Travel Japan: Experiencing Okinawa’s Double Life
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Travel Japan: Experiencing Okinawa’s Double Life

  At the start of February I dragged my hands from under the kotatsu just long enough to click ‘buy’ on flights to Okinawa as a congratulations to myself for surviving my first Japanese January. I have just returned from said weekend bringing the sun with me (you’re welcome) and thought it only fair to…

Mochi Diaries: Kibidango 吉備団子

Mochi Diaries: Kibidango 吉備団子

Now I’m well aware that dango and mochi aren’t exactly the same thing, but they are both made from mochiko (糯粉; rice flour) and I’d like this segment to cover a wide array of omiyage and traditional Japanese sweets! Residents claim that Okayama was the original setting of the Japanese fairytale of Momotaro and subsequently…

Miso Green: The Hyogo Local Grocers Project
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Miso Green: The Hyogo Local Grocers Project

Once, a few years ago, another friend of the eco-friendly prerogative asked me which I would rather pay for, organic food or local food. My instant reaction was to say local. When comparing the carbon footprints of organic food that was transported from a far-off place to local food grown using non-natural fertilizers and insecticides,…

Special Feature: Biking Biwa
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Special Feature: Biking Biwa

琵琶湖 (びわこ; Lake Biwa) is Japan’s largest freshwater lake and covers a large part of Shiga Prefecture. It’s a haven for birdwatchers, watersports, camping, and generally having a good time outdoors. It’s also a very popular destination for cyclists with a well-kept cycle path pretty much all the way around. At around 220km in circumference,…

Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage: Fujii-dera
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Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage: Fujii-dera

葛井寺 Fujii-dera is temple number 5 of 33 on the pilgrim circuit, and as its name “Wisteria Well Temple” would suggest, it is a wonderful place to visit when the fuji are in bloom. These fragrant purple flowers typically bloom in very late April or in early May, around Golden Week. Other than the gorgeous…