The charming student city of Leipzig has increasingly developed from a well-kept secret to a must-see stop on every Germany itinerary over the past few years. The wonderful mix of history and modernity, the vibrant art scene and laid-back atmosphere are reason enough to hang around for a while. Add to that some architectural marvels…
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GermanyExploring Berlin’s Modernism Housing Estates – Which of the 6 UNESCO Sites are Worth Checking out?
Some people might have been surprised when in 2008, the UNESCO made the decision to put six 20th century housing estates in Berlin on its list of World Heritage Sites. One might be forgiven for wondering how something as utilitarian as a couple of modernist apartment buildings deserved to be on such an exclusive list…
GermanyWhat to Know About Visiting Berlin’s Abandoned Teufelsberg Radar Station
Over 30 years after the reunification, Berlin still sports its fair share of atmospheric abandoned places. From the peculiar Spreepark Theme Park to the eerie Sanatorium Complex in the forest near Beelitz, there’s no shortage of unique sites to explore. Still, none of them are as emblematic of Berlin’s history as the Cold-War-Era Radar Station…
GermanyVisiting Berlin’s Twin-Peaks-themed Black Lodge Bar
Berlin sure is home to some unusual sights. From a creepy abandoned Amusement Park to a dilapidated Cold-War Era listening post, there’s no shortage of off-beat places to explore. One of my favourite secret spots can be found between unassuming apartment buildings and grocery stores in the city’s Neukölln District. The otherworldly Black Lodge Bar…
GermanyWhat to Know About Exploring Berlin’s Abandoned Spreepark Theme Park
Berlin certainly doesn’t suffer from a shortage of unusual attractions. From a dilapidated Cold War Era listening post to a Museum dedicated exclusively to Picture Frames, I’ve stumbled across many a quirky place in the German capital. Still, you’d be hard-pressed to find a weirder spot than the Spreepark, an abandoned GDR-era Theme Park that…
JapanExploring Fascinating Kitano-Cho, the Foreign Merchant Quarter of Kobe, Japan
Wooden manors with dormer windows and brass weathercocks: Kobe’s Kitano-Cho District will probably go against all your expectations of a Japanese city. Your impression wouldn’t be off, as the quarter is quintessentially European, consisting of the mansions of foreign merchants who came to Japan in the late Meiji Era (1868 to 1912). Several Ijinkan (foreign…
JapanThe Ultimate Guide to Finding Cheap Kobe Beef in Kobe, Japan
Arguably the world’s most famous meat, Kobe Beef is considered a delicacy not only for the taste, but also for its tenderness and even texture. While it can be found on menus of high-end restaurants around the world, the pretty southern Japanese City of Kobe Is where the meat originated. As one might imagine, delicacies…
JapanThe Ultimate Guide to Himeji Castle, Japan’s Biggest and Most Beautiful Castle
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…
JapanA 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 loads of little islands, but I don’t think there are any as unique and off-beat as Naoshima, which has the fitting nickname “Art Island”. Starting in the late 1980s, Naoshima has bit by bit been transformed from a sleepy fishing island…
JapanExploring 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…