BLOGS

When a top five, not even a top six list is appropriate, you apply that top seven!

This blog didn't turn out how it was intended. Not that that's too big an issue. All the same, none of us really had any idea how long the world would remain closed at the start of the pandemic. I was planning to move to Vietnam at the time of this blog's creation - thinking I would travel,...

This is an animals lover's must-do in Japan. While I've come across several magazine ads, brochure covers, and wildlife TV spots about this particularly famous, hot spring bathing Japanese macaque troupe of Nagano, I had no idea just how intimate the experience at Jigokudani would be. There is an ever-present coexistence of free-roaming man and...

For a total of three years now, I've had the privilege of living and traveling in Japan. With another contract signed and no return ticket in sight, I thought I'd take some time to talk about why deciding to live and work abroad was the most important decision I'd ever made and why I'd encourage you to go for...

Isesaki City is a mid-sized city in Gunma prefecture (relative to other cities in Gunma, at least) surrounding the intersection of the Ryoma and Tobu JR lines. With Ota to the east and the capital, Maebashi, to the west, Isesaki sits on the north Ryoma line turn towards Kiryu. If you reside in or have visited any of these places,...

Torn? It seems a lot of visitors weigh this well before arriving to Japan. After all, it's a potentially pricey trip, and you want to experience as much as you can. Personally, I'm a sucker for much more intimate areas of the country, but if you've got different goals in mind, let's talk about the pros and cons...

I'm really not a fan of big cities. Still, last Christmas was my chance to check Seoul off the visit list. To my surprise, I ended up enjoying myself in more ways than one. Although an often overwhelming metropolis, the city is sprinkled with historical landmarks and centuries old monuments. It was difficult to feel that I...

This one was personal. Really, though. I spent ten days in the country last summer accompanying my Filipino girlfriend on a series of book seminars. I also had an opportunity to meet her family. The trip wasn't without adventure, however. We spent a great deal of time roaming her home, and it was more than I could have imagined!...

I had some time. I had a short weekend to occupy myself while my girlfriend was at a conference in Macau. Being a little jealous of her time away, I decided to Google the cheapest flight out of Japan. Sure enough, it was Bangkok! This was my chance to fulfill the dying wish of a family member, but more...