Nagano, Town Walk

Where to find the Best Views in Matsumoto

Nagano is full of great cities to explore but if you ask me, Matsumoto is the most iconic city of Nagano. With sophisticated neighbourhoods to explore, there really is no shortage of things to do. This is the list of the most photogenic monuments, museums and cafes to help you find the best views in …

Kanagawa, Town Walk

Modern Architecture in Yokohama

If you haven’t yet visited Yamate mansions near Yokohama Port in Kanagawa then you’re missing out on a nostalgic trip back to the glamourous early 20th century. Yokohama has a unique identity not emulated elsewhere, partly due to the influx of early 19th-century foreign settlement. The Yamate mansions are a series of modern homes that …

Shizuoka, Stay

Checking In to Kaitoku-maru in Shizuoka

Iwachi is only two hour’s drive from Mishima Station in Shizuoka. The town is nestled in the heart of the seaside of Shizuoka Prefecture, home to many of Shizuoka’s most recognisable beaches and fishing spots. Since I was a child, Iwachi has been one of the most memorable beaches to swim at and to gather …

Foods & Shops

Where to find the best “Hiyashi Chuka”

When you see posters announcing that a restaurant has started serving hiyashi chuka, you know that summer has arrived. Hiyashi means cold and chuka means Chinese, and hiyashi chuka is a chilled Chinese-style noodle dish. It consists of wheat noodles that have been boiled and then cooled in cold water, topped with thin stirips of …

Stay, Tochigi

Staying at Art Biotope GARDEN MIZUNIWA in Tochigi

Located 30 minutes drive from Nasu-Shiobara Station, Art Biotope Garden Mizuniwa is one of the prettiest gardens boasting the beautiful residence, a greenery and pale blue ponds. This is a place for architecture enthusiasts to spend time to see how architects can design new gardens. The architect of this artbiotpe is Ishigami Junya. I had …