Discovering Sapporo Soup Curry
スープカレーSūpu KarēSoup Curry When you think of Japanese curry, you probably imagine that thick, sweet brown sauce ladled over rice. But Sapporo, the capital of…
Sapporo Beer Museum – Japan’s Only Beer Museum
サッポロビール博物館Sapporo Beer Museum Official Name: サッポロビール博物館 Sapporo Bīru Hakubutsukan Website: https://www.sapporobeer.jp/english/brewery/s_museum/ Address: Kita 7-jo, Higashi 9-chome 1-1, Higashi-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 065-0007, Japan Nearest Station: Higashi-Kuyakusho-Mae…
Fall Viewing at Hōheikyō Dam – Momijigari in Hokkaido
豊平峡ダムHōheikyō Dam Official Name: 豊平峡ダム Hōheikyō Dam Toyohira Gorge Dam Website: http://www.houheikyou.jp/ Address: Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 061-2301, Japan Nearest Station: JR Sapporo Station Bus…
Dance of the White Heron – Shirasagi-no-Mai
白鷺の舞Shirasagi-no-Mai One early morning in April, as cherry blossoms begin their descent and spring settles over Tokyo, we made our way to Senso-ji in Asakusa…
Dancing with Spirits – Hokkai Bon Odori
Hokkai Bon Odori北海盆踊り On a warm August evening, we made our way to Odori Park, where the rhythmic beat of taiko drums already echoed between…
Aerial Chips – The 4-Layered Wonder
エアリアル 焼きとうもろこし味"Aerial" I've always been skeptical of Japanese snacks that seem too engineered. You know the type – those perfectly formed, almost architectural-looking treats that…
Kinkaku-ji – The Golden Pavilion in Kyoto
金閣寺Kinkaku-jiTemple of the Golden Pavilion Official Name:鹿苑寺Rokuon-ji Deer Garden Temple Website: https://www.shokoku-ji.jp/en/kinkakuji/ Address: 1 Kinkakujicho, Kita Ward, Kyoto, 603-8361, Japan Nearest Stations: Kita-Oji Station, Kitanohakubaicho…
Eating Gobo
牛蒡 ごぼうGobō Also known as Great Burdock. U-eong in Korean. Niúbàng in Chinese. And Arctium lappa in Latin. When living in a new country for…
The Rooster Festival – Tori No Ichi
酉の市Tori No Ichi When we lived in Tokyo, we really wanted to experience a matsuri or festival -- Tori No Ichi ended up being our…
How Huge is Sig?
The short answer: coming to Japan I weighed in at 147-kilograms (325 lb) and I am 190 cm (6' 3") tall. In the US, I'm…
My Quarantine Diet is Working
Good things from bad situations In my second month of sequestration during the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided to finally go back to dieting. It's been…
Sweet Potato KitKat Minis
スイートポテトキットカット ミニSweet Potato Kit Kat Minis Package Style: Autumn seasonal box, 11 kit kat minisPrice: ¥980 Taste: 4/5 Smell: 4/5 Texture: 4/5 Value: 3/5 When…
Umaibo – The Delicious Stick
うまい棒 Umaibō "Delicious Stick" I’m not into kid snacks and sweets. In America, sweets for children are usually too sweet and dyed in unnaturally bright…
Tale of the Stolen Wallet
Japan has some of the best rates of returned wallets in the world. That said, nowhere is 100% safe. I've had great luck here but…
Sensō-ji – The Temple of Kannon in Asakusa
Sensō-ji浅草寺 Temple of Asakusa Official Name: Kinryūzan Sensō-ji 金龍山浅草寺 Golden Dragon Mountain Sensō Temple Website: https://www.senso-ji.jp/english/ Address: 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan Nearest Stations:…
Kadomatsu: Three Friends of Winter
門松Kadomatsu“Gate Pine” Japan loves its New Year’s decorations. It's reminiscent of western Christmas decorations, something to bring verdant cheer to grey winters. Just after Christmas,…
Elevator Observations in Japan
One bit of cultural minutia I noticed in Japan is the etiquette in elevators. It's not especially elaborate but it is more purposeful and uniform…
Shinshu Apple Kit Kat Minis
