6 Culture Statues in Benten-kutsu Cave Hana Joy Benten-kutsu Cave and Benten-do Hall are located in Hase-dera Temple, Kamakura. The entrance to the cave itself is easy to overlook,..
Area Oki Islands Have you ever heard of Shimane Prefecture? Probably not…That’s what most people say, not just travelers from overseas, but people within Japan often say as well. Sadly, Shimane Prefecture..
Food Yakitori Sumika, Kutchan Nicole Bauer Sumika in Kutchan, Niseko area, is a cozy little yakitori place with a homely atmosphere. The best minced chicken skewers I've..
12 Culture Kamakura's Hongaku-ji Temple Larry Knipfing Hongaku-ji Temple in Kamakura features an impressive old bell, lotus in pots in the summer, and a festival on New Year's Eve..
12 Culture Okamori Shrine in Uchiko Anonymous Okamori Shrine in Uchiko is located next to Kameoka Shuzo sake brewery. Steep steps lead up through a bamboo forest to the isolated..
Activities Konpirasan Shrine Tony Mariani Kompirasan is the main shrine dedicated to sailors and sea-fairing. There are other Kompira shrines in Japan but the shrine in Kotohira,..
Activities Shouhashi Half Marathon Jannine Myers The Shouhashi Half Marathon in southern Okinawa has spectacular ocean views, great crowd support, and live music just past the halfway..
8 Culture Kamakura Myohon-ji Temple in Spring Tomoko Kamishima Elegant pink flowers bloom in mid April at Myohon-ji temple. Although this temple is very close to JR Kamakura Station, it always..