How I Embarrassed Myself in Japan (one wrong word in Japanese)
Making language mistakes in Japan is basically a rite of passage. I know because I’ve made so many of them. […]
The Unpopular Truth: Why I’d Choose Osaka Over Tokyo Every Time
Most travelers to Japan make the same mistake. They land in Tokyo, spend the bulk of their trip there, and
The ¥50,000 question: Do you still need a JR Pass?
I used to feel like I was getting away with something. Standing on a Shinkansen platform with a 7-day Japan
Dotonbori and The Bridge Where Over 5000 People Jumped into the Canal in Osaka
The first time I visited Dotonbori, I didn’t know what takoyaki was. I stood on the bridge crossing the canal,
Cherry Blossoms are beautiful. That’s Not Why Japan Pauses for Them.
There is a moment in Japan every spring when time feels softer. Train platforms slow. Office workers linger outside a
Etiquette for Staying in a Japanese Ryokan
My brother was so distracted by the woodwork when we arrived at the ryokan in Shirahama that he walked straight
What a Half-empty Glass Taught Me about Eating in Japan
The first time I went to an Okonomiyaki restaurant, I had no idea what I was doing. The server brought
What Happened When I Said “Yes” to a Walk with a Stranger
I woke up early that Sunday morning at a Michi-no-eki in Kainan. The parking lot had been nearly empty when
A Lion, A Polar Bear, and a Community I Didn’t Expect
For years, Adventure World in Shirahama was like a second home to our family. I can still see our son
I Did Car Camping in Japan (and it was perfect)
I have to admit I was skeptical. When my wife first suggested we spend the night in our car during