As you travel around Japan, you will likely notice (on signs but probably not in the flesh) little green creatures with beaked mouths and webbed hands and a leafy hat sorta thing. They are kappa,… Read More »What are those green turtle characters with beaks and leaf hats in Japan?
While your Guide was staying in Osaka, I went up to Kyoto for a long-weekend of exploring the temples amongst the eastern hills of the city. The Nohga Hotel Kiyomizu was an ideal base for… Read More »Review: the Nohga Hotel Kiyomizu in Kyoto
Finding a base to adventure from in Tokyo can always feel like you’re making big trade-offs on accessibility, cost, and the things you want to see and eat. But on my most recent trip, your… Read More »Where to stay in Tokyo? Here’s the Goldilocks neighborhood…
Jet lag, client meetings, and the promise of late night ramen shops – juggling it all can be daunting. After landing at Narita Airport, I needed a base I could get to quickly, would set… Read More »Review: The Nohga Hotel Ueno, Tokyo
As somebody who only has three bags, your Guide is intrigued by the possibility of not needing to carry clothes. What to bring, what to leave, how to fit it all in that carry-on? What… Read More »Do you trust an airline to supply your wardrobe to Japan?
In the interest of learning, your Guide recently took two train trips in JR Green Cars, assuming they might be better for getting work done while zipping across the Japanese countryside. Is the Green Car… Read More »Is the JR Green Car worth it on the Shinkansen or Thunderbird?
Japan is this Guide’s favorite country to travel around. There is so much to experience and eat and it’s so well connected. If you’re familiar with Japan, it can be very affordable, especially right now.… Read More »Hotel deals in Japan? There’s one site I’ve had better luck on…
If you’re visiting Japan, you’re probably going to visit a lot of temples, and not only might you be surprised to learn there are different sects of Buddhism, but even within Zen, there are distinct… Read More »What’s the difference between Soto Zen and Rinzai Zen?