Located just one stop from Meguro Station on the Namboku and Mita Subway Lines, Shirokanedai is an upscale, mostly residential neighborhood. Although it does contain wonderful sightseeing spots, it is unknown to tourists and is a great place to explore in relative peace. Shirokanedai is very easy to get around as almost everything is located … More Tokyo Neighborhoods: Shirokanedai
When in Kyoto, Gion Mametora is a fantastic choice for those looking to dine on unique local cuisine. The restaurant serves kaiseki ryori, an elegant course menu based on what’s in season. However, its speciality is mamezushi – small, roundish, bite-sized sushi. Also called ‘maiko-zushi’, they were originally designed for Maiko (Kyoto’s apprentice geisha) so … More Kyoto Restaurant: Gion Mametora
The town of Oya, near Tochigi Prefecture’s capital, Utsunomiya, is relatively unknown but is an excellent day trip from Tokyo. Oya-ishi, a porous stone created from ash and lava, has been quarried in the area for centuries. It is mostly extracted from underground, so the town’s landscape has not been scarred. However, man-made arches, holes, … More ‘The City of Stone’ Oya, Tochigi
Clematis-no-oka opened in 2002 and is a collection of four museums and four restaurants spread around a large nature park & garden in the city of Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture. In addition to indoor exhibits, many beautiful works of art can be seen throughout the compound – similar to Hakone’s Open Air Museum. The first museum, … More Garden & Museums of Clematis-no-Oka
There are many wonderful hikes in and around Tokyo, but my favorite is Nokogiriyama in Chiba Prefecture. Nokogiri means ‘sawtooth’ and is so named due to jagged rock face that was exposed in the Edo Era when it was a quarry. If you prefer an easier hike, travel by ropeway to the top of the … More Nokogiriyama, Chiba – ‘The Sawtooth Mountain’
