Miso katsu is a deep-fried pork cutlet served with a dark red miso sauce in place of the usual tonkatsu sauce, and food writers outside Japan tend to describe it as one of Nagoya’s defining local dishes. After 30 years living in Nagoya, the practical view is that it’s worth trying once, especially for diners […]
10
Aug
Aug
You booked your flights months ago, and only afterwards did somebody mention the words “Golden Week” in a tone that suggested you should be worried. Maybe you’ve since read a few forum threads calling it Japan’s busiest travel week and left it at that, which tells you almost nothing useful. Golden Week does change how […]
04
Aug
Aug
You have found Ise while planning your Japan trip, and now you are stuck on the question everyone gets stuck on. Does it deserve a full day, or is it one of those places that photographs well but leaves you wondering what the fuss was about? The confusion is not your fault. Most articles talk […]
29
Jul
Jul
Japan Medicine rules are classified by their active ingredients, not by their brand names and not by whether they are prescription or over-the-counter back home. A cold tablet you have bought at CVS for years might contain pseudoephedrine, which Japan classifies as a Stimulants Raw Material and treats as a serious customs matter. An ADHD […]
16
Jul
Jul
Most people who go to Takayama never make it to Hida Furukawa, even though it sits just up the train line. That’s a shame, because Furukawa has the same white walled storehouses and old merchant streets as Takayama, without the crowds. Locals sometimes call it the quiet twin of Takayama, and once you’ve walked both […]
13
Jul
Jul
Go into Komeda coffee and order a drink before 11AM, and the staff will ask if you want morning service. Say yes, and your drink comes with a free side, usually toast or a soft bread roll, plus a topping such as boiled egg, egg paste or ogura-an, the sweet red bean paste Nagoya is […]
10
Jul
Jul
I first came to Japan in 2000. A year later, in 2001, I visited Kobe for the first time and absolutely loved it. Since then, I’ve been back to Kobe and the surrounding areas of Hyogo Prefecture many, many times. I’ve always said that if I could turn the clock back, I’d probably move to […]
06
Jul
Jul
You have one spare day in Takayama, and the same two names keep coming up. Hida no Sato and Shirakawa-go both have traditional thatched roof houses, but they are not the same kind of day out. If you want the easier, calmer choice, go to Hida no Sato. If you came for that famous valley […]
02
Jul
Jul
Transport fares, bus schedules, and service windows verified against current timetables. Confirm specific connections before travel as rural services update seasonally. If you have already figured out that the Kiso Valley deserves more than a day trip, you are ahead of most people who research this region. The next question is harder, and it is […]
29
Jun
Jun
Choosing the right area to stay in Nagoya during the Asian Games matters more than most visitors realise. Around 15,000 athletes and team officials are coming to the city for the 20th Asian Games. With that many people arriving, central hotel rooms will be taken long before regular travellers start looking. That is why choosing […]