Even if you’re not an anime fan, you might have heard of the hugely popular Kimi No Na Wa (2016). The movie earned a whopping $355mil at the box office, making it the highest grossing anime film of all time (topping Spirited Away)! It tells the tale of a city boy from Tokyo and a girl… Read More Travelogue Japan: Hida-Furukawa – The Small Town Made Famous By An Anime
People often talk about visiting Tokyo and Kyoto. I’m sure they are amazing in their own right, but Japan is so much more than these two places. For those who venture off the beaten path, there are exquisite gems waiting to be discovered, hidden deep within the mountains of central Honshu. Welcome, to Gokayama. Like… Read More Travelogue Japan: The Thatched Roof Houses of Ainokura Village, Gokayama
One of our last stops in Kanazawa was Nagamachi, a former samurai district located at the foot of Kanazawa Castle. Since the castle was an important centre of administration for the ruling daimyo, it was natural that a residence catering to the upper echelons, namely the samurai, sprung up within close proximity. Entering the area… Read More Travelogue Japan: Nagamachi Samurai District, Kanazawa
Geishas are traditional Japanese female entertainers, trained to perform in classical music, dance, games and conversation. Films like Memoirs of A Geisha have popularised geishas in the West, but it was executed in such a way that I felt it fetishised the role, creating misconceptions on what it really entails. Geishas are by no means… Read More Travelogue Japan: Higashi Chaya Geisha District, Kanazawa
Gold leaf, which is gold hammered down to an extremely thin sheet (sometimes 1/10,000 of a millimetre!) has been used in decorative art for centuries. The process of layering it over a surface is called gilding. One might find examples of these in European art, on statues, mirrors, small objects and jewellery, or as part of… Read More Things To Do in Kanazawa, Japan: Gold-Leaf Art
Markets are one of the best places to experience the local way of life, and Omicho in Kanazawa is no exception. The bustling, colourful hub is the largest in the city and its oldest, dating back to the Edo era. Its modern form may be a far cry from how it originally looked like –… Read More Kanazawa Attractions: Fresh Seafood at Omi-Cho Market
Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture is relatively unknown among foreign tourists – perhaps due to it being off the beaten path of the Shinkansen (bullet train) – but the place is a popular destination for domestic travelers, and for good reason. If you’re looking for well-preserved examples of art, culture and history from Japan’s feudal era,… Read More Visiting Kenroku-En: One of Japan’s Three Most Beautiful Landscaped Gardens
Our first day in Japan was packed with non-stop activities, so by the time we retired to our hotel, Chisun Grand Nagano, I was too pooped to take any pictures of the room. Here’s one from their website: Does it actually look this grand? Not really. The hotel was pretty basic, but they DID have… Read More Review: Breakfast Buffet @ Chisun Grand Nagano, Nagano City
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