart
Halloween in Japan is an odd time, in that it is mostly aimed at an older demographic. Street parties and nightclubs are boozy affairs, while costume shops almost exclusively trade...[ Click to read more ]
Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri in Osaka
Aug 29, 2019 By Bert Wishart
With more than 300 years of history, the Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri is the oldest Danjiri Festival in Japan. Such festivals are held right throughout the country, but for most Japanese,...[ Click to read more ]
