Blog
When I’m not producing content for my clients, I write and take photos about my life in Japan for fun and post the stories here.
Forget Kyoto and Tokyo – The 5 Best Alternative Cities for First Time Visitors to Japan
While Kyoto chokes on tourists, countless other cities and regions of Japan that are equally charming, beautiful or historic remain virtually ignored. Here are 5 amazing cities in Japan other than Kyoto and Tokyo that are easily accessible even to first-time visitors to Japan.
Gohime – The Shogun’s Daughter Who Became A Christian
Discover the story of how Gohime, daughter of the Japanese warlord who first made Christianity illegal in Japan, became a Christian herself.
Could Yamaguchi City Become the New Kyoto?
In 2023, writer Craig Mod created quite a stir in the sleepy town of Morioka in Iwate Prefecture by naming it as his pick for places to visit in 2023 for a New York Times article. A media frenzy ensued (especially here in Japan, where Craig's pick completely...
How Hachiko the 100-year-old Dog Still Inspires a Nation
Japan's most beloved dog, Hachiko celebrates his 100th birthday this month, or in dog years, his 700th birthday, which is approaching Dog Methuselah years. Of course, dear Hachiko is no longer with us, having crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 1935 after faithfully waiting...
Fables of the Japanese Conbini
Everybody thinks they know how awesome Japanese convenience stores are, but did you also know these things?
The Alien Among Us
You may find yourself at peace in natural surroundings whose love for you isn’t so unrequited… but the image of Kinsaku Baru will haunt you, in a wistful way not entirely unpleasant, and it will change you.
Tea Ceremony, Rebooted
This past weekend, I finally exhaled. Well, that was the feeling anyway, as my tea ceremony teacher along with another group of teachers and students hosted a tea ceremony event at a lovely venue in Nihonbashi. When COVID struck Japan over two years ago, tea ceremony...
Why You May Never Go To Kochi (Even Though You Should)
Ask many city-dwelling Japanese if they have ever visited Kochi Prefecture in the southern part of Japan's Shikoku Island, and the reaction might include a bit of teeth-sucking. 行くにのちょっと不便だねー Iku ni no chotto fuben da ne? "It's a little inconvenient to get there,...
Escape to paradise with 14 of your closest friends
Atagoya is one of those special places combining history and luxury, the product of a young entrepreneur restoring Japan’s historic kominka folk houses.









