OK! Hands down, Grey’s Anatomy rocks! I have never missed an episode and have no intention of doing so! In a recent episode, the doctors were separating a pair of Siamese twins and had to rehearse the surgery numerous times until they were satisfied that they were perfect. After watching this and bawling my eyes…
As I’m sitting in the steamy outdoor section of the Oosado onsen hotel on Sado Island, Niigata, I’m struck by the vast beauty of the Japan Sea and the snow-covered garden that serves as the only barrier between the hotel and the coast. The scenic view engulfs me in a calm serenity despite the frigid…
As winter slowly passes and spring edges closer to the hills and valleys of Japan, Valentine’s Day has already come and gone. Perhaps some of us had cause to notice, perhaps some of us didn’t. While Valentine’s Day has never been a holiday of much consequence to me personally, I did find myself very curious…
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford I believe the measure of a good book is not how fast you can read it, but whether you are left weeping as you turn its last pages. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, a story about the struggle between love and…
Ever feel like you need a mini vacation from Japan? Or perhaps have the need to grab some dessert after happy hour at The Hub? Well just a few steps away from The Hub exists a gateway to another land, a cake shop in the French countryside. With its comfy atmosphere, adorable light wooden décor,…
In a close-knit community, nestled in the mountains of Fuji country, stands the home of Kazumi; three cubical stories of jet-black modern design, which make it utterly unique and utterly out of place sandwiched between its traditional neighbors. Yet somehow, sitting back behind the other houses, its dignified simplicity seems to keep it just Japanese…
Ramen Tarou is easily my favorite and most frequented ramen shop. It has everything that a diner looking for a quick casual eat could want in the search for ramen goodness—a bright space, a menu with large pictures, satisfying ramen with amazing ingredients, and of course, FREE kimchi to snack on before your meal or…
I’m not big on Valentine’s Day. Even if I’m in a relationship, it’s not my thing. I’m not big on people walking really slow while holding hands and not letting anyone pass on the sidewalk, and I’m not big on people complaining to everyone and their mother about a) their significant others not getting them…
Steam rises, obscuring the snowy mountain scene outside the window. Serene pools ripple gently. You let the heat soak into your skin, through your muscles, down to the bone. It ensconces you, slowly coaxing all of the tightness in your shoulders and back into release. You sigh, giving in to the calm of the onsen….