Japanese gardens are always a treat, and the Kagoshima Sengan-en Gardens are a wonderful example. Overlooking the bay, with the scenic backdrop of the volcano mountains surrounded by water, it’s a magical place to explore, both for the gardens and
My trip last summer to Sapporo was completely unplanned. I was originally planning to tour the Nagoya area following a conference, but the scorching heat of 35-38c had me looking for cooler alternatives, and Hokkaido seemed like a good alternative.
On my first visit to Hasselt, a small city not too far away from Maastricht to the west in the Belgium Limburg, I went to see the local Japanese gardens (Japanese Tuin). When parking the car I already realized there was something
Part of the Phoenix charm is with its desert scenery. Not much green, very distinct vegetation, so when you tour around Phoenix you become used to the yellowish flavor of it all. Which is why the Ro Ho En –
A forgotten temple on my Kamakura temple run day is Kenchoji, one of the greatest Zen temples in the area dating back to mid 13th century. Here’s a bit from the informative Japan Guide: Kenchoji is the number
When it became clear that I’ll be leaving Asia to go to the US, I sat down in front of a map of Asia and thought to myself – where is the last place I’d like to visit before I
Tokyo is filled with little hidden gems around every street corner. There’s definitely something very special about the Japanese temples. They’re extremely esthetic, delicate and beautiful in design, tranquility that calms your mood and lifts your spirits. When visiting Tokyo
My strangest experience in Tokyo goes, hands down, to my visit to the Shinjuku Golden Gai bar area. If you’re anything like me – having a strong preference for the casual-small-quiet bars/pubs rather than the full-blown noisy-party-dress-up bar/clubs – then
Japan is not what comes to mind when you think about beaches. But in my recent trip to explore the lovely Kamakura, a daytrip from Tokyo, I had the most pleasant surprise. Near Hase was Yuigahama Beach, a lovely stretch
Villa Marmarine was something special. I don’t normally mention the accommodation I stay with, since with my budget it’s usually nothing very exciting to write home about. But, every once in a while I do come across a lovely surprise