There was recently an internet poll of three thousand people in Japan asking the following question: Which prefecture do you think of the least? The answer to the above question reveals a list of underrated, underappreciated, and undervisited prefectures… hence a great list of places off the beaten path to visit. The ranking of the…
There are some things you might want to know when you are perusing the shops in a food court or on a busy street and your eye happens upon Japan’s answer to McDonald’s. The food is tasty, and it’s not a McDonald’s clone, although some of the fare is similar. It’s a little more expensive…
Renting a car in Japan and driving around is one of the best ways to travel cheaply in Japan now. You can get a great experience, travel easily with pets and kids, stop when and where you want, eat cheaply, go camping, and see the countryside. There has never been a better time to travel…
Although renting a car in Japan can be slightly expensive, traveling in Japan by car can be a very cheap way to travel Japan. It can also be a good way to see the country, get to the rural areas, and travel with families or pets… just remember which side of the road your supposed…
Just a brief post about the Golden Week holidays this year… In general it should look like this: Wednesday May 29th is a holiday. Thursday May 30th is a weekday. Friday May 1st is a weekday. Saturday May 2nd is a Saturday (meaning some people in Japan work and others don’t although because of Golden…
I’ve been trying to find the cheapest way to get from the Kansai Area, leaving anywhere from Himeji to Kyoto and arrive in Tokyo. I have to go up to Tokyo for a one day trip, and I only need to be there for a few hours. Here are my options: Leave very early in…
If you are flying to the Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto or any part of the Kansai region, you may find yourself passing through KIX or Kansai International Airport. There is a lot of debate about the practicality of Kansai’s main international airport built on reclaimed land in Osaka Bay, and constantly fighting erosion. Simply put, Kansai…
This is a site about traveling in Japan, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take it light sometimes too… and parody can be a great way to look at something. This video was made by the comedy group Rahmens. They do a lot of skits that leave you thinking about Japanese culture, and leave you…
I recently took a trip to Hiroshima. Rather than stay in the city, I decided to stay down in Kure, a town famous for the Yamato Museum which shows the history of Kure during World War II and the Battleship Yamato which was also the inspiration for the Yamato Battleship turned spaceship in the old…
A nice, cheap place to go for great food and great hot springs is called Kinosaki in the northern part of Hyogo Prefecture. If you are ever in a JR station in Kansai and see a pamphlet for a Crab and “Onsen” or hot spring spa trip, there’s a chance you are looking at an…
Another great place to get a little slice of Japan outside of Japan (hence getting the Japan experience more cheaply!!) is the simply wonderful Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, PA. Fairmount Park has a lot of beautiful cherry blossoms and there are a lot of fun events to be held as well. Check out the events…
I took a nice road trip along the Sanyo Expressway to Hiroshima the other day. First off, I have to tell you that each of the little service areas and parking areas along the Sanyo are a little different. Some of them have convenience stores, some have little playgrounds or parks, and others are known…