Articles on the Country’s Hidden Gems — To be completely honest with you, I absolutely adore the experience of writing here on Medium. From the already-present community of people who enjoy reading in-depth articles to the amazing publishing interface, there’s a lot to love about this amazing platform. That said, one of the biggest downsides to Medium…

Why I Love Always Traveling — For some time, I’ve been wondering why it is that I adore traveling in Japan SO much. In one sense, this should be self-evident; after all, Japan is hands down the best place on the planet. And so, it only makes sense that I would derive a deep sense of…

Explore More of “Kyoto by the Sea” — Despite being one of the most popular places in all of Japan, few international visitors realize that Kyoto City itself is but one part of a much, much larger prefecture. Confusingly called Kyoto Prefecture, this slot of land is simply massive and shouldn’t be confused with what’s often hailed…

Visit This Hidden Gem in Nagano — These days, almost everyone has heard of Nagano. Thanks to its capital city being the host of the 1998 Winter Olympics, this part of central Japan has a lot of recognition internationally (even among those who have never visited the country before). Alas, while places like Nagano City and the…

Springtime in Miyagi — Today, I want to take a second to introduce a pair of attractions from my adventures this spring. Known as the Hitome Senbonzakura and Funaoka Castle Ruins Park, this duo of destinations can be found up in the southernmost portions of Miyagi Prefecture. Known for their annual cherry blossom festival…

Cherry Blossoms & the Frontier of Ezo — Lately, the many spots for cherry blossoms in northern Japan’s Tohoku region have been getting more and more attention. Perhaps partially due to my incessant promotion of places like the ever-amazing Hirosaki Park, I am now seeing a lot more foreign faces joining in the cherry blossom hunt up north…

Enjoying Spring in Saitama — Today, I’d like to introduce you to yet another part of Japan that is amazing during the springtime. Locally known as the Kumagaya Sakura Tsutsumi, this hidden gem can be found up in Saitama Prefecture along the Arakawa riverbank. Every year during the period from late March to early April…

Spring’s Mecca for Cosplay — Today, I’d like to introduce you all to a cherry blossom spot that most overseas visitors to Japan have never even heard of. Referred to in Japanese as the Senbonzakura of Torayama (lit. “The 1,000 Cherry Blossom Trees of Mt. Tiger”), this hidden locale can be found up in the…

One of Tokyo’s Top Cherry Blossom Spots — At least insomuch as my own personal outings have been concerned, the 2023 cherry blossom season has largely been a wet one. I guess that is part and parcel of being what the Japanese call an ame-otoko (lit. “rainy guy”). Not wanting to let the spring downpours cancel my chance…