I wandered into Ueno park with every intention of spending a quiet afternoon watching pandas and penguins at the zoo. I started the day with a visit to the statue of Takamori Saigo, the legendary Ronin then wandered among the various shrines and temples located in the park. I paused briefly at the Kaneiji Kiyomizudo Temple. According to the guidebook, this is where women … [Read more...] about Burning Dolls in Ueno Park
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JBall: A Real Japanese Pennant Race
It was the middle of a heated pennant race, and there were only three games left in the season when we decided take in a Japanese baseball game. We boarded the train to the Tokyo Dome (aka The Big Egg) with no tickets and no plan. The trip to the stadium itself was more complex than usual. A half a dozen transfers later, we arrived at the Big Egg and were immediately engulfed … [Read more...] about JBall: A Real Japanese Pennant Race
See Japan On $0 a Day
We frequently hear from readers who are put off by Tokyo's status as the world's most expensive city. Because of the extreme cost involved many people fear that visiting Japan is one of those life goals that will never actually be achieved. Now, thanks to Google you can see Japan (all of it) for free. Google's recently expanded map service now includes satellite photo of the … [Read more...] about See Japan On $0 a Day
Best travel reads on Japan
So, which books are they? Here are three classic books I’d recommend if you’re planning on traveling in and around Japan. The Inland Sea, by Donald Richie(Originally published in 1971, re-released in 2002 by Stonebridge Press). American Donald Richie, is a prominent Japanese film critic and a long-time book and film reviewer for The Japan Times. He has published over 40 … [Read more...] about Best travel reads on Japan
Cheap Guesthouses for longer stays
Once you find how affordable a long-term rental guesthouse in Japan can be, you might find you want to extend your stay in Japan. International guesthouses, colloquially called gaijin houses(foreigner houses) can be very affordable if you’re staying in Japan a month or longer. For example, you can get a room for 48,000 yen (includes electricity and gas) with a shared bath, … [Read more...] about Cheap Guesthouses for longer stays