It's not everyday that you wake up and realize that you have over a dozen World Heritage Sites in your backyard. UNESCO assigns natural and cultural sites World Heritage status every year around the world. What makes Japan particularly special is its high concentration of sites. Doting the landscape from Kyushu to Hokkaido, Japan is one of the most culturally relevant countries on the planet.

As a foreigner living in Japan I am constantly in awe of my surroundings. From the mundane to the spectacular, I am always in the presence of what I consider beauty. Nowhere are these differences made more apparent then in Japan's relationship with it's own history. A civilization with a richer and more sophisticated history then my own; I often find myself marvelin... Read More

Located on the southern island of Kyushu, Nagasaki-ken has an illustrious history and beautiful scenery. It is home to the best natural harbor on the island, making it a center of trade and exchange for hundreds of years.

Nagasaki City itself is quite tame for half a million people. It is nestled in a scenic valley that opens around its famous harbor. Buildings and temples line the mountain sides, lending the feeling the city is looming over you. Cobblestone streets and a public tram add likable character to the otherwise cookie cutter gray concrete buildings Japanese cities are known for. Between the hills and tram, it is a bit like an Asian San Francisco.

Historically it’s a rich city. Nagasaki’s port was for many years the main contact to the outside worl... Read More

Recently I took advantage of my newfound military spouse benefits and managed to hop a space available flight to Iwakuni on mainland Japan. I was fortunate to obtain a seat on an eight passenger C-12 plane for the 2 hour flight from Okinawa to Iwakuni, located on Honshu Island, the largest of Japan's four main islands. While Iwakuni may not ring a bell for some of you, it is less than a 40 minute train ride to Hiroshima, one of the many historical “must see” cities in Japan. Though Iwakuni has a few wonderful sites ? including the Kintai Bridge, first built by Hiroyoshi Kikawa (third feudal lord of the Kikawa clan) in 1673 - and is near to a number of other historical areas, many of us are all too familiar from history what Hiroshima has endured from its beginning i... Read More

7/9/06
This day was more of a tourist type day. Marina, Yuko, Nori, Lisa and I went to a sort of place that might remind you of the old city in Philadelphia - but way older. This place is a former castle town called Kawagoe or "Little Edo" (Edo being Tokyo's original name) the streets are lined with "kurazukuri" which are big, japanese style warehouse buildings and storefronts. Some of these buildings date back really far. There are a ton of pictures for this place because I couldn't really describe the buildings if I tried. All of them are in traditional Japanese architecture with the layered windows and the Japanese style roofs and stuff. But, pictures are required for a full understanding of what I mean. Seriously, go on google and check this architecture ... Read More

Last year, I witnessed the breathtaking panorama of red and yellow leaves in Kamakura.

From the Odakyu line, we got on Enoden, half-train/half-streetcar line. When we reached Kamakura, we walked down the road to the cemetery where my husband’s relative’s cremated remains were buried. While we were walking I noticed there was a heavy traffic jam at that time and I thought maybe all of them are visitors to Kamakura who would like to witness the beauty of the place. When we crossed a bridge, I happened to see a school of fish under the bridge. They were so colorful that it seemed that they were also following the color of the autumn.

When we got to the cemetery, my husband brought me to the graves of his relatives. He introduced me to them, he lit some incens... Read More

Takaoka City is located a short drive away from Tonami City where I am located and both are in rural Toyama Prefecture. Takaoka City is famous for Urushi, which is Japanese lacquerware and a very old bronze ware industry. The city itself gives subtle hints of the bronze industry with countless statues, lanterns and bells around virtually every corner. Takaoka used to be a Castle town and this is where the local bronze industry has its roots, but the Castle itself was destroyed and no longer exists.

A major supplier to Temples and Shrines all across Japan, Takaoka has one big bronze secret that is a major sightseeing and pilgrimage destination for tourists, locals and the faithful alike.

Takaoka has one of the three biggest Buddha statues in all of Japan, which is prono... Read More

Japan offers a lot to the solo traveler, the couple on their honeymoon, the international businessman trying to close an important deal. Whoever you are, you will find something interesting, frustrating, hilarious, and intriguing in Japan.

Last year my friend came from Australia, and together with my other English mate, the three of us set off on a short 4 day Kyoto and Osaka sightseeing trip. It was my second time to Kyoto, so I knew the popular tourist spots and made sure to show them to my friends. This time though, I wanted to explore the underground side of Kyoto, the places less visited. These, I find, are usually the most interesting and rewarding.

We were pretty successful on our mission. We discovered a fantastic little Indonesian style bar that David Bow... Read More

When you arrive somewhere you feel a type of sixth sense indicative of whether or not this place and its inhabitants are going to treat you well. I felt good when I arrived in Takayama.

This small town near Japan's southern alps was strongly recommended by my guide book and as I was spending my holiday in Nagano prefecture nearby I thought it would be a good idea to check it out. The bus ride from Matsumoto was as spectacular as anything I had experienced over the past few days. The road wound through valleys and mountains all covered in a thick carpet of green foliage. The small villages and roadside stops were inundated with tour buses and cars; the crowds head for the mountains in the summer months and it's easy to see why.

It rained nearly a... Read More

During winter, many people just sit at their houses, be sad and blue. Well it’s best to try to go out and have fun no matter how cold the weather is. The best thing to do during winter is to try skiing, skating or go to places with thick snow like Nikko, Niigata and Mt. Fuji. The closest of these places is Nikko, around 2 hours and half to travel by train and 3 hours by car. It will cost you ?4,400 one day pass (avail in Tokyo Station) to get to Nikko. The travel is quite exhausting but who cares, the fun and experiences are worth it anyway.

I am from a country with no snow though there’s some cold places in my country too. I am quite hungry to see tons and tons of snow; get merry and wanting to experience how it is to be surrounding by big blocks of snow or ice... Read More