Every Friday I’ll be sharing a photo from someplace in my travels. This week’s photo is from Owakudani in Hakone, Japan. Owakudani was like no where I had ever seen before, and simply for the colors alone. From the murky ice-blue water of the hot springs to the putrid yellow-green sulfur leaking from the earth, inside […]
Living abroad for an uncertain amount of time can be hard. I left my pets back home and I find myself constantly fighting any temptation to get a pet while in Hong Kong. Lucky for me, while we were in Japan I had the chance to visit a cat cafe. Everyone loves cats. I mean really, […]
If there’s one word you can’t go a day without hearing in Japan, it’s the word kawaii (かわいい). Most commonly translated as “cute,” kawaii has become more than just a cultural phenomena in Japan, it’s become entrenched in daily life. From lovable mascots to adorable eats, there’s no escaping it. Cute is everywhere. And honestly, Japan just wouldn’t be […]
Mount Fuji, the symbol of Japan. An old Japanese proverb once said, “He who does not climb Mt.Fuji is a fool, but he who climbs Mt.Fuji twice is also a fool.” The ascent to Japan’s highest peak truly is a once in a lifetime experience– emphasis on the once since most wouldn’t care to repeat it. […]
Every Friday I’ll be sharing a photo from someplace in my travels. This week’s photo is from Mount Fuji, Japan. At 12,389 ft high, this exceptionally symmetrical stratovolcano is world renowned as a symbol of Japan. It is one of Japan’s “Three Holy Mountains” and many Japanese make the pilgrimage to the top at least once […]
Upon returning from Japan a few weeks ago, the question I received the most was “did you get to see the cherry blossoms?” followed quickly by asking if they could see some pictures. Cherry blossoms, known as sakura in Japan, are beautiful, yet symbolic flowers. Because the blossoms are so fragile and do not last long, they […]
Every Friday I’ll be sharing a photo from someplace in my travels. This week’s photo is of the sakura blossoms in Ueno, Tokyo. With cherry blossoms blooming earlier than ever this year, we were worried we wouldn’t get to see any by the time we arrived in April. Our first day in Tokyo we headed to […]
For years I dreamed of visiting Tokyo. Ever since I first found interest in Japan and its culture, I looked forward to the day when I could finally experience it for myself. I remember being in high school, writing an essay about wanting to experience the bustling crosswalk in Shibuya, wanting to smell the freshest […]
Every Friday I’ll be sharing a photo from someplace in my travels. This week’s photo is from Kinkakuji in Kyoto, Japan. Kyoto is filled with beautiful shrines and temples, but in my opinion, none can be compared to the beauty of Kinkakuji (“Golden Pavilion”). Officially called Rokuon-ji, this Buddhist temple has acquired a lot of fame recently […]
Dotonbori–the symbol of Osaka, the epitome of kuidaore, nestled along the canal of the Umezu river. If there were ever a place to simultaneously exhibit both traditional and modern Japan, it would be here. An area loved by both tourists and locals alike, Dotonbori seems to have something for everyone. If you’re going for a […]