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…
Visiting 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…
What 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…
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
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…
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…
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,…