Quenching your thirst for travel
Any visit to Osaka, Japan must include a walk through its Namba and Dotonbori districts after dark. The massive flashing neon signs, hoards of people, and all the sights, sounds and smells truly bring these neighborhoods to life in the evening. But first, a little clarification: Are Namba and Dotonbori the Same Neighborhood? You may see Namba and Dotonbori used … Read more A Guide to Namba and Dotonbori, Osaka After Dark
One of the greatest things about traveling to a new place is experiencing new cuisine and local specialties. And Japan is one of our favourite destinations for trying new foods, as well as indulging in some old favourites. These are some of the things you should eat when visiting Japan. This is hardly a comprehensive … Read more 15 Things You Need to Eat in Japan
Not to be confused with Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, Ginkaku-ji is the Temple of the Silver Pavilion. Despite the name though, it’s not actually covered in silver leaf. In fact, it’s much more modest than the Temple of the Golden Pavilion. But in a way, this makes it even more special. The Silver Pavilion … Read more Ginkaku-ji – The Temple of the Silver Pavilion in Kyoto
Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, located in Kyoto, is one of those sites you have to see to believe. It manages to exist in its own world of contradictions, making it a fascinating site to visit. It’s both gaudy yet modest, touristy while still feeling local, and overcrowded while still … Read more Kinkaku-ji – The Temple of the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto
There are very few pre-packaged meals that are as simple as cup noodles. You just peel back the foil-lined lid, pour in hot water, cover and wait. Within a few short minutes, you have a hot meal ready to go. But have you ever wondered who invented this quick meal-in-a-cup or how the idea came … Read more Make Your Own Soup at the Cup Noodles Museum!
If you go to Japan, one unique experience that may or may not be on your list of things to do is to visit a maid cafe. My husband and I did go to one in Tokyo, both out of our own curiosity and also on the advice of a friend. It was…different. A Brief … Read more What to Know Before You Go to a Maid Cafe in Japan
While doing research for our recent visit to Japan, one “must-do,” food-wise, stood out for me in particular. We absolutely had to stop in at Karafuneya, a coffee shop specializing in sweet, beautiful parfait desserts. Karafuneya started in 1972 in Kyoto, and they now specialize in making over 150 different types of desserts, parfaits and … Read more A Sweets-Filled Lunch at Karafuneya, Kyoto
On our recent trip to Japan, Mark and I booked an entire week in Tokyo. We were a little worried that it might be a bit too long in one place (it wasn’t, luckily!). So to break up the time, I booked a Japanese cooking class for us. How We Chose Which Course to Take When … Read more Taking a Japanese Cooking Class in Tokyo
Last week I talked about some of the gashapon capsule toys that Mark and I discovered while travelling through Japan. We brought back quite a variety, ranging from adorable to downright weird. But we discovered one series of gashapon toys that we both fell in love with – Cup No Fuchiko, or Fuchiko on the … Read more The Weird and Wacky World of Japanese Gashapon Toys – Part 2
Do you remember the mystique and excitement of vending machines when you were a child? They were full of candy, bubble gum and various toys, and utterly irresistible. You probably also remember the distinctive sound as you turned the dial and anxiously awaited, with your tiny hand under the spout, to receive your surprise treasure. … Read more The Weird and Wacky World of Japanese Gashapon Toys – Part 1