Japan Travel Moment: onsen

Japan is famous for its onsen baths so you must put it on your itinerary; however, as with many things in Japan, there are specific rules you should follow. Here are my TOP 10 observations: Bathing is always done nude. Don’t be shy about exposing your whole self to random Japanese men (or women, but …

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Japan Travel Moment: natto

I have eaten many “unconventional” things in the past, including things in Japan that twenty years earlier would have made me gag. At one time, neither Julia nor I would touch sushi, let alone sashimi, yet I had no problem eating raw beef with a raw egg, sea urchin, and I dutifully gulped down every …

Japan Travel Moment: Hachiko

One of the more popular tourist sites in Tokyo, besides the "golden turd" which I sadly missed, is the statue of Hachiko the dog. Just outside of Shibuya train station, one of the busiest stations in Tokyo, and in front of Shibuya crossing, one of the busiest intersections in the World, you'll find a statue …

Japan Travel Moment: trains

One of the coolest experiences in Japan is taking the bullet train, or Shinkansen. They're dizzyingly fast and so smooth you can eat from a bento box, even with less than adequate chopstick skills. Train technology in Japan is decades ahead of North America, so if you’re planning on visiting Japan, and traveling to several …

Japan Travel Moment: praying

Before entering any sacred temple in Japan, there’s a certain ritual that should be followed. First, wash your hands in the fountain provided. You will see several long-handled ladles to assist you. While there are numerous signs saying "DO NOT DRINK," you will inevitably see people drinking the water anyway. It is recommended you do …

Japan Travel Moment: breakfast

Japan has adopted many Western traditions, like whisky, Jazz, and Christmas, but breakfast isn’t one of them. We had already walked around Ginza in Tokyo searching for breakfast and Kanazawa didn’t provide the usual breakfast goodies like bacon, eggs, toast, and omelettes either. This is strange considering coffee is everywhere… literally everywhere, offered in millions …

Japan Travel Moment: the Washlet

Of all the technological advances Japan is famous for, none is greater than toilet seat bidet, often known as a Washlet. I’m not sure if this is an amalgamation of “Wash and Toilet” or an acronym for “Wash Ass SHit Liberally Every Time.” These are a dream for weary bums wedged into airplane seats far …

3. Commit your trip to memory

I am not an expert on memory, or am I? A few years ago I decided to learn Japanese because, as an English Second Language teacher, I wanted to "put myself out there" and see how hard it was to learn another language. Of course I didn't want to make it easy on myself by …