Ahhh, Japan. My love since middle school and my home for almost five years. My favorite things about Japan include okonomiyaki, shrines and temples, festivals, functioning public transport, and the excessive bowing. Read more below!
Stretching across six islands in the Seto Inland Sea, the Shimanami Kaido is a sprawling 70 kilometer cycling course with some amazingly beautiful views. The course meanders past citrus fields and over huge suspension bridges, along quiet beaches and through bustling towns — I...
Welcome to another edition of the Deskwarming Diaries, where an ALT is quickly realizing she has less than three months before she leaves Japan. This edition features some late cherry blossom pictures, Golden Week adventures, and a look at the future. Let’s jump in! First, the...
Welcome to another edition of the Deskwarming Diaries where an ALT finds herself shoveling snow much more than she’s used to. This edition features winter, Kyoto, a giant box of snacks, and future plans. Let’s jump in! First, as always, the highlights: I’m eating lunch...
This can’t-miss shrine is one of my favorites! I came here often when I studied abroad in Osaka, and I was really happy to be able to see it again on my recent trip to Kyoto. It’s got everything — impressive gates, plenty of greenery, a giant festival (one of the most...
When Hunter and I were planning out where we were going to visit during our 6 days in Kyoto, Bishamon-do wasn’t even on the list. I was actually just goofing off on Google Maps, exploring the area near where we were staying, when I happened to click on it. The first picture I saw...
A few weeks ago, I was in the rare situation of being in the Post Office for more than 10 minutes. In the past, I’d only gone to my rural branch, where there is never any line, to buy stamps. This time, I was helping a friend mail boxes home to America. While the postal workers...
The Yokohama Ramen Museum wasn’t on my radar when Hunter and I were brainstorming places to go to during our anniversary trip to Tokyo. I was fairly pre-occupied with my dreams of visiting the Ghibli Museum! So when Hunter suggested we go, I wasn’t very enthused. “The...
When I think of November, I think of crabs. And when I think of crabs, I think of Marine Dream Nou. Sounds fancy, right? Like some high-end restaurant overlooking the ocean? Well it is on the coast, but Marine Dream Nou is actually a michi-no-eki (roadside station/rest stop) located in...
Welcome to another edition of the Deskwarming Diaries where an ALT is shocked to discover that winters in Nagano are still, in fact, freezing cold. Today’s post includes highlights, a look at my bullet journal, a trip to Tokyo, winter plans, Thanksgiving dinner, and a few small...
Welcome to another edition of the Deskwarming Diaries, where an ALT frantically assembles Halloween clipart for bingo with some kindergarteners (in case you’re wondering, they had a blast). Today’s post includes macarons, the Olympic torch, the ocean, and plenty of stories of...