Category: travel

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…

If you’ve been to Japan a few times and are looking for a new destination, or if you’re just way into art and handmade items, I highly recommend Naoshima, sometimes referred to as Japan’s art island. I went to Naoshima in 2005. Looking back at my notes from that visit, I notice that I wrote…

In Kagoshima (and maybe other places as well) you’ll find Sunamushi Onsens. So what are sunamushi onsen? First, let’s review regular onsen. As you probably know, regular onsens are hot springs where you get naked and step into a naturally hot bath with a bunch of other naked folk, usually of the same gender. Or, if you’re…