Japan is a beautiful country and when it gets warmer, while visiting the parks are enjoyable, some areas that have a lot of water will attract mosquitoes. And parks like Yoyogi Park at one time, had problems with mosquitoes that carried the dengue virus. While Read More …
I have heard about the Fansler Restaurant Group’s seafood restaurant, Pismo’s Coastal Grill in Fresno, California. Fansler Restaurant Group also operates the popular steakhouse, Yosemite Ranch and Westwoods BBQ & Spice Co. and having heard a lot of compliments about Pismo’s Coastal Grill, I figured Read More …
Located in southwest Shibuya is the town known as Daikanyama. The location is known for its elegance, may it be boutiques, cake shops, restaurants and cafes, but it was a town redeveloped after the end of the bubble economy. While the origin of Daikanyma is Read More …
For those visiting the Sunshine City shopping center in Ikebukuro may come upon this large artwork titled “The One about the Four Seasons of Edo” by Kataoka Tamako (1905-2008). The ceramic artwork was created back in 1978 for the opening of Sunshine City and was Read More …
One of my favorite sculptures at the Matsuoka Museum of Art in Meguro is “Minerva”. The statue is made of gilt marble and created back in the Hellenestic period (ca. 100 B.C.) and was excavated from the suburbs of Rome. Minerva was the Roman goddess Read More …
Back in 1979, Takohachi opened in Osaka. It is said that the popular Japanese snack known as Takoyaki, was born in Osaka back in the early Showa era. While there are many opinions in regards to the roots of takoyaki, people feel the origin of Read More …
UPDATED”: [NHK] A magnitude 6.1 earthquake has struck the Osaka region in western Japan. Three people are confirmed dead. More than 230 others are reportedly injured. The Shinkansen line that runs from Tokyo to Osaka has resumed operation after service was partially suspended. But local Read More …
With the World Surfing Championships coming to Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch in September 2018, I will continue to showcase restaurants worth checking out in Lemoore, California. And for those who are early morning people and are wanting delicious breakfast burritos, the newly opened Chicas is Read More …
During my coffee tour in Japan, I visited a few places in the Toranomon business district of Minato. Toranomon which means “Tiger’s Gate” is the name of the southernmost gate of Edo Castle which existed until the 1870’s before being demolished has a lot of Read More …
In this second part of my coverage of Atago Shrine in Minato, Tokyo, we look at what is located once you climb those steps of the SHUSSE no ISHIDAN, all the way up. Atago Jinja (a Shinto Shrine) was established in the year KEICHO 8 Read More …
If there is one shrine in Tokyo that many people want to see but many are scared of heights are afraid to visit is Atago Shrine in Minato. Established back in 1603 on the order of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, the shrine is known for its Read More …
Between Nikko Station and Shinkyo Bridge is Shōichii Inari Shrine in Nikko. All that is known about this shrine is that it is a historical shrine built during the Kamakura period (est. 1218) and there is a huge large rock in the area. I read Read More …
It was way back in 1976 when Marion Crepes opened a crepe shop in Harajuku. The location is known for the original Japanese-style crepe and the most famous with over 80 locations throughout Japan. Marion Crepes is known for their secret original dough (uses 10 Read More …
While one can find the Ralph Lauren store on Omotesando quite easily, there is another Ralph Lauren (a Polo by Ralph Lauren) shop nearby, this one in Cat St. Literally a few blocks across the street from the Omotesando Store will take you to Polo Read More …
In Japan, you’ll find many gourmet chocolate shops. Many people who have trained overseas and starting their own shops is quite common. Located in Shirokanedai, Minato is a Japanese chocolate shop known as kiki Japanese Chocolate and one of the major highlights of this shop Read More …
Located near downtown Lemoore is a Thai restaurant called Pad Thai. I’ve been to numerous Thai restaurants up and down California and I noticed there are some that tend to use satay peanut sauce or those who tend to use peanut butter. Often when I Read More …
Back in 1993, Tomoaki “NIGO” Nagao founded A Bathing Ape (BAPE) in Ura-Harajuku. With nearly two dozen stores in Japan which include BAPE, BAPE Pirate, BAPE Kids, BAPexclusive Aoyama and BAPexclusive Kyoto. But before he founded BAPE, he was an editor and stylist for “Popeye” Read More …
