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Ichirō Hatoyama's Residence, Hatoyama Hall, in Otowa
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This Series's Lessons

  • Japan, Finally Japan, Finally Well, finally a breakthrough! The travel ban was lifted, and we were able to return to Japan again! Sure, testing required, and a tedius airport experience upon arrival at Narita. Read lesson →
  • Visiting Tokyo for the First Time? Here Are Some Popular Places to Visit Visiting Tokyo for the First Time? Here Are Some Popular Places to Visit Tokyo is an eclectic city of contrasts - ultra modern skyscrapers, residential bedroom towns, and ancient temples and shrines. In this guide I will give you some ideas for things to do while visiting Tokyo.  The places mentioned here a… Read lesson →
  • Ramen Museum in Shin Yokohama, Where You Can Learn and Eat Too! Ramen Museum in Shin Yokohama, Where You Can Learn and Eat Too! Those that know me are keenly aware that I love a nice bowl of ramen. Well, I found a ramen nirvana of sorts in Shin Yokohama, where you can learn about ramen history, and taste it too! Read lesson →
  • First time in Osaka? Here are some places to check out. First time in Osaka? Here are some places to check out. Back in the early 1990's we visited Osaka on our way to Kobe.  Frankly I remember very little about that trip.  Then in 2023 we had a chance to stop in at Osaka for a couple of days, and we made the most of it.  I've highligh… Read lesson →
  • Kyoto will Always be the Heart and Soul of Japan Kyoto will Always be the Heart and Soul of Japan Kyoto is the heart and soul of Japan. It's ancient temples and shrines are a testament to the history of Japan, and even its future. Kyoto is a modern city with many contemporary buildings, and even its own tower. But at is core are many of… Read lesson →
  • Nagoya has More to Offer Than I Expected Nagoya has More to Offer Than I Expected This past fall we signed up for a bus and ferry tour of Shodo Island and Shimanami Kaido, which you can read about here.  To start the tour we had to take the Shinkansen to Nagoya.  So, at the end of the tour, we decided to stay a… Read lesson →
  • Northern Honshu in the Springtime Northern Honshu in the Springtime This trip would be our first time in Aomori, Iwate, and Akita prefectures. We were lucky to view the most beautiful cherry blossoms, an historic castle, and snowcapped mountains.  Read lesson →
  • Shodo Island and Shimanami Kaido Shodo Island and Shimanami Kaido We decided to continue our exploration of the parts of Japan that we had not yet visited with this unique trip to Shodo Island, the Setonaikai National Park, and the islands adjacent to the park.  Read lesson →
  • The Former Residence of Marquis Maeda The Former Residence of Marquis Maeda Recently I came upon two beautifully restored residences that were built by Marquis Maeda and Prince Asaka, two Japanese aristocrats in first half of the 20th century. This lesson is about the former residence of the Marquis Maeda Toshinori… Read lesson →
  • The Prince Asaka Residence and Gardens The Prince Asaka Residence and Gardens The second residence I came across in Tokyo was built by Prince Yasuhiko Asaka, a member of the royal family with a troubled wartime past.  The design of the home was heavily influenced by his wife Nobuko.  The residence was built… Read lesson →
  • Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Gardens, Turn of the Century Estate for the President of Mitsubishi Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Gardens, Turn of the Century Estate for the President of Mitsubishi If you have been following my explolits in Japan you will know that I have written about a couple of estates that were built upon western architectural principles.  The estate built for Hisaya Iwasaki is another great example of Japan'… Read lesson →
  • Seiryu Garden Sawanoi-en and the Trail to Mitake Gorge Seiryu Garden Sawanoi-en and the Trail to Mitake Gorge I have a few destinations northwest of Tokyo for you to consider if you are interested in seeing a bit of nature and even a little hiking.  The first one is in the area between Sawai and Mitake stations, starting at Seiryu Garden Sawan… Read lesson →
