Taking full advantage of our jet lag we were up and at our first site in Kyoto with the sunrise. The god Inari – the god of rice and wealth – has been worshipped here since the late 900’s. The thousands of orange torii – the reason Adam and I came to visit – are […]
Culture as Commodity
Kyoto is probably best known, in the minds of tourists at least, as the haven for Geisha – that mysterious, unknown, misunderstood part of Japanese history and culture. That Kyoto was also the first capital of Japan is a second known fact, glazed over in the guide books by the search for where to catch […]
Senso-ji Temple
On a particularly rainy day in Tokyo we set out to visit the Senso-ji Temple known for its massive red lantern and striking pagoda. The fact that it was a stones throw away from Tokyo Radio Tower and an interesting structure I like to call “The Meteor” makes it that much more of a tourist […]
Tokyo John
I don’t think it will be fair to continue to write about our trip to Japan without dedicating at least ONE post to those bare necessities of life. In other words – this post is about to go down the toilet. The association of Tokyo and electronics is an easy one to make. With all […]
I Dream of Tsukiji
Sushi. One of my all time favorite foods. And here I am, in Japan, at the birthplace of this scrumptious dish. To say I was excited at the prospect of eating sushi straight off the boats in Japan’s largest fish market, Tsukiji, is a wild understatement. I woke up at 4:30 AM, only half due […]
Ritual at the Meiji Jingu
The Meiji Jingu (Shrine) is worlds away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and her sprawling metropolis. Despite the fact that this shrine is a stones throw away from one of the craziest metro stops and pedestrian areas known as Harajuku, Meiji Jingu holds onto an otherworldly silence. Entering through the massive Torii gate […]
Subway Manners
Fair warning was given about the difficulties inherent with navigating Tokyo’s subway system. Countless blogs, forum posts and even personal correspondence warned us that the easiest way of getting around was to NOT use the subway. Taxis are in abundance, the bus routes are reasonably easy and you can always rely on good old foot&sole. […]
Tokyo’s Last Cherry Blossom
Sakura, the Japanese cherry blossom festival, was in full bloom (see what I did there?) three weeks ago. Adam and I watched with barely disguised envy as daily reports showed the beauty and fleetingness of the blossoms marching relentlessly across the island of Japan oblivious to our fervent hopes that the blooms would, somehow, last […]