matcha – Susan Spann, Adventure, Mystery, and Mountains

Kumano Kodo 2023: Kyoto Pre-Hike Adventure

Susan Spann Blog, Food, Travel & Tourism November 27, 2023November 25, 2023food, Kyoto, Kyoto Tower, matcha, Nishiki Market, wagyu

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…

Three Days in Nikko

Susan Spann Blog July 4, 2019July 4, 2019Climb, Japan, matcha, mountains, Nikko, travel

I recently spent three days in Nikkō, one of Japan’s most important historical and religious sites. The area is not only a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, but an excellent place for hikers and mountain climbers.

Heaven, Hell, and Off the Beaten Path in Japan

Susan Spann Blog March 17, 2019March 17, 2019Beppu, Japan, Japanese travel, matcha, off the beaten path, travel

I love traveling to new and unexpected places here in Japan, and sharing the experiences I encounter. My trip to Kyushu (Japan’s southernmost major island) last January was both exciting and unexpected, and I’m thrilled to be able to share my experiences in “heaven and hell” at Matcha–which is also, hands-down, the best English-language website for travel ideas and travel advice about Japan. Here’s the link to the first installment of my “Japan, Off the Beaten Path” series: “To Heaven and Hell in Beppu” (with plenty of photos of the adventure, too!)

Traditional Sweets at Hamarikyu Gardens

Susan Spann Blog March 15, 2018Hamarikyu Gardens, Hamarikyu Koen, Japan, matcha, sweets, Tokyo

Although I can’t do much sightseeing this trip due to chemotherapy (compromised immune systems and crowded places do not mix) I’m cleared for outdoor walks, and since Tokyo’s famous Hamarikyu Gardens are only two short blocks from my hotel, I took advantage of the excellent weather and went for a lovely walk this afternoon. Hamarikyu Gardens opened to the public in 1946, but the park has existed for centuries. Originally the private hunting and falconry ground of the Tokugawa shoguns, the gardens are now a public park. The gardens contain several lakes – some of which originally functioned as duck hunting

The Joys of Japan’s Seasonal Cuisine

Susan Spann Blog October 7, 2016November 8, 2017autumn cuisine, Japan, Japanese food, matcha, regional cuisine

Japanese cuisine is heavily seasonal (and regional), with different “specialties” popping up across the country as the seasons turn. From “street food” and snacks to desserts and main courses, menus across Japan change–often radically–with the seasons, making a visit to Japan in the summer a very different culinary experience from a trip in the autumn, winter, or spring. Certain staple flavors, like matcha (a powdered form of green tea), remain on the menu year-round, though the form may change throughout the year. Matcha-flavored cakes, like this one I purchased in Tokyo Station while waiting to catch a shinkansen (bullet train) for Kyoto, are available in any