  • A Hike and Lunch at Hatonosu Canyon A Hike and Lunch at Hatonosu Canyon My December 2023 visit to Hatonosu Canyon was the beginning of my infatuation with the area along the Tama River beyond Ome.  Nice walking trail along the river and a charming lunch spot were highlights of this day trip. Read lesson →
  • Okutama Mukashi Michi Trailhead and Hikawa Gorge Okutama Mukashi Michi Trailhead and Hikawa Gorge I took another solo trip out west of Tokyo along the Tama River to Okutama in early November.  Another beautiful sunny day for hiking the Okutama Mukashi Michi Trailhead and a quick peek at Hikawa Gorge.   Read lesson →
  • Akasaka Palace, the State Guest House Akasaka Palace, the State Guest House Ever wonder where dignitaries from other countries get entertained in Tokyo? I never thought about it until I came across pictures of Prime Minister Kishida welcoming the Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Akasaka Palace.  I … Read lesson →
  • The Ministry of Justice, Where We Found Justice After All The Ministry of Justice, Where We Found Justice After All One sunny afternoon in December we strolled up to the Ministry of Justice building, or more commonly known as the Red Brick Building.  Getting in to see the museum inside was a bit of a challange, but I have a tip for you so you don't … Read lesson →
  • Ichirō Hatoyama's Residence, Hatoyama Hall, in Otowa
  • The Edo Tokyo Open Air Architecture Museum The Edo Tokyo Open Air Architecture Museum Located in the western suburbs of Tokyo, the Edo Tokyo Open Air Architecture Museum is a unique collection of buildings that were transported onto this 17 acre site.  The buildings span quite a bit of Edo era history, and provide a gli… Read lesson →
  • Nobunaga! A Ramen Shop For Savory Chickens Nobunaga! A Ramen Shop For Savory Chickens It's been a long time since I posted a lesson about a restaurant. I was intending to last fall, as I visited a couple of well known ramen shops. But for whatever reason I never got around to it. So, here is a quickie review of Nobunaga, a t… Read lesson →
  • Nakiryu, a Michelin Star Winner, Still Has a Great Ramen If You Don't Mind Waiting For it Nakiryu, a Michelin Star Winner, Still Has a Great Ramen If You Don't Mind Waiting For it The Creative Noodle Factory Nakiryu was on my short list of ramen places to visit in 2025. This classy ramen shop had won a Michelin star in 2017, so it is going to be good. How good was the question. Read lesson →
  • Byodoin, a World Heritage Site That Is Probably Not on Your List to Visit Byodoin, a World Heritage Site That Is Probably Not on Your List to Visit This spring we took a bus tour to a few beautiful locations for viewing cherry blossoms, referred to in Japan as sakura. The first stop in the tour was Byodoin, an ancient Heian temple located in the southern part of Kyoto. Most folks visit… Read lesson →
  • Tō-ji, an Historic Temple Established After the Capitol Moved to Kyoto Tō-ji, an Historic Temple Established After the Capitol Moved to Kyoto To-ji is an important temple on the southwest side of Kyoto. It is especially pretty in cherry blossom season, and in the fall when the colors change. It's probably not a place you will visit on your first visit to Kyoto, with all the other… Read lesson →
  • Yoshinoyama - Hiking the Plush Sakura Hillsides in Nara Yoshinoyama - Hiking the Plush Sakura Hillsides in Nara The mountainous region of Nara known as Yoshinoyama has been known as one of the best places to visit during cherry blossom season. So we wanted to see if the reality was up to the hype. Well, I am here to report that it did, with flying co… Read lesson →
  • Himeji Castle, its White Splendor Amidst the Cherry Blossoms Himeji Castle, its White Splendor Amidst the Cherry Blossoms Himeji-jō, known as the White Heron Castle because of its distinctive white exterior, is the most visited castle in Japan. We had visited other castles in Japan before, but this one was at a different level. Not only is Himeji-jō very well … Read lesson →
