Fukuyama: The City of Roses
Fukuyama is Hiroshima’s second-largest city. I’ve often passed through on the Shinkansen, admiring its five-tiered yamajiro from the train window. The station-adjacent castle is the city’s most obvious draw. Its…
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Sculpture and Sakura at Tokiwa Park
For the past three years, I’ve called the small coastal city of Ube home. Once a thriving coal-mining town, it’s now the third-largest city in Yamaguchi Prefecture, mostly known for…
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A Walking Tour of Kagawa’s Port City
Kagawa may be the smallest prefecture in Japan, but it has a lot to offer. It’s home to 26 of the 88 temples on the Shikoku Pilgrimage, the art islands…
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Kyoto’s Iconic Bamboo Forest
Is Arashiyama worth it? It’s a question I, and many other travellers, too, I’m sure, have pondered. Kyoto’s iconic bamboo forest gets mixed reviews. You’ve probably already seen pictures of…
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Mimurotoji: The Hydrangea Temple
Japan’s rainy season, known as tsuyu, isn’t my favorite time of year. Starting in mid-June, it’s a long period of rainfall and humidity that lasts until mid-July (followed by the…
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A Stroll Through Kokoen
Just southwest of Himeji Castle, lies a beautiful Japanese garden that offers gorgeous views of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kokoen is 3.5 hectares (8.5 acres) in size and consists…
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Meissen At Simose Art Museum
While browsing Google Maps one day, as my cartophilia has me do, a particular site in the area caught my eye. Mostly because I mistook it for my own name…
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Autumn on Miyajima
For someone who grew up with only two seasons (kak hot and a little chilly, respectively), autumn and spring are still a novelty for me. If I had to choose…
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Inside the Enchanting Sanzenin
Just an hour north of central Kyoto is a small village nestled in the mountains. Ohara is known for its gorgeous scenery, pickled cucumbers, and beautiful Buddhist temple.
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Cosmos in Kameoka
Cosmos, which bloom from early to mid October in Japan, always remind me of home. The flowers aren’t native to South Africa, but they might as well as be. Brought…
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The Great Wisteria Festival
About 80 km (49.7 mi) outside of Tokyo, there’s a 94,000 m² flower park, which is roughly the size of 17 American football fields. And inside the park, sits a…
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