Japan 2015: Oigawa Railway Adventure

December 31, 2015, 5:42 pm

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≪ Previous: Haikugirl’s Japan: 2015 in Review

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Back when I was a teacher at AEON we used to use these textbooks that had conversations in them for the students to practice. I can still recite bits of some of the more memorable conversations, and one that has always stuck in my mind is this one: It was a bit of a ridiculous … Continue reading →

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Japan 2015: Kumano Kodo Day One

January 10, 2016, 11:25 am

≫ Next: David Bowie (He loved Japan too)

≪ Previous: Japan 2015: Oigawa Railway Adventure

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My trip originally started out as just a holiday with no work element, and one of the main focusses of the holiday was always doing the Kumano Kodo (熊野古道). The Kumano Kodo is a series of pilgrimage trails that criss-cross the Kii Peninsula (紀伊半島), and the routes have collectively been designated a World Heritage Site. … Continue reading →

David Bowie (He loved Japan too)

January 11, 2016, 1:59 pm

≫ Next: Japan 2015: Kumano Kodo Day Two

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I don’t have many words today, other than to say that I’m incredibly sad about the passing of the wonderful musician and actor David Bowie. You might be wondering what that has to do with Japan? Well, actually quite a lot. Bowie had a lot of connections with Japan and some of his fashion was … Continue reading →

Japan 2015: Kumano Kodo Day Two

January 24, 2016, 11:38 am

≫ Next: Japan 2015: Kumano Kodo Day Three

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It’s been a while since I wrote. As predicted, real life is getting in the way of me writing about my great adventures. But I have so many stories to tell – I mustn’t let time pass too quickly. So, in my last post I had just begun my Kumano Kodo (熊野古道) adventure and had … Continue reading →

Japan 2015: Kumano Kodo Day Three

January 31, 2016, 12:15 pm

≫ Next: Japan 2015: Half a Dual Pilgrim

≪ Previous: Japan 2015: Kumano Kodo Day Two

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When I left you last I was settling in for the night in Yunomine Onsen, listening to the rain as I laid my head on the futon, praying for a brighter day tomorrow. Fortunately, I woke the following day, Tuesday 26th November, to find the rain had stopped. It was a dull start to the … Continue reading →

Japan 2015: Half a Dual Pilgrim

January 31, 2016, 12:49 pm

≫ Next: Japan 2015: Kyoto Story

≪ Previous: Japan 2015: Kumano Kodo Day Three

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Whilst walking the Kumano Kodo I discovered a number of things. One was that I really like hiking, the other was the Camino de Santiago, or the Way of St James. The Kumano Kodo and the Camino de Santiago are the only two pilgrimage routes in the world to be registered as UNESCO World Heritage … Continue reading →

Japan 2015: Kyoto Story

February 7, 2016, 5:21 am

≫ Next: Japan 2015: Kurama and Kibune

≪ Previous: Japan 2015: Half a Dual Pilgrim

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Geisha (芸者) and maiko (舞妓), apprentice geisha, are one of the symbols of Japan, and especially of Kyoto. I’ve always been fascinated by them, and by the extreme discipline involved in training to become a geisha, and have wanted for a long time to have the opportunity to meet one of these artisans. Many people … Continue reading →

Japan 2015: Kurama and Kibune

February 7, 2016, 9:27 am

≫ Next: Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2016: Miss Hokusai (百日紅)

≪ Previous: Japan 2015: Kyoto Story

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On Saturday 28th November I strapped my hiking shoes on once again and set off for an autumnal hike in the northern mountains of Kyoto. My plan was to take the train from Kyoto to Kurama (鞍馬), then hike to Kibune (貴船) before returning to Kyoto by train. Kyoto is a great city, but in … Continue reading →

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Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2016: Miss Hokusai (百日紅)

February 14, 2016, 1:30 pm

≫ Next: Japan 2015: Art Aquarium Castle (アートアクアリウム城)

≪ Previous: Japan 2015: Kurama and Kibune

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The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme is back, and yesterday I went to see a film called Miss Hokusai (百日紅), directed by Keiichi Hara (原 恵一). Set in early 19th century Japan – and based on the original 1980’s manga series Sarusuberi by female artist Hinako Sugiura – this award-winning animation brings to life the … Continue reading →

Japan 2015: Art Aquarium Castle (アートアクアリウム城)

February 21, 2016, 8:36 am

≫ Next: Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2016: Noriben – The Recipe For Fortune (のんちゃんのり弁)

≪ Previous: Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2016: Miss Hokusai (百日紅)

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I knew it was going to take me ages to write up my 2015 Japan adventures! Hopefully you’re enjoying the almost weekly instalments… Today I bring you Sunday 29th November (12 weeks ago!) when I took a trip to Nijo Castle in Kyoto to see a rather interesting exhibition: Art Aquarium Castle (アートアクアリウム城). I came across the … Continue reading →

Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2016: Noriben – The Recipe For Fortune (のんちゃんのり弁)