  • The Chambers of Power: A Spring Stroll Through Tokyo’s Political Heart The Chambers of Power: A Spring Stroll Through Tokyo’s Political Heart Over the years I have seen many pictures of The National Diet Building in Nagatacho, but never actually came close to visiting it. Well, finally that day came, and it was grander than I expected. And we even got a chance to visit the Parlia… Read lesson →
  • Cheesesteaks in Nihonbashi, From Philly With Love Cheesesteaks in Nihonbashi, From Philly With Love A little known sports bar in Nihonbashi got my attention last year with its Philly theme and pursuit of an authentic cheesesteak. The owners just returned from a pilgrimage to Philadelphia to show off their version. So it must be good right… Read lesson →
  • Matsuyama Castle on the Hilltop Matsuyama Castle on the Hilltop During our time in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture we were able to explore the ancient fortress on the hill, Matsuyama Castle. A cloudy and rainy day made the castle seem overly gloomy, but there were facinating historical artifacts and display… Read lesson →
  • Museums That You Did Not Know Existed Museums That You Did Not Know Existed I was looking at some old photos the other day and stumbled on a place off the beaten track that I had pretty much forgotten about.  Our friends took us for a ride in their car to a unique park and museum complex called Clematis no Oka… Read lesson →
  • A Day Trip to Mount Takao in Western Tokyo Is a Breath of Fresh Air A Day Trip to Mount Takao in Western Tokyo Is a Breath of Fresh Air Mt. Takao is another place off the beaten path that you can visit while you are in the Tokyo area. It has its share of visitors but is still not a hotbed of tourism, at least not yet. It's a nice alternative to the crowds at Hakone. Read lesson →
  • The Fall Foliage of Tateshina, Nagano and the Majestic Matsumoto Castle The Fall Foliage of Tateshina, Nagano and the Majestic Matsumoto Castle If you're in Japan during the fall months, it's always a nice idea to plan an outing outside Tokyo to see the fall colors. We made a plan to do just that, and tacked on a trip to Matsumoto to see the famous castle. Well, plans change when l… Read lesson →
  • Kawagoe Lunch Spots Kawagoe Lunch Spots If you're visiting Kawagoe you'll probably want to stop somewhere for lunch. Here are a couple of restaurants that I have tried recently that might work for you. One is a traditional Japanese sushi restaurant, and the other is a burger join… Read lesson →
  • Old Town Kawagoe Is A Great Day Trip Destination Old Town Kawagoe Is A Great Day Trip Destination Kawagoe is an historic Japanese city in Saitama Prefecture, nicknamed "Little Edo" for its well-preserved Edo-period buildings, featuring Kurazukuri warehouses, old merchant streets, and ancient temples. It's an easy day trip from Tokyo tha… Read lesson →
  • A Night at the Opera, in Sapporo A Night at the Opera, in Sapporo My wife's cousin Jun composed the music for an opera, and we were invited to attend - in Sapporo! A blend of Japanese history and original music greeted us with this new opera. And while we were in Sapporo, we took a quick tour of the city. Read lesson →
  • Kamakura, The Kyoto of Eastern Japan Kamakura, The Kyoto of Eastern Japan Kamakura is often referred to as the Kyoto of Eastern Japan, and for good reason. Its historic temples are stunning examples of architecture introduced from Song Dynasty China with Zen Buddhism's influence. Kamakura was once the administrat… Read lesson →
  • A Lunch Trek Into The Mountains West of Tokyo A Lunch Trek Into The Mountains West of Tokyo Did you ever want to just get away from it all? And have a nice lunch in the bargain? Well, I may have the place for you. Read lesson →
  • Engaging Yokohama, The City of Harbor Lights Engaging Yokohama, The City of Harbor Lights Yokohama's history, compared to other cities in Japan, is rather recent. It was one of the ports opened in 1877, and since has expanded to become Japan's second largest city. In this lesson we'll explore some of the history of Yokohama, and… Read lesson →

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