Christian Dior at the Denver Art Museum

While visiting the city of Denver, it was hard to ignore all the banners for the Denver Art Museum advertising the exhibit on Dior, the famous designer and fashion house that has come to define fashion in many ways. Being a total novice and way out of my element, I decided to dive into the […]

Voodoo Doughnut: Mile High

If you know anything about doughnuts or Portland, then you know Voodoo Doughnuts. Renowned for their quirky take on the delicious breakfast ring, they have doughnuts with fruity cereal bits, various cream fillings, and their titular doughnut that resembles a voodoo doll being stabbed in the heart by a pretzel. While in Colorado, I was […]

Kinkakuji: The Golden Pavilion

In Kyoto, there are many beautiful places to visit. Almost too many for the history and religion buffs to do in a single go, to be honest. One of the most splendid sites to partake in on a clear, sunny day has to be Kinkakuji, a pavilion of gold on a still lake.

Original Stitch Pokemon Shirt Review

I’m a big fan of the original 151 Pokemon back from the Gameboy era, having spent many afternoons in middle school playing while trading my friends for Machamp and Alakazam in the mornings before class. When I saw that Original Stitch was offering some nice Pokemon shirts, I was there on day one to order. […]

Bar Love Story by Netflix

Getting your name out there is a big deal for any company, and what better way to do that than with food and booze? Pop-up shops are a hallowed tradition in Japan, and the latest we were able to take part in was offered as part of a Valentine’s Day promotion by Netflix in Omotesando. […]

TeamLab: Borderless – Forest of Flowers and People and Other Exhibits

Last week, we explored the upper floors of TeamLab Borderless at the Mori Building Digital Art Museum in Odaiba, Tokyo. This week, we’ll take a gander at all the other exhibits they have hiding in the labyrinth of the first floor. Most are interactive, some are merely for spectating, but all have something visually arresting […]

TeamLab: Borderless – Athletic Forest and En Tea House

If you follow Japan at all on social media, chances are you’ve seen pictures of exquisite projection mapping displays in a darkened warehouse. This is a special exhibit by the art team TeamLab at the Mori Building Digital Art Museum. It is a large area with expansive displays that are a treat for the senses. […]

Fushimi Inari

When you see those glorious orange tori gates Japan is famous for, one site stands out among the rest for its sheer number: Fushimi Inari, just south of Kyoto proper. There’s a lot of history and culture packed upon this mountain shrine, ready to be unpacked by the willing traveler.

Setsubun

After about two years of asking various Japanese people about this holiday, I have enough information to pass it on to you, my fair reader. This year, it falls on February 3rd. It marks the official turn from winter to spring in Japanese tradition. However, it is also a holiday that involves beans, demons, and […]

Japanese Dumplings: Gyoza Festival 2018

It appears to be that time of the year where I catch up on posts I didn’t get to from the end of the previous year. Whoops! In this installment, we go back to November 4th when the Mrs. and I went into Tokyo to partake in some of the nation’s best gyoza (dumplings) on […]