Japan
Lone Pilgrim On The Kumano Kodo
On my second day in Kumano Kodo, I came across an unsettling sight nestled into the mountain ridge: a moss-choked shrine to Jizo, the guardian of travelers. This spot in Kumano Kodo marked the place where, in 1854, locals had come across the corpse of a lone pilgrim. The mossy Jizo reminded me just how […]
You Don’t Know Iwate In Japan, But Here’s Why You Should
Travel to Iwate may be off the beaten path for most travelers coming to Japan who are much more familiar with the mega-cities Japan is known for, but with its rural vibe and abundant sights steeped in history, there’s no question Iwate should be a part of any visitor’s trip to the country. Chances are, […]
Tokyo Travel For The Food And Culture Obsessed
When you travel to Tokyo, it’s hard not to fall back on certain well-worn travel clichés to describe the experience. Whether it’s the ever-present pull you see and feel between ancient Japanese tradition and the realities of modernity, the experience of walking through chaotic cityscapes then finding yourself in a serene Shinto shrine, or the […]
Here’s What Tokyo’s Shibuya Crossing Looked Like On Halloween Night
If you thought Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo’s famous crosswalk, was crazy normally, wait until you see what it looks like on Halloween Night. I shot this clip from the elevated subway station on Halloween night while I was in Tokyo around 9 p.m. My initial intention was to explore the neighborhood to see what it was […]
The World’s Shortest Escalator Can Be Found Just South Of Tokyo [Travel Video]
In case you find yourself in the city of Kawasaki, Japan (located just south of Tokyo), you won’t find much beyond the local baseball stadium, Kawasaki Stadium, and a large industrial center along the waterfront. However, if you get out at the Kawasaki Train Station and head across the street to the More’s department store, […]
Top 6 Hipster Neighborhoods Around The World
Once an evasive creature contained to their natural habitats in Williamsburg, Portland and Austin, hipster culture is now globally ubiquitous. Blame it on cultural imperialism, the undeniable twee delight of appliqué birds, or the sheer convenience of ironic facial hair, just know this: The hipster has reached these international cities, and will no doubt continue to penetrate the far-flung […]
My Experience During The Japan Earthquake One Year Ago
It struck around 2:45 in the afternoon on what had been a beautiful spring day. I was nearing the end of my contract as an English teacher at a middle school about an hour outside Tokyo. I’d been in good spirits due to the winding down of the workday and the promise of the weekend. […]
Where To Find Snow Monsters In Japan
For those of us in that vast portion of North America that has remained snow-free for most of the year, the idea of a snow monster haunting the frigid landscape outside the safe confines of our homes seems a bit abstract. But in Japan, it is a very real prospect, that is if you consider […]
I Wish Annoying Tourists Would Leave The Tsukiji Fish Market Alone
I’m crazy for pictures. You put a picture of a cheeseburger in the menu of a five-star restaurant and that’s what I’m ordering. Screw the caviar, unless there’s a picture, it’s losing out to the photo option. Apparently, my quirkiness also works for travel. In particular, I recently came across a photo essay of Tokyo’s […]
5 Crazy Crowd Videos From Japan
Just outside Shibuya Station is perhaps the world’s most famous crosswalk next to Abbey Road’s. Billed as the world’s busiest crosswalk, this mind-numbing stroll is only accentuated by the pulsating video projections overhead. Tokyo’s subway stations are crowded already, but throw in the prospect of a fireworks show, and you’ve got yourself the recipe for […]