Many visitors think that it’s good enough to just visit Gyeongbokgung (‘gung’ means palace), the largest of the five Joseon royal palaces in Seoul. While the palaces may seem similar, they each have their own charm and history. I…
Driving in Japan : Where to Find All Your Mapcodes and How to Use Them
When driving in Japan, the most convenient way to search for a destination in the navigation system of your Japanese rented car is to use mapcode. Using telephone number is easy too except that scenic locations like lakes and mountains…
Early Summer Itinerary for Hokkaido
Last year, I went to Hokkaido to escape the heat of Japan’s early summer. The weather was cool in Hokkaido, like that of Japan’s mainland in spring. I caught the last remaining snow on Daisetsuzan, saw vast fields of…
Forest of Warmth (Nukumori Forest), A Fantasy Village for Ghibli Fans
I chanced upon this charming little Ghibli-like village in Hamamatsu while I was looking for an interesting stopover between Kyoto and Hakone during my September 2017 Japan Trip. Nukumori no Mori (which means Forest of Warmth) is a small village…
Real-Life Satsuki and Mei’s House from My Neighbor Totoro
Many Studio Ghibli fans are excited about the new Ghibli Park which will open in Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park (愛・地球博記念公園) come 2022. But do you know that there is already a real-life version of the house from My Neighbor…
My First Day in a Campervan – Japan September 2017 Trip (Day 2)
After talking for months about traveling by campervan, I finally got the chance to do it during my recent Japan trip. And what an adventure it was! On the first day, I took photos with sunflowers that towered over me,…
What Else To Do In Tokyo – Japan September 2017 Trip (Day 1)
What else to do in Tokyo? On my recent trip to Japan in September 2017, I had to decide on what to do on my only scheduled day in Tokyo (Day 1). After going through my wish list and repeatedly…
A Great Start to Japan September 2017 Trip (Day 0)
Having been to Tokyo twice before, I thought of skipping the city on my September 2017 Western Japan trip. But in the end, I included it in my itinerary because I was arriving at Haneda Airport (羽田空港 HND) at night.…
The Day I Became An Apprentice Geisha
Many come to Kyoto hoping to encounter a Geisha or Maiko (an apprentice Geisha). Instead of just wishing to catch a glimpse of one, why not become one yourself! Read on to find out how I became a Maiko on…
Spring in Okinawa
Spring begins early in Okinawa, where you can enjoy various flower festivals from January to May. This year, I made a trip to the island to catch Japan’s earliest cherry blossoms, cosmos and sunflowers. I also revisited a few of…
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