The shining white Himeji-jō is the gold standard when it comes to Japanese Castles. Towering over the surrounding cityscape and set in beautifully manicured gardens, it’s widely regarded as the finest remaining example of that particular type of Japanese Architecture. Originally built in 1333, the current appearance of the castle dates back over 400 years…
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A Guide to Naoshima – 9 Amazing Things to See on Japan’s Quirky Art Island
The Sento Inland Sea, which lies between southern Honshu and Shikoku is home to countless islands worth visiting but you’ll be hard pressed to find one as unique and off-beat as Naoshima, rightfully dubbed the “Art Island”. Starting in the late 1980s, Naoshima has slowly but steadily been transformed from a sleepy fishing island to…
Exploring the Unique Honmura Art House Project on Naoshima, Japan
Honmura Town on the southeastern coast of Naoshima Island has had quite an interesting history, having been transformed from a sleepy fishing village to one of Japan’s premier destinations for art lovers. Ever since the late 1990’s the empty shells of abandoned buildings have been remodeled as cutting-edge art spaces. The houses are scattered through…
What to Know About Cycling the Kibi Plain in Rural Okayama, Japan
We had a lot of fun exploring Japan’s many unique cities, but after a while we felt the need to get out and explore some of the beautiful nature that so far we had mostly glimpsed from Shinkansen windows while zipping by at 300 kilometres an hour. While places like Mount Fuji or Shikoku’s Iya…
Kōraku-en Garden and Other Great Things to See in Okayama, Japan
Okayama Province in southern Honshu is commonly referred to as the “Land of Sunshine“, because of its usually pleasant weather. Its capital city, which goes by the same name, is a cool destination that doesn’t seem to see too many foreign visitors. The reason can’t be for a lack of sights, because in my opinion,…
8 Amazing Things to See and Do on Miyajima Island, Japan
Visitors mostly flock to Miyajima Island in the Bay of Hiroshima to visit the magnificent Itskukushima Shrine and its world-famous floating gateway. While this must-visit sight might be the main reason to drop by the island, Miyajima features a wide array of cool sights warranting a longer visit. Expect plenty of pagodas and temples in…
Everything You Need to Know About Visiting the Magnificent Itsukushima Shrine, Japan
Even if you’ve never been to Japan, I’d venture to guess that you’ve seen pictures of the vermilion gate of Itsukushima-Jinja seemingly floating on the glittering waters of Hiroshima Bay. The torii seems to have become synonymous both with the elegance of Japanese Architecture and the serenity of the country’s Shinto Shrines. Apart from being…
A Short Guide to the Japanese Tea Ceremony
Also known as chado, the traditional Japanese tea ceremony is an essential part of the country’s cultural heritage and partaking as a foreigner can be both fascinating and slightly intimidating due to the amount of rules and cultural etiquette involved. These include, amongst others, even the proper way to hold the cup containing the tea….
The Ultimate One Day Itinerary for Leipzig, Germany’s Cultural Boomtown
Central Germany’s largest city seems to be a bit of a paradox: On the one hand, it’s the country’s fastest-growing city and a vibrant cultural hot-spot due to its large university and important role in the contemporary art scene, yet on the other hand it still appears to be something of a well-kept secret among…
The Pros and Cons of Solo Travel
Whenever I’m traveling somewhere on my own, I tend to get the same reactions from at least some people who can’t seem to fathom that decision. To be fair, these are mostly people who don’t travel a lot themselves and can’t quite seem to grasp the appeal. Yet, this clearly isn’t something that only pertains…