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Birthdays are special occasions and spending these days abroad away from family can be stressful for most people. During the three years, I’ve lived in Japan, I have made it a habit to travel to a new prefecture every birthday to feel less lonely. My husband and I chose Yamaguchi this year and had an adventurous week there.

We left Kobe before sunrise and arrived in Yamaguchi after a seven-hour drive. Along the way, we stopped by a few places around Hiroshima to rest and gaze at views of the Seto Inland Sea. Here’s what we got up to:

First stop: Iwakuni
Photo: Bahanur AlisogluA piece of history.
Our first destination, Iwakuni, is best known for the five-arch wooden Kintai Bridge that runs across the Nishiki River. Kikko Park has samurai-era residences and most of the area’s albino snakes. These snakes are considered national treasures and very hard to come by. From the park, a cable car ascends to the top of Mount Shiroyama, offering panoramic views of Iwakuni Castle.

Discovering Ak..

Historically, Otaru was a thriving port city that was vital in linking Hokkaido with the rest of Japan. Now, Otaru is known for its historic cityscape with beautiful stone-built warehouses, banks and canal. It is the perfect getaway when visiting the northern island of Hokkaido.
We will introduce everything you need to know about how to get to and the best places to stay in Otaru as well as other areas interest you may not know about!
Main image: PIXTA
1. Getting to and from Otaru
Otaru is filled with cute boutiques, restaurants, and food stalls, like these in Otaru Denuki Koji. Photo: PIXTA
a. Ease of access to/from New Chitose Airport
・Train: From New Chitose Airport to Otaru, it takes 80 minutes by the JR Rapid Airport train (2,750 yen o/w). Note that if you hold the Japan Rail Pass (or JR Hokkaido Rail Pass), you can ride it for free.
・Bus: You can also get the New Chitose Airport Limousine Bus from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo Station, then take the Chuo Bus to Otaru Station (t..

Intrepid surfers are known for traveling to the far reaches of the globe to find quality waves. While Kochi Prefecture, in southern Shikoku Island, may not qualify as remote, it is far away from the frenetic pace of Osaka, Tokyo and other large cities in Japan. Bruce Dillon, an avid Australian surfer, laid roots in Kuroshio, a town located in the Hata District of Kochi, and has built a “surf dojo” where aspiring surfers can get their feet wet and get a taste for the surfing lifestyle. The Hata area has numerous surf breaks, delicious local cuisine and a laid-back culture that is ideal for extended holidays or remote work away from the crowds.

It takes just an hour by plane to leave behind the dense cityscape of Tokyo for the lush mountains and expansive view of Tosa Bay. When you emerge, the inviting warm air and relaxed atmosphere feels like you just landed in Hawaii. Locals’ friendly demeanor reinforces the vibe. It’s a two-hour drive from Kochi Ryoma Airport to Kuroshio Town. This ..

Bar Sick! is only open to English speakers.
In Japanese schools, English is a compulsory subject, but once students graduate it can be hard for them to find opportunities to use the language they’ve spent so many years learning.
Here to help with that is Shibuya-based company Cloud N Co., who’ve come up with the idea to open two bars in Japan — one in Osaka and one in Tokyo — where speaking English is compulsory.
Called Bar Sick! or “Sick!” for short, the new drinking holes are strictly English-speaking only, with staff consisting mostly of bilingual women in their 20s with native-level English conversation skills. Presumably, the name of the bar comes from the slang meaning of “sick”, referring to something that’s particularly great or impressive, rather than the literal meaning of the word.
▼ The Tokyo branch of Bar Sick! (pictured below) will be opening up in Nishi-Azabu, an area that’s home to a large number of foreign residents and embassies.
Japanese is completely banned at both ..

Hozenji Yokocho is a popular tourist attraction in Osaka's Namba neighborhood. However, despite being so close to Dotonbori, another sightseeing hotspot, it has quite a different atmosphere. With its red lanterns, cobblestone paths, and the famous Hozenji temple and Mizukake Fudo-son statue, you will get to see a more traditional side of Japan.
There are many things to do around the city, including joining the lunch and dinner crowd for some Osaka gourmet. Today, we will introduce some of the best ways to enjoy your trip, from strolling the Hozenji Yokocho area, to visiting the temple, to indulging in some local delicacies!
What kind of place is Hozenji Yokocho?
Hozenji Yokocho was originally a precinct of Hozenji, a temple of the Jodo Sect of Tenryuzan, where many worshipers came and went. Eventually, stalls were developed along the side streets for worshipers. Unfortunately, they were once lost in the Pacific War raids, but were rebuilt after the war and has since become a prime..

