Temporarily Lost

After having sampled every culinary treat I could find in Naha, and subsequently lounging off the post-meal malaise on the beaches of Zamami-jima, my next destination was that of the Yaeyama Islands in the very Southwest corner of the Okinawan Island chain (only a stone’s throw away from Taiwan, if that gives you a better idea of location).  Continuing […]

Tokyo may be famous for its fresh sushi bars and seemingly uncountable ramen joints; the old capital of Kyoto offers diners a peek into the high art of Kaiseki cuisine as well as a variety of tea sweets; a trek into sacred Koya-san will lead one to the heart of the vegetarian Shojin-ryori fare of […]

Beyond the rustic aesthetic of the temples or serene nature of the shrines, the towering torii gates or the snow-capped mountains, the perfectly manicured gardens or elegantly choreographed tea ceremonies, or the flashy neon mega-cities and ultra-modern transportation methods lies another — and often overlooked — face of Japan: that of the tropical paradise of the Okinawan Islands.  Its isolated […]

NOTE – Part One of my Kumano Kodo Experience can be seen by clicking here. Tanabe, Japan: Before ever setting foot on the mountain or steeping into the forest, most visitors choose to first make a pit stop through the town of Tanabe, just outside of which lies the beginning of the Nakahechi Trail, the […]

Due South of Kyoto, in the Wakayama Prefecture, lies the Kii Peninsula,  stretch of forest and mountains that has long been thought to be the home of many Shinto deities, or spirits, known as “Kami” — which later morphed into expressions of the Bodhisattva as the Buddhist and Shinto faiths became intertwined within Japan’s religious beliefs.  As […]

When planning the final leg of my Round-the-World trip, I’ve had enough experience to know to account for some extra jet-lag recovery time before making any actual plans — and with this particular trip requiring me to re-set my body’s clock forward 13 hours (a significant adjustment), I knew that I’d likely need at least a few days before […]