city
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Minmin: Utsunomiya’s Famous Gyoza Chain Experience
Utsunomiya – the capital of gyoza in Japan – has Minmin to thank for a lot of this reputation. One of the premiere gyoza places, Minmin’s main branch is the oldest gyoza restaurant in Utsunomiya. Utsunomiya Gyoza Utsunomiya Gyoza Minmin Minmin Mets vs MinMin Station Bar Food Utsunomiya Gyoza Utsunomiya Gyoza What makes the gyoza…
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Orion Gyoza (Utsunomiya): A Review
Utsunomiya, the capital of Tochigi Prefecture located just north of Tokyo, is famous for one food in particular – gyoza! These dumplings, based on the Chinese versions that came over hundreds of years ago. Nowadays, there are over 200 shops just within the city limits itself – and many more in the surrounding towns and…
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Maruoka Castle: Japan’s Oldest Castle
Located in Fukui Prefecture just north of Fukui city is Japan’s oldest castle: Maruoka Castle. Dating back to the early 1600s, it is the oldest castle still standing in Japan today. About Maruoka Castle Construction Maruoka dates back to the late Sengogku Era, also known as the Japanese Period of Warring States (i.e. huge civil…
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Fukui Itinerary: One Day of History and Spirituality
If you want to explore history and spirituality somewhere away from Japan’s major centres, such as Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, this one-day Fukui itinerary is for you! Getting to/from Fukui From Tokyo If you are coming from Tokyo, getting to Fukui has become much easier since JR East and JR Central extended the Shinkansen to…
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Hotel The One Shin-Imamiya: A Review (Osaka, Japan)
About Hotel The One Shin-Imamiya Hotel The One Shin-Imamiya bills itself as a stand-alone business hotel near the Shin-Imamiya station in Osaka that specialises in providing the full Osaka experience while maining affordable accommodation prices. From their website: HOTEL THE ONE offers services specialized in accommodation. We want our guests to experience the charm of…
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Dormy Inn Premium (Fukui, Japan): A Review
About Dormy Inn Premium Dormy Inn is a chain onsen hotel found across Japan. While it describes itself as a business hotel (no doubt to attract Japanese businessmen travelling for work), it is unlike other “business hotels”. Dormy Inn focuses on the natural hot springs that each Dormy Inn has and the services that come…
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Ouchijuku: Former Post Town in Fukushima Prefecture
In Fukushima Prefecture’s Aizu region lies Ouchijuku, a former post town where lodgers travelling to the nearby power base of Aizu-Wakamatsu and further north would stop. Nestled in the mountains, this village has held on to its way of life, nowadays welcoming people from far and wide to experience this Edo-period way of life. History…
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Nebuta Warasse Museum in Aomori: Colourful painted and lit floats
Of Tohoku’s three major summer festivals, the Nebuta festival in Aomori is probably the most well-known. From 2 to 7 August, the city comes alive at night with parades, music, dancing and more. Central to the celebrations are the parade floats, which feature historic and mythological figures. However, if you look into going during this time, you…
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Hotel Sankyo Fukushima: A Review (Fukushima, Japan)
About Hotel Sankyo Fukushima Hotel Sankyo Fukushima has an upscale style in central Fukushima City. It is part of the SK Hotel Group, and its perks include its central location, great price-to-value ratio, and excellent customer service. A big part of the pull of Hotel Sankyo Fukushima is its breakfast buffet, which is usually included…
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Enban Gyoza: Fukushima’s special dumplings
If you are in Fukushima City (i.e., the capital of Fukushima Prefecture), you must try a few things. It is famous for sauce katsu, for example, and when peach season comes around, you can get everything in peach flavour (even pizza)! However, the thing most Japanese people will say when you mention food and Fukushima…
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Hirosaki Itinerary: One-Day in Hirosaki and Beyond
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Hirosaki Castle: One of Japan’s original ones
Sitting less than an hour southwest of Aomori city by train, Hirosaki is home to something rare in Japan: an original castle. While most were rebuilt in the 1950s-1980s for tourism purposes, Hirosaki Castle is among the 12 original surviving castles. However, it has an additional uniqueness even among this rare crowd. The others, such…
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Mt Shinobu: Looking over Fukushima
In the centre of Fukushima city stands Mt Shinobu, which overlooks the city and is splayed around its base. Mt Shinobu only has a height of 275 meters (902 ft); it is actually a monadnock – an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level…
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Hotel Premium Green Plus: Eco-friendly Stay in Sendai (Japan)
About Hotel Premium Green Plus Hotel Premium Green Plus is part of the Hotel Green chain, a local Sendai chain focusing on eco-friendliness. There are twelve Hotel Greens in Sendai: Hills, Plus, Well, Mark, Selec, Pacific, Park, Green Sovereign, Arbor, Line, Palace, and City. These hotels are primarily clustered in Aoba Ward, just west of…
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Sendai Dai-Kannon: The Guardian of Sendai
The Sendai Dai-Kannon is a giant statue of the Goddess Kannon from Japanese Buddhism. Standing tall at 100 m (328 ft) on the city’s outskirts, looking towards the city centre, she prays for world peace and prosperity. Why the Goddess Kannon? The Goddess Kannon is known for her compassion, mercy, and advocacy for humanity’s peace…
