While the cherry blossom is the flower that tends to dominate the imagination of Japanese botanic appreciation, it is perhaps the plum (ume) blossom that should be the more celebrated....[ Click to read more ]
Even with coronavirus still weaving its microbial hooks into every facet of society, The heartbeat of the typical Japanese winter around Greater Tokyo barely skips a beat. As long as...[ Click to read more ]
Wintertime around these parts usually means either taking in some winter sports like skiing and snowboarding or soaking in one of the numerous hot spring onsens around the countryside surrounding the...[ Click to read more ]
The metropolis is a great place to live, but the space available to you isn't always great, and being constantly surrounded by buildings can feel a bit oppressive after a...[ Click to read more ]
Tokyo’s Ginza shopping district is known far and wide for its opulent array of shops and boutiques catering to those with more than a little bitcoins in their pockets. The...[ Click to read more ]
Diamond Fuji is a twice annually phenomenon when the sunrise and sunset align perfectly with Mount Fuji’s summit, looking for all the world like a bright shining jewel placed atop...[ Click to read more ]
Let me be up front— I am probably closer to being from Philadelphia, Mississippi than Philadelphia, Pennsylvania when it comes to the innate knowledge and understanding of the quintessential cheesesteak...[ Click to read more ]
Christmas Day in Japan is just another working day for the most part. The most interesting facet of the Christmas and holiday season in Japan is that all traces of...[ Click to read more ]
Japanese beer is usually thought of as just the 'big three': Asahi, Kirin, and Sapporo. While these are great when ice cold on a scorching day, they aren't exactly the...[ Click to read more ]
When talking about trains in Japan, people either think of the Shinkansen high-speed rail lines linking Japan's major cities or the commuter lines in major cities, famous for their ease-of-use...[ Click to read more ]