Last week, my friend and I headed south from Tokyo to spend a day in Kyoto before embarking on our week-long hike of the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi…
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Tokyo From 450 Meters Up: Sunset at the Skytree
I’ve lived in Japan for five years–three months of which, I spent in a rented apartment one block from the famous Tokyo Skytree–a 634-meter tower that was the tallest man-made structure in the world when it first opened in 2012. As of 2023, the Skytree is “only” the third tallest (behind the 828m Burj Khalifa in Dubai and the 678.9m Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur) but it’s still an impressive sight.
Read moreThe Yamanashi Gem Museum: A Hidden Treasure Near Mt. Fuji
I found an unexpected “jewel” on the shore of Lake Yamanako: the Yamanashi Gem Museum…
Read moreVisiting the Famous Snow Monsters of Mt. Zao
Last month, I rode the shinkansen three and a half hours north from Tokyo to Yamagata Prefecture, where I hopped a bus to Zao Onsen, a hot spring resort that’s home to one of the Nihon Hyakumeizan (100 Famous Mountains of Japan) and a winter wonderland famous for volcanic hot spring baths, excellent skiing, and a unique natural phenomenon called “snow monsters.”
Read moreOsaka’s Famous Dotonbori Lights Up the Night
A couple of months ago, I spent the night in Osaka. I had to leave the next morning, but made the most of the time I had with an evening trip to Dotonbori – an entertainment district not far from Osaka Namba Station that’s famous for good food and over-the-top neon lights.
Read moreHappy New Year from Tokyo!
I’ve been on hiatus for a while, traveling and recharging the batteries, but it’s time to restart the engines for the year to come! I spent the New Year with family members visiting from the USA; at sunset, we rode the elevators to the 31st floor of the Tokyo Solamachi Skytree Center, hoping to catch a glimpse of Mt. Fuji as the sun went down. As you can see, we got lucky: Wishing you and all of your families a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year filled with delightful surprises!
Read moreRiding the Akechidaira Ropeway to a Bird’s Eye View of Nikko’s Kegon Falls
I love Japanese ropeways (the Japanese term for gondola lifts), and last month I checked another one off my “to-ride” list: the Akechidaira Ropeway in Nikko (Tochigi Prefecture), north of Tokyo. The ropeway sits in the mountains, not far from Lake Chuzenji in Upper Nikko, and is accessible either by car or by bus from JR Nikkō or Tobu Nikkō Station. Since my ride was actually the start of a day hike through the mountains, I hopped the bus from Tobu Nikkō station for the 30-minute ride. The only thing at the bus stop is the ropeway itself, a parking
Read moreDiscover the Secret Icicles of Narusawa Ice Cave in Yamanashi’s Suicide Forest
A few weeks ago, I took a visit to Narusawa Ice Cave, in Aokigahara (Japan’s famed “suicide forest”), to see the massive natural icicles that form there, underground.
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