Find handy itineraries, travel guides and first-hand stories about travelling around Asia.
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… Continue reading
What foods would I recommend to eat in Japan if you’ve never visited before? The short answer is – everything! 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… Continue reading
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… Continue reading
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… Continue reading
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… Continue reading
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… Continue reading
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… Continue reading
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 Japanese Cooking Class to… Continue reading
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… Continue reading
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.… Continue reading
