Japan Trip Ideas

East Hokkaido Part 2: Lake Mashu
道東2: 摩周湖

The recent earthquake was such a disaster in Hokkaido… But amidst the avalanches, broken roads collapsed houses, the Japanese spirit of resilience to such hardships is amazing and truly shines through. This past summer, I had the chance to visit Hokkaido for the first time. Although visiting Sapporo is arguably the most popular for first-time visitors to Hokkaido, I wanted to explore the much less traveled Eastern Hokkaido, famous locally for its three volcanic lakes, Lake Akan, Lake Mashu, Lake Kussharo, and Mt. Io. In this post, I hope you will enjoy visiting Lake Mashu with me!

北海道の最近の地震は本当に残念なことですね…しかし、土砂崩れ、家屋や道路の崩壊があった中、苦難から直ぐに立ち直ろうとする日本の精神は素晴らしいと思います。私は、今夏 初めて北海道を訪れました。札幌は人気がありますが、私が訪れたのは道東の3つの火山湖(阿寒湖、摩周湖、屈斜路湖)と硫黄山です。 今回は摩周湖について、ご紹介したいと思います~

Read More »

East Hokkaido Part 1: Lake Akan
道東1:阿寒湖

The recent earthquake was such a disaster in Hokkaido… But amidst the avalanches, broken roads collapsed houses, the Japanese spirit of resilience to such hardships is amazing and truly shines through. This past summer, I had the chance to visit Hokkaido for the first time.

北海道の最近の地震は本当に残念なことですね…しかし、土砂崩れ、家屋や道路の崩壊があった中、苦難から直ぐに立ち直ろうとする日本の精神は素晴らしいと思います。私は、今夏 初めて北海道を訪れました。

Read More »

Enoshima
江の島

As Japan’s heatwave brings record-breaking temperatures, a beach or island getaway is at the top of everyone’s wish-list! Did you know that Enoshima, a small island just slightly west of Kamakura, boasts some of the closest beaches to Tokyo? From Shinjuku Station, it is only about 1 hour away! 

My colleague Iwami-san had been recommending this island to me for some time, so finally made it there for a day trip with my brother. Read on for photos and tips on what to do in Enoshima!



毎日暑い日が続いておりますが、お変わりなくお過ごしでいらっしゃいますか?

石見さん(上司)からお勧めいただいたので、先日、弟と一緒に江の島に日帰り旅行をしました!皆へご紹介させていただきます~

Read More »

Kanreki Celebration at Ukai Toriyama
還暦の祝い@うかい鳥山

At the end of May, my family came to visit Japan to celebrate my father’s 60th birthday. At 60, according to the Chinese zodiac, a person has returned to the calendar sign under which the person was born after completing a full cycle of the twelve-pronged zodiac calendar. Although originally a Chinese tradition, it is arguable that Japanese society probably observes this tradition more closely now.

5月下旬、私の家族は日本に来て、父の60歳の誕生日を祝いました。日本では、還暦祝いは満年齢で60歳(数え年で61歳)を迎えたことを喜び、長寿を祝う行事です。還暦は元来中国からの伝統ですが、今は日本の方がもっと人気で、伝統を守っていますね。今まで、中国、韓国やシンガポールも住みましたが、日本以外では、この行事は残っていません。

Read More »

Clam Digging
潮干狩り

May and June are the most popular months of the year to go clam digging (潮干狩り, shiohigari ) in Japan. You may think that clam digging itself is not so special, but “clam digging” is seriously an important keyword in Japanese society and history! I was very surprised by the extent to which the Japanese people love clam digging as a family activity! It also appears to get significant news coverage every year.

日本では、5月と6月が潮干狩りの季節ですね。日本人が家族と一緒に潮干狩りに行くはとても人気のある娯楽ですね。

初めて聞いた時、貝を掘ることはそれほど特別な活動ではないと思うかもしれませんが、日本の社会や歴史の中で「潮干狩り」は重要なキーワードらしいですね!また、今まで、毎年ニューズになっているそうです。私は、日本人が「潮干狩り」を楽しむことに驚きした!

Read More »

「2017 HARVEST FESTIVAL」

I recently took a day trip to attend the 34th Annual Harvest Festival at Coco Farm and Winery in Ashikaga Prefecture, about 2 hours from Tokyo. The Annual Harvest Festival is one of the prefecture’s biggest events of the year, and the COCOROMI GAKUEN still serves as a residential facility for intellectually disabled people. Attending the festival means you can drink wine, picnic, and celebrate under grapevines up a mountain, AND contribute to the worthy cause of supporting the handicapped! What a great reason to make the trip out!

Read More »