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 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
The name Goto literally means 5 Islands, the number of islands the Goto Islands were traditionally said to contain. The…
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
Know what to expect, things you may want to avoid, and tips on how to help overcome the culture shock…
Todd FongSeptember 2, 2020
In the minds of many people considering a trip to Japan, one of the iconic images of this beautiful country…
Todd FongSeptember 1, 2020
The Japan Rail (JR) Pass is one of the most coveted tools in the Japan traveler's toolbox, but it is…
Todd FongAugust 31, 2020
If you've heard about Okunoshima, more widely known by its popular name of Rabbit Island (official website), you can thank…
Todd FongAugust 15, 2020
As the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001 changed the future of air travel in an instant, so…
Todd FongJuly 5, 2020
As closed borders and shelter-in-place restrictions continue to be in effect around the world, travelers and travel-related service providers alike…
Todd FongJune 23, 2020
Wearing a Japanese kimono is an experience many visitors to Japan enjoy. For a small fee, women (and men) can…
Todd FongJune 7, 2020
Kimono 着物 are a traditional form of Japanese clothing worn by both men and women. Kimono are unique to Japan…
Todd FongApril 21, 2020
Kimono are a traditional Japanese form of clothing worn by both men and women. Kimono is a garment that is…
Todd FongMarch 30, 2020
There will come a time in a person's life when the rush of adrenaline to the body overcomes their common…
Todd FongMarch 17, 2020
Our bellies warm and sated, we gazed up at the heavens full of stars through the crisp Nagano night air,…
Todd FongMarch 17, 2020
Ah, Spring! Sometimes it feels like the eyes of the world are waiting on the first signs of Spring in…
Todd FongJanuary 29, 2020
We've already discussed in a previous article how easy and inexpensive it is to reach Matsue by bus from Hiroshima;…
Todd FongJanuary 23, 2020
Takehara is a perfectly preserved Edo era merchant town with a long history of sake brewing and the birthplace of…
Todd FongJanuary 15, 2020
Japan's Mt. Daisen is as significant as Mt. Fuji, home to ancient religious sites, a dairy farm, & a photography…
Todd FongJanuary 15, 2020
