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…
Exploring 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…
The Ultimate Guide to Finding Cheap Kobe Beef in Kobe, Japan in 2024
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 miracle meat originated. As one might imagine,…
The 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…
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…
Cycling the Kibi Plain in Japan – Traversing Rural Okayama by Bicycle
Exploring Japan’s impressive metropolises can be a lot of fun and will definitely lead to some memorable experiences. Still, after a while you might feel the desire to get out of the city and to reconnect to the nature you’ll otherwise only glimpse from Shinkansen-Windows while zipping by at 300 kilometers an hour. At least,…
Kōraku-en Garden and Other Great Things to do in Okayama, Japan
Okayama Province in southern Honshu is commonly referred to as the “Land of Sunshine“, due to its usually pleasant weather. Its capital city, which goes by the same name, is a cool destination that doesn’t see too many foreign visitors. The reason can’t be for a lack of sights, because Oyakama’s utterly beautiful Kōraku-en Garden and…
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…