It started out as a trip with Doshisha University students to Osaka Castle and other sightseeing areas around the city. I enjoy these joint sightseeing trips because they are a great opportunity to speak Japanese; however, walking around a crowded city with a group of indecisive students always proves to be trouble.

A group of us went to the “electric town” area of Osaka, but didn’t manage to make it into a single electronics shop due to inter-group indecision. We finally ended up at the technologically innovative McDonald’s and ate special edition fries flavored with spicy basil. At least the fries were spot on.

The Doshisha University students (probably the male ones) decided that we should all go to a maid café after our sightseeing was done. However, since ou... Read More

Seriously. I have been to Tokyo enough times to feel comfortable finding my way on the JR and the local subway lines. I know which spots in Shinjuku to avoid and where to go to get an amazing bowl of ramen. This city, though, always finds a way to leave me stunned and gawking; with my mouth hanging open like a fresh off the plane gaijin.

Senso-Ji temple is a perfect example. Tucked away in a sedate corner of Taito, the temple perfectly encapsulates all that is modern day Japan. The temple is nestled in the neighborhood of Asakusa, and it is sometimes erroneously referred to as Asakusa temple, as opposed to Senso-ji. The temple is the oldest in all of Tokyo and one of it's most significant.

The temple is devoted to the bodhisattva Kannon, as well a... Read More