Himeji (population: 479 000) Debatably one of Japan’s most glamorous castles. Otherwise known as the “White Egret” from its pure white appearance. This castle itself contains 5 donjons with holes to allow boiling water or oil to be poured on any unsuspecting enemies. Quite the fortress. Other than this amazing structure, there’s not too much more to say about Himeji. [View Full Entry]

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Kobe (population: 1 420 000) Kobe - my new hometown until March. A major port city with spectacular sea views and surrounded by mountainous grandeurs. Kobe was one of the first cities to be introduced to foreign culture. And it shows … Western clothes, food and entertainment is plentiful here. It’s also the birthplace of jazz and cinema and proudly the number one sake producing area in the country. Kobe’s also famous for the devastating Hanshin earthquake on January 17, 1995, which reached a magnitude of 7.2, killing 6000. The city has since been rebuilt into a vibrant and [View Full Entry]

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Osaka (population: 2 480 000) Osaka is filled with pachinko parlours, love hotels, karaoke bars and rockin’ night clubs. Most of the entertainment venues are centred in Shinsibashi and Amerika Mura, where every business has some outrageous feature to grab potential customer’s attention. Like giant heads, crabs and buildings moulded in the shape of a ship. Quite a dizzy experience. So many places to look and so many people looking at you. [View Full Entry]

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