Ibaraki, though not far from Tokyo, is not widely regarded as a destination for international tourists. Yet it can be quite rewarding to get off the beaten track to explore "real" Japan. Moriya, just 30-some minutes from Akihabara on the Tsukuba Express, is a great example. Here, in a day trip from Tokyo, the intrepid … Continue reading Moriya: History, Countryside, Beer and Bath
Month: May 2018
The Pride of Tokyo
By special guest blogger: Oliver Trapnell Despite being a bit of a taboo subject in some countries, LGBTQ groups have become increasingly visible all over the world. Japan is no exception. In Japan, as more people come to understand and accept diversity in society, there has been a gradual growth in both support for and … Continue reading The Pride of Tokyo
Ghibli Museum: The Whimsical World of Miyazaki
We couldn't have picked a better day the visit the Ghibli Museum. It was raining lightly when we arrived, so the colors of the vine-covered building were especially intense; truly another world. By the time we finished, feeling sunny from the wonderful experience we'd just had, the sun had come out. We didn't deliberately choose … Continue reading Ghibli Museum: The Whimsical World of Miyazaki
Koinobori: symbols of strength, courage, and perseverance
I was recently talking to a friend about Japanese baseball teams and, as Americans, we were both puzzled by Hiroshima's mascot of carp. It seemed to us a bit...well, floppy. Neither of us could fathom why a baseball team would choose a slippery, silvery, floppy fish as its symbol. Then we put on our cultural … Continue reading Koinobori: symbols of strength, courage, and perseverance