OSAKA is the fun city, a local tells me. It’s the “Vegas” of Japan where people break the rules.  Wide-eyed, I gasp to myself because I had been witnessing some rule breaking.  To be clear, when locals break rules here, I mean they will walk against a red light in the quietest corners of the city. However, at busy intersections, folks will stay put on the sidewalks until the light changes. They speed (few, not all) and they ride their bicycles on the sidewalks even when they

TA-CHI-Aiiiiiii!!!, bellows a man in a colorful elaborate robe holding an equally elaborate fan.  He’s the referee for the sumo bout that is about to happen. The wrestlers are on opposite sides of the ring peacocking, trying to intimidate each other with scowls and belly slapping. When the referee holds up his fan, that means he’s ready. The wrestlers are on their marks and after the initial clash, the referee theatrically calls out “tachiai!”. There’s no going back after th

Japan does a lot of things well. I've come to realization that it's because the prefectures or regions have a specialty, whether through natural resources, circumstantially created, or just pure genius. Kobe has their Kobe beef, Fukuoka has Hataka Ramen. Kanazawa leads in the gold leafing industry, while small town Hida leads in manufacturing fake food models.  In KURASHIKI , famous for their denim industry, you can get everything denim or denim themed such as a bao, soft ser

Noodles are an art in Japan. Stumbling upon a soba shop tucked behind the main thoroughfare, no English is spoken, and no English menu is...

Travel writer, Donny Kimball said Kanazawa is like Goldilocks’ porridge. A city that’s not too big, not too small, but just right. I...

It's 38 degrees outside as the train pulled into the station. That means the Autumn leaves are almost at its peak, and oh, what a delightful sight it was for this small mountain town at the foothills of the Japan alps. While the center of town is bustling, Zen moments can be enjoyed around the edges of town. Many streets are still cobbled with traditional buildings of the Edo period. When it comes to culinary delights here, it’s all about the A5 Hida Beef. A5 is the highest

Autumn is the busiest season in Kyoto besides Spring (cherry blossom season). With crowds in full swing at all the hot spots, it can...

Q: How do you get lost in a train station? A: Go to any major station such as Shinjuku or Tokyo station, get to the platforms, then try...

The first and last time I was in a canoe, it flipped over and I watched one of my oars go bye-bye down the river. This time was different....

I met a couple from Canada who learned the ABC, then taught it to me. Allow me to explain that ABC is what the Brits call Another Bloody...