Japan

Japan is undeniably beautiful. Hiroshima Peace Memorial and the area around Osaka have a visual quality that photographs don't capture fully. I enjoyed matcha everything and appreciated unique blend of ancient and ultra-modern. That's all real. But very expensive was more of a problem than I expect…

I'll be honest — I went to Japan primarily to see Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, and it delivered beyond what any photo prepares you for. But the surrounding region surprised me just as much. Tokyo has a character I didn't anticipate, and wandering without a plan for an afternoon turned out to be one of t…

Took the family to Japan for 21 days and it worked better than I'd hoped. The kids were fascinated by Fushimi Inari Shrine — more than I expected from children who usually resist sightseeing. Food was manageable: even the pickiest eater in our group found things to eat, and matcha everything went do…

Visited Japan in shoulder season deliberately and the decision paid off completely. Mt. Fuji without peak crowds is a totally different experience. Hiroshima felt lived-in rather than touristy. Found a small place doing the best matcha everything I've ever tasted — something that would have been inv…

Mt. Fuji in Japan is extraordinary — the scale and history hit you immediately. But the experience around it has been thoroughly commercialised. Getting there, navigating the crowds, and dealing with persistent sellers around Osaka centre made it more stressful than it should be. Away from the main…