February 21, 2016, 9:47 am

≫ Next: Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2016: Pecoross’ Mother and Her Days (ペコロスの母に会いに行く)

≪ Previous: Japan 2015: Art Aquarium Castle (アートアクアリウム城)

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Yesterday I went to see another of the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme films at the Watershed, Noriben – The Recipe For Fortune (のんちゃんのり弁). (Image source) Guaranteed to whet your appetite, this heartfelt human drama traces a single mother’s journey to independence after an appetising revelation sees her decide to pursue the opening of her own bento shop. … Continue reading →

Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2016: Pecoross’ Mother and Her Days (ペコロスの母に会いに行く)

February 28, 2016, 9:14 am

≫ Next: Japan 2015: A Return to Koya-san

≪ Previous: Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2016: Noriben – The Recipe For Fortune (のんちゃんのり弁)

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Yesterday I went to see the last of the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme films at the Watershed: Pecoross’ Mother and Her Days (ペコロスの母に会いに行く). Pecoross’ Mother and Her Days was directed by Azuma Morisaki (森崎 東) and based on a manga by Yuichi Okano. (Image source) Drawing on social issues in Japan surrounding it’s ageing population and based … Continue reading →

Japan 2015: A Return to Koya-san

February 28, 2016, 12:01 pm

≫ Next: Japan 2015: Osaka

≪ Previous: Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2016: Pecoross’ Mother and Her Days (ペコロスの母に会いに行く)

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My first ever trip to Japan in 2006 was created around an article I had read in the Independent about a place called Mount Koya (高野山), or Koya-san as it is known in Japanese. I was determined to go and stay on this mountain in a temple and eat tofu with the monks who lived … Continue reading →

Japan 2015: Osaka

March 6, 2016, 9:08 am

≫ Next: Tohoku: Five Years On

≪ Previous: Japan 2015: A Return to Koya-san

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Most lovers of Japan will at some point talk about the amazing contrasts the country provides. The modern versus the traditional, the cities versus the rural areas – Japan is a country made of the very oldest and very newest elements, and it’s fascinating. It was with this thought in mind that I arrived into … Continue reading →

Tohoku: Five Years On

March 10, 2016, 4:05 pm

≫ Next: Japan 2015: Having a Hoot in Tokyo

≪ Previous: Japan 2015: Osaka

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Today marks the 5th anniversary of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in which 15,894 people lost their lives. 2,562 people remain missing. The damage was immense, but over these last five years the people of Tohoku have done an amazing job of keeping up the ‘ganbarou’ spirit and rebuilding. Even five years on there is … Continue reading →

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Japan 2015: Having a Hoot in Tokyo

March 12, 2016, 9:11 am

≫ Next: Japan 2015: Deliciously Kawaii

≪ Previous: Tohoku: Five Years On

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One of the recent crazes in Japan is animal cafes. It started with cats and rabbits, and now extends to other creatures including birds, fish, reptiles and even goats. I’m not keen on birds as pets to be honest, so the thought of going to a cafe filled with owls was not something which particularly … Continue reading →

Japan 2015: Deliciously Kawaii

March 12, 2016, 1:09 pm

≫ Next: Japan 2015: Kawaii Monster Cafe

≪ Previous: Japan 2015: Having a Hoot in Tokyo

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How do you follow a visit to an owl cafe with Japan blogger Jasmine from Zooming Japan? With a visit to another theme cafe, of course! As fans of everything kawaii, neither of us could resist having lunch in the adorably cute Ojipan Cafe in Harajuku. Ojipan (おじぱん) is a Q-LIA character (similar to Sanrio … Continue reading →

Japan 2015: Kawaii Monster Cafe

March 19, 2016, 12:07 pm

≫ Next: Japan 2015: The 500 Arhats

≪ Previous: Japan 2015: Deliciously Kawaii

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I don’t think I have ever been as giddy with excitement as I was when I stepped into the Kawaii Monster Cafe with my friend Adam on Saturday 5th December last year. I just couldn’t stop smiling and giggling. The Kawaii Monster Cafe was everything I hoped it would be! It’s a place like no … Continue reading →

Japan 2015: The 500 Arhats

March 20, 2016, 8:46 am

≫ Next: Japan 2015: Kobe Luminarie

≪ Previous: Japan 2015: Kawaii Monster Cafe

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How do you follow a visit to the Kawaii Monster Cafe? Difficult, but we decided to head to the Mori Art Museum to see the latest exhibition by slightly bonkers contemporary artist Takashi Murakami (村上 隆). I had hoped to post this before the exhibition ended, but unfortunately I just wasn’t fast enough – the … Continue reading →

Japan 2015: Kobe Luminarie

March 20, 2016, 9:17 am

≫ Next: Japan 2015: Tokushima

≪ Previous: Japan 2015: The 500 Arhats

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19 days into my 34 day trip and it was time to head to Kobe (神戸), the sixth largest city in Japan. I’ve been to Kobe only once before, in 2009, and I remember thinking it was a city I should come back to explore in more detail someday. Unfortunately Sunday 6th December was not … Continue reading →