Sometime in 2007 I took a short trip outside of Osaka city to visit one of architect Tadao Ando’s works, The Church of Light, at Ibaraki Kasugaoka Church in Ibaraki. It’s less than one hour from Osaka station, so it’s an easy day trip. The inside of the main chapel is striking with the cross-shaped…
Category: Japan
Japan-based Folks to Follow on Twitter
Looking for some interesting people to follow on Twitter who tweet about Japan and Japan related things? Here’s a random smattering of tweeps that I have found interesting over the years. @hikosaemon tweets the news, to put it simply, and he’s all over it. He also as an active YouTube channel that is worth checking…
Extending your Visa in Japan
In another bout of personal trouble caused by the coronavirus, I found myself “stuck” in Japan on a tourist visa in danger of exceeding the 90-day stay limit granted upon entry. I had to go to the Osaka Regional Immigration Services Bureau to apply for an extension of my tourist visa status. Here’s how it…
Japanese Craft Beer: Ginga Kougen Beer from Iwate prefecture
Whenever I’m in Japan (or anywhere for that matter) I try to drink craft brews when I get the opportunity. Here’s one of my consistent favorites, Ginga Kougen Beer from Iwate Prefecture. The deep blue bottle stands out. The beer is tasty and refreshing. You can find it outside of Iwate frequently. I recently found…
Mid-day Visit to Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto on a Weekday
On Thursday, March 12, I went to Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto just before lunch to see if I could enjoy a day there without crowds. Fushimi Inari has become one of the most crowded tourist destinations in Kyoto so the thought of a visit off peak season was appealing. I expected crowds to be…
Imakumano Kannonji Temple in Kyoto
I decided to visit Imakumano Kannonji after looking for a place in Kyoto that wouldn’t be crowded with tourists. Imakumano delivered. There was hardly anyone around when we visited in February 2020, perhaps the Corona Virus had something to do with it, but it is so out of the way I expect that it never…
Cat Print Car in Osaka, Where else?
In 2008 I saw a cat print car in Osaka. They say that Osaka ladies like animal print items. The term for leopard print in Japanese is ヒョウ柄 (hyou gara). Hope this car is still kickin’ it!
Blowfish Sake on Fire – Fuguhire Zake
Back in 2007 I tried a hot sake with blowfish tale. With hindsight, I see that this might be called Fuguhire Zake. From what I remember, I did not find it delicious. I’ve never had it since. The restaurant that I had it at was a blowfish speciality store, so all of our dishes included…
Whisky Chocolate from Taketsuru
On Valentine’s Day in Japan the custom is that girls give chocolate to the guys that they like. They may also give chocolate to the guys that they feel they must based on their formal relationships… Like to a male coworker on their team at work or something. If you’re guy who is really liked…
Amanohashidate
In 2004 I took a trip to Amanohashidate (天橋立) with some friends. Amanohashidate is in Kyoto. It is considered one of the three most beautiful places in Japan. The big three “scenic spots” in Japan or, “Nihon Sankei”（日本三景) are, Matsushima (松島）in Sendai, Itsukushima or Miyajima (厳島） in Hiroshima, and here, Amanohashidate. I asked a Japanese friend if he really…