I could try to convince you about the many virtues of Kochi Prefecture (高知県), but instead, I'll leave that to…
Todd FongDecember 23, 2021
Over the immutably calm waters of the Seto Inland Sea, we approached the port of Ogijima on the Meon Ferry,…
Todd FongDecember 23, 2021
As a travel writer, I admit to often focusing too much on the incredible things to see in Japan. It…
Todd FongDecember 23, 2021
Hinoura Tsukasa turned the blade over in his hands, his keen eye taking in every detail of his handiwork. Each…
Todd FongDecember 20, 2021
While Japan is a food lover's paradise, there is no universal agreement on what foods people will eat. Some visitors…
Todd FongJuly 12, 2021
As the world begins its slow return to relative normalcy, you may be one of many ready to scratch that…
Todd FongApril 21, 2021
In the culture of traditional Japan, the mountains have always held a deeply spiritual connection to the people. There is…
Todd FongApril 21, 2021
On the warm weekend nights of Japanese summers, the skies are lit up with awe-inspiring bursts of fireworks, some displays…
Todd FongApril 10, 2021
One of the reasons I enjoy escaping from the confines of the big city is to remind myself of the…
Todd FongMarch 20, 2021
Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I didn't see my first snow until I was five-years-old. Early in…
Todd FongMarch 20, 2021
In 2007, Okinawa drafted Japan's first Barrier-Free declaration with the aim to welcome all tourists, regardless of their physical limitations,…
Todd FongMarch 9, 2021
This much is certain: the COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed the face of travel. But to keep things in perspective,…
Todd FongMarch 9, 2021
Just outside the crowds of Kyoto city is a world of serene nature, vibrant culture, and deep history that you…
Todd FongFebruary 3, 2021
Just outside the crowds of Kyoto city is a world of serene nature, vibrant culture, and deep history that you…
Todd FongFebruary 3, 2021
Just outside the crowds of Kyoto city is a world of serene nature, vibrant culture, and deep history that you…
Todd FongFebruary 3, 2021
Just outside the crowds of Kyoto city is a world of serene nature, vibrant culture, and deep history that you…
Todd FongFebruary 3, 2021
Just outside the crowds of Kyoto city is a world of serene nature, vibrant culture, and deep history that you…
Todd FongFebruary 3, 2021
The name Goto literally means 5 Islands, the number of islands the Goto Islands were traditionally said to contain. The…
Todd FongJanuary 28, 2021
The man approached the 200-year-old Buddhist Temple from the street, waving to us as he passed beneath the stone gate.…
Todd FongJanuary 28, 2021
There is a quality of tatami that is unmistakably Japanese. The scent of a freshly mowed field in Spring. The…
Todd FongJanuary 25, 2021
If 2020 has left you feeling like you've had an eight-month hangover, do your head, heart, and soul a favor…
Todd FongDecember 25, 2020
The exquisite traditional Japanese kimono is a beautiful article of clothing. However, one often forgets its other half: the long…
Todd FongNovember 30, 2020
Even as Japan and other parts of the world slowly begin to plan to reopen to tourism, there will continue…
Todd FongNovember 9, 2020
For those of us who grew up outside of Japan, the Goto Islands are a place shrouded in an air…
Todd FongNovember 9, 2020
If we are being completely honest, nobody in the world would consider 2020 to be a "pretty good year." On…
Todd FongNovember 6, 2020
On a quiet road of Ojika Island, in the shadows of a Buddhist temple between the ancient pine forest on…
Todd FongNovember 6, 2020
Is it really necessary to know how to speak Japanese when you visit Japan? The short answer is no. Japanese…
Todd FongOctober 29, 2020
