Travel Japan: Hiroshima Prefecture in a Day!
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Travel Japan: Hiroshima Prefecture in a Day!

On a beautiful Saturday morning in November, I went with two of my close friends and boarded the Shinkansen heading for Hiroshima. We had quite an ambitious plan: visit Hiroshima Peace Park and Memorial Museum, roam around Miyajima and then finish off the day playing with bunnies on Okunoshima. I have to admit that we…

Heart of Japan: Sayocho: A Viewpoint of Hyogo’s Pastoral Past and Future
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Heart of Japan: Sayocho: A Viewpoint of Hyogo’s Pastoral Past and Future

This article is brought to you through a partnership with the Heart of Japan blog, a project by the Hyogo International Association.   Having defeated a renowned swordsman in a decisive battle at the age of 13 in the early Edo Period (somewhere between 1584 and 1645 according to legend), the fame of masterless-samurai, or rounin,…

Travel: Taipei
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Travel: Taipei

Taipei: Monday – Friday   It’s a joy to live an easy 2 hour flight away from Taiwan, a country boastful of its cheap eats and nights on the streets (in reference to its famous night markets of course). I spent a good working week in and around the capital and was left satisfied and…

Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage: Mimuroto-ji 三室戸寺
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Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage: Mimuroto-ji 三室戸寺

Mimuroto-ji is known as the “Flower Temple,” so it’s a great place to visit during blooming season. Although the gardens managed to look nice even at the ending-edge of winter, my personal recommendation would be to visit during May or especially June, for the blooming of their spectacular ajisai (hydrangea) garden (containing ten-thousand flowers in…

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…

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…