The Curious Case of Hyakumansan

In 2013, Mr. One Million, Hyakumansan, upset the residents of Ishikawa prefecture, whom he was supposed to represent, by being too ugly. Overdesigned. Not cute enough. Nearly a decade later, he’s still standing as the mascot of Ishikawa but what was all that hullabaloo about? Is he really as messy as they said he was? […]

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.

The Beauty and the Beast Ride at Tokyo Disneyland

Did you know that Tokyo Disneyland is the only Disney park in the world with two large-scale castles? While the Magic Kingdom tried with their own Beast’s castle, the one in Tokyo Disneyland took the beloved Beauty and the Beast and cranked it up to an impressive scale. This post has spoilers for the ride, […]

Kyoto Stone Museum: Why You May Have Visited Without Knowing

If you’ve every visited Kyoto, there’s a very high probability that you’ve visited this museum and even looked upon its exhibits without being fully aware that you were. Confused? So was I until my eagle eye spotted the clue that would bust this case wide open!

The Trams of Hiroshima

Sometimes better known by its official name, the Hiroshima Electric Railway, the trams in Hiroshima has had a rough history: From a rocky beginning to a devastating loss to a difficult reconstruction, the tram survives today as a living, working part of the history of Hiroshima.

Staycation at the Muji Hotel in Ginza

Confession: I’m not paid by any sponsors. I’m too small. That said, there are certain brands that I enjoy and have found to be rather delightful here in Japan. One such is Mujirushi Ryohin, or Muji, as it is more popularly known. It sells all manner of goods: clothing, food, furniture, housewares, scented oils, and […]

Railway Day (Tetsudou no Hi – 鉄道の日)

October 14th is a very special day in Japan for railway aficionados (or, less glamorously known, densha (train) otaku (nerds)). This is when, in 1911, the first stretch of railway connecting Yokohama to Tokyo officially opened. I figured this was a good opportunity to talk about all things trains and let everyone out there know […]

Sayama Tea Festival 2019

Out in Saitama Prefecture is Sayama City, a proud producer of tea for Japan. They’re pretty niche, though, producing less than 1% of all tea for the nation. Regardless, they have a strong tea tradition which is on display during the annual Sayama Tea Festival, which we were fortunate enough to take part in this […]

Kawasaki Warehouse and Arcade Culture in Japan

One of the legendary amusement parks has closed in Japan: Kawasaki Warehouse. It’s not like a Six Flags, but rather, a large entertainment complex with its main focus on electronic games. Walking through the warehouse before it closed gave me a peek into its past and also serves as a window into Japanese arcade culture […]