Along the coast of the Sea of Japan lies the port city of Otaru. It lies northwest of Sapporo in the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. At dawn, on our fifth day in Japan, we decided to take a day trip (Otaru Bay Story), some 40-minute drive away. We zipped up and pulled our hoodies over our heads. It was snowing. Soft tiny snowflakes fell on my eyelashes as we...
Hokkaido is a foodies dreamland. The food is rich and full of flavour. From their local confectioneries to spicy miso-broth ramen and from sashimi to grilled lamb, Hokkaido has something for everyone! When I knew I would be travelling to Hokkaido, all I was focused on was capturing its breath-taking scenery I read so much about. Never did I think Hokkaido would...
“You must try the Genghis Khan,” exclaimed our trusty guide when we informed her that we would spend two nights in Sapporo. Genghis Khan, why him? I said chuckling to myself. What has the great Mongolian got to do with Japan? Well, tales of how he cooked his food seem to have influenced a dish best served with cold beer. So, on a wintry evening we decided to go about...
It was the dark of night when we set foot in Hokkaido, Japan’s second largest and northernmost island. The cold wind made us tuck ourselves into our jackets as we alighted from the cab at our hotel. We had journeyed for more than 13 hours and our tired bodies were screaming for some much needed rest. The curtains in our hotel bedroom were drawn shut. The bed looked...
Through my slightly parted hotel room curtains, I saw the gabled roofs of the Kumamoto Castle at the crack of dawn. The early morning sun reflected off its walls gently bathing it with warm golden hues. It stood there in majestic glory, proud of an ancient past. And as I gazed at the castle, time stood still. It appeared to me that the castle was beckoning to me to...
Next up was Kumamoto, home to a historic castle and the majestic Mt. Aso beyond peaceful emerald plains and sparkling clear waters of its springs and lakes. My return to Japan through Oita had already vetted my appetite to see more of its glorious beauty and so, I began my journey to Kumamoto with eager excitement. The symphonious sounds of Beppu Bay just behind our...
It was 8.40 am when I set foot in Fukuoka, one of five prefectures in Northern Kyushu and I was excited to have returned to Japan after 25 years. I embarked on this journey aboard Jetstar Asia from Australia via Gold Coast and Narita. This was a 3 day trip around the island of Kyushu and my journey which commenced from the Fukuoka Airport began with a scenic bus ride...