Flying north all the way to Hokkaido a couple of weeks ago, I saw beautiful nature and see yet another new side of Japan. However this week, I was reminded how there are so much yet to discover right within my neighborhood in Hiroo in Tokyo. I have shared in the past post about Hiroo, … Continue reading Power spot in the heart of Tokyo residential area: Hiroo Shrine
To celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary, we finally visited the last prefecture we haven't set foot on, 岩手 Iwate prefecture in Tohoku located in the northern part of Japan's main island. We caught the shinkansen from Tokyo to Shinhanamaki station in Iwate to start our weekend. First stop: Bite into Iwate We started our trip … Continue reading A weekend away in Iwate
This is the continuation of 4 day road trip in Shikoku (read the part 1 in Kochi). After enjoying the nature walk in Nakatsu Gorge in Kochi on the first day, we drove east towards Tokushima prefecture. Our destination was hidden in the valley of Tokushima prefecture; one of the 3 most hidden areas; Iya … Continue reading Part 2 Shikoku Road Trip – Tokushima and Kagawa
Last weekend, we visited the Kinki region to view the cherry blossoms. To start, we caught the shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto and caught 2 Kintetsu railway trains to 吉野山 (Yoshino mountain). Note: For Kintetsu railway, additional charge applies to reserve seats. About Yoshino Mountain in Nara Yoshino Mountain's cherry trees have been protected for … Continue reading Cherry blossom season in Kyoto, Nara and Shiga
November 23rd is a labor thanksgiving day in Japan which is the last public holiday of the year. As the following day is my husband's birthday, we ventured out on a birthday celebration trip to 三重 (Mie) and to 和歌山 (Wakayama) prefectures in Kinki region in Japan.The main reason I decided to visit these two … Continue reading Getaway to Wakayama and Mie coastline
As Tokyo and a number of other prefectures drag on the state of the emergency (which has been extended again during June), we continue to explore our neighbourhood. One thing that I really cherish since moving back to Japan is the fact that I can visit shrines⛩. There are tiny shrines without priest and there … Continue reading Step up to success at Atago Shrine
During the Golden Week holiday season that started from April 29, we have been road tripping in Kyushu, Japan. Last week, I shared the first 2 days of our trip where we flew into Oita prefecture to enjoy onsen in Japan’s onsen town, Beppu, and drove to Kumamoto in the mountain side (if you missed … Continue reading Kyushu road trip part 2
The coronavirus number has been going down and although we are still in a state of emergency, many people we know have been traveling or making travel plans. I have wanted to go strawberry picking since we moved to Tokyo 2 years ago (I've mentioned about it in one of my early posts) but haven't … Continue reading Tokyo weekend getaway: Charming Chichibu Saitama
あけましておめでとう(Akemashite omedeto) or happy new year to 2021! Let’s hope that 2021 will bring some light at the end of the long tunnel called covid-19 🤞🤞. New Years is the biggest event for Japanese. We have a lot of traditions at this time of the year (previously mentioned in my blog posts about the big … Continue reading Holy cow: Japanese New Year celebration
From 1st of March, Japan is in spring. Oh these pink bursts in front of this shrine? No, these beautiful blossoms aren’t cherry blossoms – they are plum blossoms. Spring is in the air Not known to many foreigners, plum blossoms end the Japanese winter and kicks off the spring season between mid-February to the … Continue reading Bring on spring!
Native Expat 