Goshuin: Temple Stamp Books

Listen, Japan loves paper. It is a very tactile country, and you can find many examples of this all across the culture. One such is the pervasiveness of stamps: You can get stamps from train stations, collect them from special events, and find them on special pedestals in museums. The granddaddy of them all, quite […]

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Gatchapon and My Quest for Glory

There are so many things in Japan that it can be a bit of a sensory overload. You have neon lights, seasonal good flying off of shelves, and so many pieces of clothing and merchandise that it seems like you’re drowning in options. One small corner of the Japanese toy market is Gatchapon, or capsules […]

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Lake Yamanaka

The area surrounding Mt. Fuji is known as the five lakes region, mainly because of the five lakes that surround the base of Fuji. One of these lakes is Yamanakako, and we went there for a brief weekend trip towards the end of summer to enjoy some relaxing nature and steamy hot springs bathing.

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Kawagoe Million Light Festival

Japan has no shortage of festivals, especially not in a city with lots of history and culture like Kawagoe. Towards the end of July, the city strings up lanterns and other lights all along the historic Coedo (Kurazukuri) district to celebrate the Million Light Festival (Hyakuman Matsuri – 百万灯 まつり ).

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