信州りんごキットカット ミニShinshu Apple Kit Kat Minis Package Style: Regional souvenir box, 12 kit kat minisPrice: ¥900 Taste: 4/5 Smell: 5/5 Texture: 4/5 Value: 3/5 When…
Rikugien Garden
六義園Rikugi-en Address: 6 Chome-16-3 Honkomagome, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 113-0021 Nearest Station: Komagome Station Website: https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/teien/en/rikugien/ Hours: 9:00 – 16:00 Price: ¥300 Rikugien is one of…
One year in Japan: Sig’s Reflections
I arrived in Japan in mid-November of 2018. It was the result of a long-time interest in Japan, a lifestyle choice to become a traveler,…
Hamarikyu Gardens
浜離宮恩賜庭園 Hama-rikyū Onshi Teien Address: 1-1 Hamarikyūteien, Chuo City, Tōkyō-to 104-0046 Nearest Stations: Shiodome Station, Tsukijishijo Station Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 Price: ¥300 Between skyscrapers…
Yebisu Garden Place Winter Illumination
恵比寿ガーデンプレイスYebisu Garden Place Winter illumination Location: 150-6018 Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Ebisu, 4-20 Nearest Station: Ebisu Station Dates: November to February Lighting Hours: 16:00 – 24:00 Website:…
Tokyo City Sky View at Roppongi Hills Mori Tower
六本木ヒルズ森タワーの東京シティビュー Roppongi Hiruzu Mori Tawā no Tokyo City Sky View Address: 〒106-0032 Tokyo, Minato City, Roppongi, 6 Chome−10−1, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 52 Floor Website:…
Tokyo Skytree
東京スカイツリーTōkyō Sukaitsurī Address: 〒131-0045 Tokyo, Sumida City, Oshiage 1-chome-1-2 Website: http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/ Nearest Train Station: Tokyo Skytree Station, Oshiage Station Hours: 8:00 – 21:00 Floors: 340-350…
Bunkyo Civic Center Observation Lounge
文京シビックセンター展望ラウンジBunkyō shibikkusentā tenbō raunji Address: 〒112-8555 Tōkyō-to, Bunkyo City, Kasuga, 1-chōme−16−21 Website: https://www.city.bunkyo.lg.jp/bunka/kanko/osusume/lounge.html Nearby Stations: Korakuen Station, Kasuga Station, Suidobashi Station Hours: 9:00 to 20:30…
Yebisu Garden Place Tower Sky Lounge (Top of Yebisu)
恵比寿ガーデンプレイスタワースカイラウンジYebisu gādenpureisutawā sukairaunji Address: 〒150-6018 Tokyo Shibuya-ku Ebisu 4-20 Website: https://gardenplace.jp/special/top_of_yebisu/ Nearest Station: Ebisu Station Floor: 38 & 39 Hours: 11:00 - 24:00 Price: FREE!…
Sky Carrot Observation Lobby
スカイキャロット展望ロビーSukai Kyarotto tenbō robī Address: 〒154-0004 Tōkyō-to, Setagaya City, Taishidō, 4-chōme−1−1 Website: https://www.city.setagaya.lg.jp Nearby Train Stations: Sangenjaya Station Floor: 26 Hours: 9:30 – 23:00 Price:…
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Rooms
東京都庁舎観察室展望室Tōkyō-to Chōsha kansatsu shitsu Address: 〒163-8001 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Nishishinjuku, 2-chōme−8−1 Website: http://www.yokoso.metro.tokyo.jp/en/tenbou/index.html Nearby Train Stations: Shinjuku Station Hours: 9:30 – 23:00 Floor: 24 Price:…
Caretta Shiodome Sky View
カレッタ汐留 SKY VIEWCaretta Shiodome Sky View Address: 〒105-7090 Tokyo, Minato-ku, Higashishimbashi, 1-chōme−8-2 Website: https://www.caretta.jp/foreign/index Nearby Train Stations: Shimbashi Station Hours: 11:00 – 23:00 Floors: 46…
Tower Hall Funabori Observation Deck
タワーホール船堀 展望室 Tawāhōru Funabori tenbō-shitsu Address: 〒134-0091, Tokyo, Edogawa City, Funabori, 4-chome-1-1 Website: http://www.towerhall.jp/1facility/facility-up.html Nearest Train Station: Funabori Station Floor: 7 Hours: 9:00 – 21:00…
Moving to Sapporo
After living in Tokyo Anne and I made the jump north to Sapporo in the Hokkaido region of Japan. I wanted to write a bit…
Amanatto – the Edo Period Treat!
