Harakjuku crepes are some of the most eye-catching sweet treats in Harajuku. You can’t miss them; Cream-filled, brightly-coloured, packed with strawberry and chocolate and slices of cake! This Japanese version of the French crepe are synonymous with Tokyo’s centre of youth culture – they’re sweet, over the top, and fun! They’re served rolled up in … More Harajuku’s Crazy Crepes – Japanese Iconic Sweet Treats
Japan has a reputation for growing interesting fruits. Some of the most interesting creations are fruits given as a gift, such as square watermelons, pretty red santonishiki cherries, luxury Yūbari King melons, and white strawberries. The White Jewel Strawberry White strawberries are known in Japan as the Shirou Houseki variety, or ‘White Jewel‘. They have a … More The World’s Most Expensive Strawberry – Japan’s White Jewel Strawberries
My bowl of udon tempura was so small, it fit into the palm of my hand. I couldn’t eat it either, because the chopsticks were the size of toothpicks. It was, however, extremely fun to make. In Mayuka’s Bonchi studio of miniature plastic food, we sliced tiny clay noodles, painted little shallots, and poured epoxy … More Kyoto in Sketches: Japan’s Cultural Heart
Beppu is the perfect destination in Japan for bathing. This city on Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost island, is famous for its geothermal activity and range of hot spring bathing options. Clouds of steam rise from dozens of vents in the earth, creating a very unusual cityscape. There are large public bathing houses built of wood, private … More Beppu – an Illustrated Visit to Japan’s Onsen Spa City
Itsukushima (aka Miyajima, which translates to ‘the shrine island’), is a small, romantic island in Hiroshima Bay. It is known for its magnificent torii gate, an 800-year old monument standing in the middle of the bay, appearing to float on the waves. Miyajima has a lovely small town which is perfect for exploring, a World … More Miyajima – A Day Trip Exploring One Of Japan’s Most Scenic Islands
Tokyo has a suburb with long lazy canals, rows of cherry blossoms, quiet streets and old buildings? Could this be a mini Amsterdam in Tokyo? Hmm…not exactly. This was still the mighty concrete jungle of Tokyo, so what Nakameguro canals actually looks like are high-walled, concrete stormwater channels stained green from algae. In the summer, … More The Nakameguro Winter Illuminations
Two of Tokyo’s hubs of pop culture, Akihabara and Harajuku, are fun microcosms to explore the culture of modern Japan. Akihabara for electronics, anime and video game toilets; Harajuku for fashion, sweet treats and cat costumes! Akihabara Akihabara earned its nickname ‘electric town’ several decades ago when this was the place the buy all kinds … More Exploring the Quirky Side of Tokyo – Akihabara and Harajuku
The sky was a pale blue, with airplane contrails criss-crossing the frozen winter air high above, and a bright, shining sun. It was a great day to visit one of Tokyo’s most peaceful places, the huge gardens of the imperial palace, and residence of Emperor Akihito of Japan. The first important thing to know – … More An Illustrated Visit to the Tokyo Imperial Palace
The Ueno area is known or its large, beautiful park. It has some of the most beautiful green areas and temples in Tokyo city (better, I thought, than the Imperial Palace). But outside of cherry blossom, and in the cold days of winter, what is there to do? Toshogu shrine and Kiyomuzi Kannon are year … More Walking Ueno Park in the Winter
One of Tokyo’s most iconic sights is the famous Shibuya crossing. This spectacular neon-lit intersection transforms when the pedestrian lights turn green, and up to 3000 people swarm across the road at the same time! But, as one of Tokyo’s most celebrated (and crowded) nightlife spots, there’s plenty more to see nearby! Let’s have a … More The Amazing Shibuya Scramble: Tokyo’s Heart of Entertainment
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