I recently traveled to the town/city of Avenal, California located in the Central California (Kings County) area. With a population of 13,195 (2015), the city is known these days for the Avenal State Prison which provides a thousand jobs to residents in the area. Named Read More …
I’m often asked of where in Japan would I go to buy import Japanese video games for a good price. While you can find many places that sell video games new and used all over Japan (such as the plethora of BookOff Stores), in Tokyo, Read More …
I’m often asked if there is a place in Japan that reminded me of the United States. In Tokyo, probably not. But going farther out to Gifu, visiting Ogaki, the place reminded me a lot like home. With the home of Toyota not far, one Read More …
A familiar site for those riding the shinkansen and are leaving Kyoto Station, Cafe Kyoto is a restaurant that offers Japanese and western cuisine for those wanting to grab a bite without paying for food at the convenience store locations around the station. The restaurant/cafe Read More …
Located near Ikebuchishiseki Park in Nerima is Inarisuwa Shrine. Also known as Wada Inari Jinja, this Shinto Shrine is also known as Dengoro Inari or Wadaborinari and was once used as a guardian protecting the surrounding Wada district but since the Meiji period, the name Read More …
While I was in Higashiko, Adachi, I explored the Jodo Shinshu Jokoji Temple. I’m not too familiar with Buddhist sects but Jodo Shinshu (The True Essence of the Pure Land Teaching) is also known as Shin Buddhism. Founded by former Tendai Japanese monk Shinran, Shin Read More …
The final day in Japan and if you are in Tokyo and leaving via Narita Airport, you can’t help but feel the sadness that your vacation has finally ended. It’s one thing to go through check out, but this last trip was quite sad. It Read More …
Located in the entertainment district in Toshima, Tokyo, Japan is Ikebukuro. While there are so many things to discuss about Ikebukuro, today’s post I will talk about the owls of Ikebukuro. You can find an owl in the center of the city, you can find Read More …
After you go past the major fine restaurants at Narita Airport, as you continue to walk towards your connecting international flight, you’ll find several restaurants that are inexpensive. One of them is FaSoLa Cafe Coffee & Beer near the connection of the main and satellite Read More …
Located in Shibuya, near homes and apartments not far from Yoyogi Park and Meiji Shrine is a gem of sweetness known as Wrapped Crepe Korot. Established in March 2011, Wrapped Crepe Korot would sell items at stores for a limited time but now they are Read More …
You are in Japan and you see a cool shirt or jacket that is your size and you buy it, take it back to the hotel or back to your country and you find out… it doesn’t fit! Using America as an example, since I Read More …
In 1997, Nagoya Dome made its debut. Created as a headquarter for the Chunichi Dragons baseball team, the stadium can hold 38,414 people (officially 40,500). The inside of the stadium is short pile artificial turf and as a stadium that isn’t too old, it’s one Read More …
Not far from Yoyogi Park and Meiji Shrine is a French restaurant in Victoria Plaza called Bistrot D’Artemis. The bistrot is part of the Artemis legacy of current CEO Toshishige Yoda. Artemis produces and handles a wide range of products including organizational and time management Read More …
In my effort to visit every NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) stadium and official team store, I headed to Nagoya prefecture to visit Nagoya Dome and the official Chunichi Dragons team store (or Chunichi Dragons Nagoya Site Good Shop). For those not familiar with the Chunichi Read More …
One of my favorite podcasts to listen to when I’m on a commute is TOKYO FM 80.0 MHz and Yelp’s “REAL TOKYO” podcast. An English podcast about cool areas to visit and dine at in Tokyo, the podcast is hosted by Rana and Yelp Elite Read More …
Located in Shibuya and not far from the Meiji Shrine and Harajuku Station is Yoyogi Park. What was the site for the first successful aircraft flight in Japan by Captain Yoshitoshi Tokugawa in 2010 and later turned into an army parade ground, the site would Read More …
One of many beautiful locations to visit in Kyoto is the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove which is 10 minutes away from Saga Arashiyma Station (the JR Sagano Line). Definitely recommended for people who have time to explore (especially since the Tenryu-ji Temple and Iwatayama Monkey Park Read More …
