Next time you’re in the capital; don’t bother queuing for the Sky Tree to get the view. Head to the 53rd floor of the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower at sunset for a spectacular 360° view of the city (and the Sky Tree itself for that matter), then enjoy a decadent dinner with the best seats…
Fujisan – That eponymous symbol of Japan. A perfectly shaped cone, almost artfully topped with snow, towering over Shizuoka and Yamanashi; visible in all its glory from Tokyo when the haze abates. Since ages past it has held a special place in the Japanese psyche, a sacred mountain oft depicted in artwork and literature. It’s…
As the weather begins to heat up, and the last vestiges of the cold season that once was wither away, we begin to find ourselves outside more, enjoying the sun and exploring the places that our winter selves only dreamed of in a huddled mess under a blazing kotatsu. The seemingly late arriving spring, with…
I have a confession to make: I am a traitor to the supremacy of Hyogo-ken. I’ve been cheating on our Asian home with the next door neighbour. Yes, I am having a torrid affair with Osaka. Kobe’s nice and all, but Osaka just sizzles with energy and adventure; it’s the bad boy every twenty-something fools…
Oh the great outdoors! As it finally starts to get to a reasonable temperature (for what – about 3 weeks?) I find my eyes drifting towards the mountains (I’m a country lass, for now at least) and my feet itching to bound upwards. I used to hate my parents for dragging me out walking when…
The (in)famous Takarazuka Revue is something everyone should experience once in their Hyogo career. If, like me, your Japanese is limited to daily pleasantries, fear not, just choose a story you vaguely know the plot of. It might help (a bit). Revue performers all train for the first two years of their seven year…
It’s April and that means the brief, but beautiful cherry blossom season. The sales of blue tarpaulins are set to sky rocket and public intoxication in the middle of the day will reach giddy new heights. Whether it’s your first, final or other, 花見 season in Japan, Hyogo has a positive cornucopia of great spots…
çµç¶æ¹– (ã³ã‚ã“; Lake Biwa) is Japan’s largest freshwater lake and covers a large part of Shiga Prefecture. It’s a haven for birdwatchers, watersports, camping, and generally having a good time outdoors. It’s also a very popular destination for cyclists with a well-kept cycle path pretty much all the way around. At around 220km in circumference,…
Paragliding in ‘Sky Sports Town’, Aogaki! Have you ever stared at a bird gliding about in the sky and imagined what that would be like? Have you ever taken it a step further and tried to make it happen? Well, here’s your chance! I work part-time in Aogaki, a town near the middle of Hyogo…