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- Mar 3, 2021
- 4 min
Low Carb Sticky "Porkchop" Fried Rice, Vegan and Vegetarian Options
(All photos in this post will be have taken by me, 2021.) We're just coming out of the Lunar New Year season but as a Vegetarian, my...
- Mar 1, 2021
- 3 min
Feeling Catty? Japan's Monster Cat Festival, Kargurazaka
You may be a cat lover, you might be a cat hater, but either way, the Kagurazaka Bakeneko Parade is guaranteed to have you transfixed....
- Feb 26, 2021
- 3 min
OYO Yamamoto Ryokan, Fukuoka
When you visit Japan, you'll sometimes run into places that are frustratingly modernist; devoid of flavour and personality. But then...
- Feb 24, 2021
- 6 min
Ninja Month: Saga Ninja Village Hizen Yumekaido
Have you ever dreamed of being a ninja? Have you wanted to see a region of Japan that is not so often visited? Well, there is a Ninja...
- Feb 22, 2021
- 3 min
Yabusame: Samurai Culture Comes Alive
Every year in Japan, in various cities, there is an event held called "Yabusame". And to look at, it is usually spectacular! Lavish...
- Feb 19, 2021
- 5 min
Dream Location: Beauty parlor SAWADA
For a long time I dreamed of having my hair done in traditional Japanese style by a trained professional. In fact, during my last trip to...
- Feb 17, 2021
- 5 min
Minshuku: The Lesser Known "Ryokan"
While I was scrolling through Facebook one day, I stumbled upon a post by a thread artist I follow, where he described a kind of...
- Feb 15, 2021
- 3 min
Hakata Kenban: Fukuoka Geisha
In my efforts to learn more about the regional Geisha of Japan, I found that Fukuoka have their own variety of Geisha! And so, I decided...
- Feb 8, 2021
- 5 min
Kanazawa: Geisha History Town
(Image borrowed from tripadvisor.jp, 2021.) The things I had learned of Akita Maiko and Sakata Maiko made me curious about what other...
- Feb 5, 2021
- 4 min
Tohoku Region: To See Geisha More Easily, Go Somewhere Unusual
Fairly recently, I became aware that Tokyo and Kyoto were not the only regions of Japan with Geisha. I then learned of the beautiful...
- Jan 27, 2021
- 2 min
Kamishichiken
By the time I finally got to visit Japan, it was something I had been dreaming of for about 10 years. In those 10 years one of the areas...
- Jan 12, 2021
- 4 min
Kimono: Styled & Restyled Exhibition in Kyoto! 2019
In early 2019, I got to attend The Kimono: Styled & Restyled Exhibition in Kyoto! I remember that when I first saw the marketing for the...
- Jan 5, 2021
- 3 min
Guest House Makuya
Of the places I stayed in Japan, one of the most Authentic and enjoyable was the Guest House Makuya. But since room prices start at $41...
- Dec 16, 2020
- 3 min
Bathe Like a Samurai: Fuboukaku, Miyagi Prefecture
In many places, lockdowns are still a problem. So I still don't recommend going out anymore than you must. But when Covid-19 ceases to be...
- Sep 18, 2020
- 3 min
The Yadoya Hiraiwa : You Don't Have To Put On The Red Light
Update 28/9/2020: Today I was contacted by the new managers of the hotel, who informed me that it will be maintained as accommodation,...
- Sep 4, 2020
- 7 min
Geisha Transformation : My White Skin
(A photo of me dressed as a Maiko Geisha, 2017. Photo by Josiah Sillavan.) What Was My Maiko Henshin Like? When you go for a Geisha...
- Jul 16, 2020
- 8 min
Feeling Nippy: Live Crabs in Springvale Market
(I originally wrote this long before Covid-19 was a problem. I hope that by the time Covid-19 ends, this shopping strip will still be...
- Feb 14, 2020
- 4 min
Riding the Nankai Rapit Express
(Photos I took of the Nankai Rapit, inside and out.) When I was preparing for my most recent trip to Japan, one of the things I wanted to...
- Jan 31, 2020
- 9 min
Share Bathrooms – A Door To Budget Accommodation in Japan
My first experience of staying in accommodation with a share bathroom was during my second stay in rural Australia. I won’t name the...
- Jan 18, 2020
- 6 min
Being Sick in Japan: Have Fun At The Pharmacy
One of the greatest fears I had about my trip to Japan was the thought of catching a cold while I was there. I knew I would be moving...