Blogs from Japan, Asia - page 5

Although famous for being an American sport, baseball is actually quite popular in Japan, surpassing even soccer. As such, there are many professional baseball teams in the capital, including the Yomiuri Giants who boast the most impressive arena in the city. One of the best ways to experience the Japanese love for baseball is to catch a game at the Tokyo Dome. Fans come out in large numbers and go into a frenzy when a player hits a home run, culminating in a festive atmosphere worth being part of. The Giants are the oldest (12-26-34) professional sports team in Japan. Being a Giants fan since they moved from NY to San Francisco, I must see the Tokyo version of the Giants at the Tokyo Dome. I arranged for tickets, delivered to our hotel front desk for ... read more

Left the remote Ryokan early this morning whilst the clouds still covered the peaks for best coffee so far by the Iya Valley, it came with a fluffy pancake and trying to persuade the birds to feed from our hands. Explored the rope bridge, falls etc before the most stressful drive ever along the single track road full of switch backs, rock falls and sheer drops. That cube shaped car was a challenge to drive, both in the mountains and other motorways, I’m not a fan of a Seat Smile. Naruto whirlpool’s weren’t quite swirling before we headed to Kobe and a cancelled Shinkansen due to an earthquake meant we were in the commuter train to Kyoto. Bit of a shock to be back in a city but we’re staying in another Ryokan in quiet streets ... read more

Savoteur: There is culture shock, and then there is culture shock. Many travelers confess that adventures in European countries don’t scratch their itch of wanting to feel truly in a different world. Luckily, Tokyo, Japan, fits that bill quite nicely. From the neon lights to the history to the bizarre examples of modern technology, a trip to Tokyo is genuinely one-of-a-kind, making it a no-brainer place to visit for two weeks. Yes, I agree with Saboteur, Europe is too much like the US. After all, our country is a reflection of Europe, at least in its origin and founders. Japan, and countries in the Asian corner of the world present a very different culture, cuisine, and people. And I just realized most of the travel websites are quite Euro-centric. Just a guess on my part, but ... read more

I am headed to Japan because it is my mother country. It was home to both sets of my grandparents, who came to the US at the end of 1800s and beginning of the 1900s. I am going to show my best buddy, Mr. Mike around my home country. We will focus on food, Michaelin stars, hole in the wall joints and big city walks, and less on temples and museums. From the MoneyFesto: Japan really has the best of both worlds, and its juxtaposition is what entices travelers in the first place. You see, Japan not only has a rich cultural heritage and unique traditions, with ancient temples, shrines, and tea ceremonies for visitors to learn all about. But Japan also has cutting-edge technology and futuristic cityscapes like no other place on the planet. url=https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsamplingamerica.com%2F10-foreign-cities-that-feel-like-america%2F&data=05%7C ... read more

A few of these are new to me. From Daily Meal: Japan's rich history means there are plenty of traditional eating customs and url=https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedailymeal.com%2Fjapanese-food-what-do-itadakimasu-and-gochis-sama-mean%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cec8e33df421a4f94fe9b08dbfbfbade8%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638380830606838613%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=IYYbnp8lMt5qkKucvO%2FXnP1dMM0%2F6tieAW4s9pGvd5g%3D&reserved=0etiquette you might be unaware of before your trip. Whether you're dining at your ryokan, at a restaurant, or in somebody's home, you're sure to find yourself asking many of the following questions. Don't rest chopsticks on your bowl. I have always done this, but now I need to use the little chopstick rest or folde... read more