Bingata: Okinawan Coral Prints

Okinawa has a rich and unique island culture that makes it stand apart from other prefectures in Japan. Once its own kingdom, it brought many of its cultures and crafts into the Japanese consciousness, including its own styles of dyeing cloths known as Bingata.

Kyoto Railway Museum

Trains make up a very integral part of life here in Japan, and there are plenty of train museums to go around. During a trip to Kyoto, we decided to take the plunge and go full train mode and learn a bit more about railway history and see a visiting celebrity!

Japanese Voodoo Dolls: Wara Ningyo

Have you ever hated someone so much that you constructed multiple dolls, stayed up until the dead of night, snuck into a temple, and nailed those bad boys to sacred trees to call harm and misfortune to your enemies? No? Yes? Cursing others seems to be pretty universal across cultures, so why not learn about […]

Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama

If you ask anyone about hot springs, or onsen, in Japan, a few key locations will inevitably pop up. One such place is Dogo Onsen, one of the oldest and most celebrated on the rural island of Shikoku.

Nagamachi Samurai District in Kanazawa

Kanazawa is a treasure in Japan: It’s one of my favorite cities, beaten only by the likes of Hiroshima. One of the coolest parts of Kanazawa has to be its incredibly well-preserved samurai district, where the famous warriors once lived back in the Edo period.

Boats at Kinugawa Onsen

Kinugawa Onsen is a small town out in Tochigi with a penchant for outdoor paths, hot springs, and trips down the scenic Kinugawa, or Kinu River.

Japanese Store Chains: A Primer for Everyday Shopping

Congratulations! You have just arrived in Japan. The sheen is still bright, you’re riding that high of the newness of everything, and all is good. But now you need to buy a bed. And groceries. And medicine. Uh oh. Where do you go? Well, here’s a short list of (hopefully) helpful chain stores where you […]

Is A Fox Demon on the Loose in Japan?

Imagine you are a Japanese person, taking a walk in nature around a mythical field when you notice that the seal containing a very powerful demon has broken. What do you do?

The World is on Fire. Are you Burning?

So, I’ve not been updating as frequently or regularly as before. Turns out, all this pandemic nonsense has taken a bit of a toll on me!

Things I Liked in 2021

Well, here we go again! I’m writing this intro fresh and early in January in the hopes that 2021 is filled with some primo excellence and less icky bits than 2020. Am I right, future Adam? Just put your answer here when you get ready to edit and post this bad boy (Eh, 2021 was […]