Tag：#Japan
How to Ride Buses in Japan: Boarding Payment Systems, Ticket Etiquette, and My Surreal Hakuba Bus Ride with Three Drivers
10/10/2026Good morning sunshine; there is never bad weather in travel. Riding buses in Japan might seem daunting, but it boils down to two simple systems: pay upon boarding vs. pay upon exiting. Explore flat-fare vs. numbered ticket distance-based systems, alongside a hilarious solo journey to Hakuba where one passenger was accompanied by three drivers.
The Unwritten Rules of Traditional Japanese Inns and Hotels: The Big Bathhouse and Check-In Etiquette Mizuc Experienced Firsthand
10/1/2026Mizuc traveled along Japan's Pacific longitudinal line from the middle of the main island all the way down to Okinawa, staying at hotels, inns, and guesthouses with distinctive local character along the way, and compiled a few unwritten rules of traditional Japanese inns you may not know—from the current state of mixed-gender bathing in the big bathhouse, to the correct way to wear a yukata, to the finer points of slippers, tatami, and kaiseki dinner times.
Yakushima to Ibusuki Ferry: Mizuc's Three Most Unforgettable Ocean Voyages
9/30/2026From a circular rainbow wrapping entirely around a ferry in New Zealand's Cook Strait, to intense seasickness on Kuroshio currents off Wushi Port, and a guesthouse host waiting in the chilling rain at Ibusuki Port—three unforgettable maritime memories.
Japan Travel Food Notes: A Gentle, Cloud-Like Surprise—The Wonderful Pairing of Hotpot and Grated Yam
3/29/2026When enjoying hotpot at a traditional Japanese inn or a high-end restaurant, a plate of cloud-white grated yam often appears on the table. How exactly should this grated yam be eaten? Mixed into rice or added to the soup? This article reveals the authentic way to enjoy this gentle dish.
Shishijima, Japan: Cohabiting with Island Cats and Fish Bones on an Isolated Isle
1/29/2026Fleeing peak holiday hotel rates led me to an enigmatic, secluded haven in Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku: Shishijima. With no stores or restaurants, under thirty residents, a 1,200-year-old camphor tree, and touching encounters with local warmth.
Otsuka Museum of Art in Naruto, Shikoku: A Candid Review of Tech and Derivative Masterpieces
4/1/2025Located in Naruto, Tokushima, the Otsuka Museum of Art is renowned as the world's foremost ceramic board art repository. A critical review covering transit from Tokushima City, high admission fees, and an honest perspective comparing ceramic replicas to original fine art.
Okinawa Travel / How to Join a Zamami Island Whale Watching Tour? Set Sail to Visit the Humpback Whales!
2/20/2022A complete guide to the winter whale watching tour on Zamami Island, Okinawa, based on the author's firsthand experience: how to reach Zamami Island by ferry from Naha, a comparison of two whale watching options, the humpback whale season, costs and booking methods, and essential precautions before setting out—taking you to Okinawa's most unforgettable sea experience in winter.
Okinawa World Travel Guide: Gyokusendo Cave, Culture Kingdom, and Ticket Details
10/30/2021An in-depth exploration of Okinawa World, the premier cultural theme park in southern Okinawa. Featuring the magnificent Gyokusendo stalactite cave, traditional Ryukyu townscape, energetic Eisa dance performances, tickets, MAPCODE, and transport.
Nationality and Nostalgia: Confessions of a Taiwanese Girl Married in Hokkaido Who Refused Naturalization
8/30/2021A heartwarming tale of bumping into a fellow countrywoman at a Hokkaido hot spring ryokan. Records how a Taiwanese girl married with a child in Japan struggled between cultural ties and patriotism, insisting on retaining her Republic of China citizenship. A humorous reflection on the evils of nationality systems, cross-border marriage predicaments, and getting brought back to earth by the reality of Taiwan's "Farmers' Health Insurance."
Fijians, Weirder Than Japanese Food Combos: The Double-Carb Monster
8/11/2020Comparing the unique food cultures of Japan and Fiji. Beyond the Japanese gyoza-with-rice combo, this explores how Fijians use instant noodles and corned beef cans to create the astonishing "instant-noodle rice bowl" home dish. A fun food-observation of starch monsters invading a tropical island.
First Experience Flying Scoot to Hokkaido, Japan (New Chitose Airport, Sapporo)
3/22/2019Chronicling my maiden flight aboard a Scoot Boeing 787 Dreamliner to New Chitose Airport in Sapporo, Hokkaido. From sprinting through Taoyuan Airport Terminal 1 check-in counters to observing Scoot's high-density 3x3x3 cabin seating and exploring the 787's electronically dimmable liquid-crystal windows.
Okayama Souvenir Guide: Koeido's Ganso Momotaro Kibidango Sweet Rice Cakes
12/7/2018An unboxing review of the famous Momotaro Kibidango crafted by Koeido, an esteemed traditional wagashi confectionery from Okayama and Kurashiki. Explore its natural ingredients, adorable packaging, fair pricing, and subtle chewy flavor.
Must We Rent Pocket WiFi Abroad? An Airport Lounge Family Debate on Gaming vs. Travel
12/5/2018Overhearing a witty airport boarding lounge exchange between a father and daughter at Taoyuan International Airport. Examining contemporary traveler dependence on portable pocket WiFi routers, compared with a daughter's sharp skepticism. Practical tactics for utilizing public WiFi (stations, hotels, convenience stores) across Japan.
From a Road Trip to "That's a Dramatic Change!": An Engineering-Medicine Student's Romance and Youth Toward Architectural Design
9/9/2018During a road trip in Japan's Kanto region, chatting with fellow passengers about favorite Japanese TV shows, we unanimously voted for "That's a Dramatic Change!" This classic show wasn't just a mealtime favorite—it unexpectedly stirred up the Wanderer's precious memories of cross-department electives in architectural design during grad school, when a professor lent me a whole set of DVDs.
The Subtle Art of Being Unhurried: A Leisurely Life Attitude Against Modern Anxiety
6/7/2018Five authentic vignettes celebrating an unhurried, leisurely philosophy of living. From dozing off at a crowded bus stop in college to napping on riverbed boulders in Datun Mountain, and losing track of time before masterpieces in Tokyo.
Japan Travel: Solo Yakiniku on the Dark Shores of Yakushima
9/4/2016If the universe had a top-ten list of places single travelers should avoid, Japanese yakiniku restaurants would rank firmly in the top three. After an exhausting full-day alpine trek on Yakushima, stumbling into the only glowing red neon sign on a pitch-black isle.