As a baseball lover, I’ve had the pleasure of catching a game at every professional ballpark in Japan. Nippon Professional Baseball’s 12 teams stretch from tip to tip of the country, and how each team’s fans celebrate the game is as different as the stadiums that house them.

From Hokkaido to Kyushu, I was treated to unique ways of experiencing baseball: hearing the chants, seeing the colors and tasting the local flavors. As stubbornly conservative as the gameplay can sometimes be, the fan experience is refreshingly distinct from city to city and team to team.

Here are the highlights (and lowlights) of my experiences in every pro ballpark in the country.

Stadium Neighborhood
Regional Delights
Adult Beverages
History
In-Stadium Entertainment
Team Celebration
Fans
Exposure to Elements
Team Store and Merchandise
Overall

Stadium Neighborhood
Photo: WikiCommons/ 横浜1978The surrounding neighborhood has tons of options for post-game celebrations.
Best: DeNA Baystars
Yokohama Stadium is with..

Recently, all-you-can-eat yakiniku restaurants have been popping up all over the place, drawing in crowds of groups and families. With so many side dishes, and such reasonable prices, these shops have become a hot topic as a place where you can eat your fill.
Today we check out the 298 (Nikuya) Shinsaibashi location and introduce the all-you-can-eat yakiniku menu, the ordering process, and the delicious assortment of popular side dishes.
What is 298 (Nikuya) Shinsaibashi?
From Shinsaibashi Shopping Street, head toward the landmark Daikoku Pharmacy.
The popular shop, 'All-You-Can-Eat Yakiniku 298' (pronounced 'Nikuya,' or 'meat shop'), has several branches, including one in Umeda near Osaka Station, one in the downtown area of Namba in Osaka Minami, and one in Kobe's Sannomiya.
The newest branch, which opened in March of 2022, is located in Shinsaibashi, a popular shopping spot with lines of trendy shops and fashion boutiques that cater to a wide rang..

There are plenty of beautiful Japanese gardens in Kyoto that are worth visiting. At a Strolling Pond Garden, you can stroll around a large pond or hop on a boat.
Karesansui, or dry landscape gardens, replicate magnificent scenery and the spirit of Zen using no water, just stones and sand. There's a mysterious charm to these Japanese gardens that has grown and captivated viewers' hearts throughout its history, and tempts one to gaze out at them forever.
Saki Yamada, director of the Heritage and Garden Artistry division of the long-established Kyoto landscaping firm Ueyakato Landscape, founded in 1848, lets us in on some secrets about Japanese gardens and shares tips on enjoying them.
Top photo: Murin-an (Photo: Ueyakato Landscape)
We speak with Ueyakato Landscape, a landscaping company that develops scenic gardens
Saki Yamada, Heritage and Garden Artistry Division Director, Ueyakato Landscape (Photo: Ueyakato Landscape)
We spoke with landscaping firm Ueyakato Landscape. Since ..

While visiting Kyoto, you can't miss the Arashiyama area, which is home to the bamboo forest and one of the area's most scenic Kyoto river cruises. The Hozugawa River Boat Ride (Hozugawa Kudari) is a popular 2-hour, 16km cruise past cherry blossoms in spring and stunning autumn foliage in fall.
The Hozugawa River Boat Ride's 400 Years of History
Ruled by Akechi Mitsuhide, the former mountain castle town of Kameoka is located to the northwest of Kyoto. About an 8-minute walk from JR Kameoka Station is the boarding area for the Hozugawa River Boat Ride.
▲The boarding area located near Hozugawa equipped with 100 free parking spaces
The history of the Hozugawa River Boat Ride is old. In 1606, it was developed as an industrial waterway by a wealthy merchant of Kyoto, Suminokura Ryoi. It was used to deliver goods such as lumber, firewood, and charcoal to the capital from Tanba Province.
After the invention of railways and cars, the delivery methods have changed; however, the H..

Regarding shrines and temples in Japan, most thoughts go to the Fushimi Inari and Kiyomizudera in Kyoto or the Todaiji temple in Nara. However, if you’re brave enough to stray from the shinkansen to the reaches of Fukui and Mie prefecture, you’ll discover some of the most significant places of worship in Buddhism and Shinto.

So let’s talk about my trips to the Shrines of Ise and Daihonzan Eiheiji, two of Japan’s most atmospheric and historical holy sites.

Okage Yokocho ancient street
Photo: iStock/ SeanPavonePhotoTravel back to the Edo period in Ise city.
Ise is a small city nestled on the eastern coast of Mie prefecture. Before arriving, this was all I knew about the city, besides the fact that it was home to a nice shrine.

I didn’t expect to be greeted by a living, breathing Edo-period town. The streets are lined with beautiful Edo-era buildings, completely open storefronts and restaurants. Even though most of these shops were just the typical assortment of sweets and souvenir sto..