甘納豆AmanattoSugar Coated Beans I first discovered Amanatto while wandering around Tsukiji Outer Market. A woman with a bright smile held up a bowl of dark-colored…
Ginkaku-ji – The Silver Pavilion in Kyoto
Ginkaku-ji銀閣寺Temple of the Silver Pavilion Official Name:Jishō-ji慈照寺Temple of Shining Mercy Website: https://www.shokoku-ji.jp/en/ginkakuji/ Address: 2 Ginkakujicho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8402, Japan Nearest Stations: Mototanaka Station (28…
Good things from bad situations
In my second month of sequestration during the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided to finally go back to dieting. It's been quite some time since I…
Philosopher’s Walk
Walk Like a Philosopher Among Shrines & Temples 哲学の道Tetsugaku-no-michi“Path of Philosophy” Distance: 4 km (2.4 miles) Start: Jisho-ji (aka Ginkaku-ji, “Temple of the Silver Pavilion”)…
How to Do Laundry in Japan
Congratulations! You’ve got an apartment and you have a washing machine. But where’s the dryer? Oh, there is none, but we will get to that…
Yanaka Ginza
Want to experience a bit of retro Tokyo? Then visit Yakana Ginza in the Northwestern edge of Taitō City. Within a five-minute walk of either…
Visiting the Dentist In Japan
So there I was, eating my eggs and toast for breakfast when I detected something hard and suspiciously tooth-like rattling around in my mouth. This…
Tokyo Convenience Stores
If you were to pick adjectives that are essential to understanding Tokyo, "convenient" would be a pretty choice to put high on the list. I…
How Huge is Anne?
I'll be up front; I don't like talking too much about my state of health. For me, it's deeply personal, something I only share with…
The Minority Report
I'm keen on new experiences in life, and one I was looking forward to was being a minority and a foreigner living in a foreign…
Walking in Tokyo
Curiously, one of my strongest impressions of Tokyo is my experience walking in the city. In America, urban planners are often besides themselves trying to…
My first job in Japan: GABA
To be in Japan longer than 3 months I needed to have a full time job of some kind. Most work in Japan requires some…
Religion in Japan
For better or worse: better Let me just say straight away, I have a huge bias on this topic. I've been an agnostic and atheist…
Nezu Shrine
Address: 1 Chome-28-9 Nezu, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 113-0031, JapanGeographic coordinates: 35°43′13″N 139°45′39″E / 35.72028°N 139.76083°E Nezu Shrine (根津神社 - Nezu-jinja) hides well like a precious…
Pooping in Japan
For Better or Worse: Better Just in case the title didn't tip you off, this article is rather frank about its subject. It is for…
Why Did We move to Japan?
Just why did we move to Japan? Anne and I came to Japan as travelers, but travelers who live wherever they travel. Since we sold…
Japan: Better or Worse?
Is Japan Better or Worse? It's fun to make comparisons. I've lived all my life in America as an American, and this is my first…
Boston National Historical Park
Boston. Beantown. City on a Hill. The Athens of America. The Cradle of Liberty. So many nicknames for this one city in the state of…
Niagara Falls Maid of the Mist
Before I see Niagra Falls, I hear a deep distant roar. We make our way to the railing and my mouth drops open to let…
