The Seto 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…
Newest Posts
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…
JapanWhat 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 were itching to explore some of the beautiful nature that so far we had mostly glimpsed from Shinkansen windows while zipping by at 300 kilometres an hour. Places like Mount Fuji or Shikoku’s Iya Valley are amazing natural destinations,…
JapanKoraku-en Garden and Other Great Things to See in Okayama, Japan
Okayama Prefecture in southern Honshu is also called the “Land of Sunshine“, as it’s one of Japan’s sunniest regions. The capital city, which is also called Okayama, is a cool destination, where we didn’t meet many other foreigners (especially compared to nearby Himeji). The reason can’t be a lack of sights, because in my opinion,…
Japan8 Amazing Things to See and Do on Miyajima Island, Japan
Miyajima Island seems to be on a lot of people’s Japan itineraries because of the historical Itsukushima Shrine and its world-famous floating gateway. It’s a beautiful place for sure, but in my opinion there are many other cool places that make it worth sticking around on the island a little longer. For one, there are…
JapanEverything You Need to Know About Visiting the Magnificent Itsukushima Shrine, Japan
Even if you’ve never been to Japan, I’m sure that you’ve seen pictures of the beautiful vermilion gate of Itsukushima-Jinja, which looks like it’s floating on the waters of Hiroshima Bay. The torii seems to have become synonymous with the architecture of Japan’s Shinto shrines. The shrine itself has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage…
JapanA Short Guide to the Japanese Tea Ceremony
The traditional tea ceremony (or chado) is a big part of Japan’s cultural heritage. We’ve always found them quite fascinating, but they can also be slightly intimidating because there are so many rules involved (starting with how to hold the cup). That said, people in Japan are definitely aware that most foreigners didn’t grow up…
GermanyThe Ultimate One Day Itinerary for Leipzig, Germany’s Cultural Boomtown
Central Germany’s largest city still seems to be kind of an off-the-beaten-path place for international travelers, despite the fact that it’s the country’s fastest-growing city and a cultural hotspot, thanks to its large university and important role in the contemporary art scene. I’ve been living in Leipzig for over a decade now, so I figured…
Travel TipsThe 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 understand 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. Still, this clearly isn’t something that only happens…
Thailand8 Fantastic Things to See and Do in Chanthaburi, Thailand’s City of Gems
Chanthaburi is a small town in Thailand’s southeastern corner with a pretty historical centre and a laid-back vibe that reminded me more of towns in the Isan Region than other places along the eastern Gulf Coast. I hardly met any tourists here, but because of its role in the gemstone trade, the city still gets…