For my winter vacation 2012 I decided to visit Kyushu again. I went to many places in 11 days. Among them were: Nakatsu and Yufuin (in Oita Prefecture), Takachiho, Nobeoka and Miyazaki (in Miyazaki Prefecture), Yakushima (in...
Blog
Away Notice: Winter Vacation 2011/12
Hello. I just wanted to let you know quickly that I’ll be gone for winter vacation. I’m sorry that I haven’t posted at all recently, but there are a lot of things going on in my life recently. For the first time...
Christmas in Japan: How do Japanese People Celebrate it?
It happens every year. Sometimes it comes so sudden that we aren’t even properly prepared. While not being celebrated everywhere, Christmas is known worldwide – of course in Japan as well. Actually I used to live in...
Year of the Tiger figures
As we’re approaching the end of the year, it’s time to stock up on items for the new year here in Japan. All around me are dragon items as 2012 is the year of the dragon. Super cute New Year cards, dragon figures and...
Japanese Driver’s License
Since yesterday I’m the proud owner of a Japanese driver’s license! Despite being in Japan for almost 4 years, I didn’t have any until now. I thought it might be interesting to read about the process of...
Dotonbori (Namba, Osaka)
I’m pretty sure that everybody who has ever been to Osaka knows about the popular district called Dotonbori. It’s in the shopping area close to Namba Station. Actually you can walk all the way from Namba Station to...
Autumn Colors in Japan’s countryside (2011)
Autumn seems to be over now. Actually we had our first snow today (初雪: hatsuyuki = first snow). I want to use this opportunity to say goodbye to my favorite season in Japan! The photos you’ll see were taken last week, just...
Akabeko: Red Cow of Aizu
Akabeko (赤べこ) is a traditional toy from the Aizu region in Fukushima Prefecture. The toy is made from two pieces of papier-mâché-covered wood, shaped and painted to look like a red cow or ox. One piece represents the cow’s...
Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto
Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto is probably one of the most famous sights with its many red shrine gates. Actually this was not my first time going to Fushimi Inari Shrine. My first visit was in September 2007. That was before I...