japan - Wandering Walleye

Beer Me – Japan Edition

Clint R — Sun, 04 Jun 2023 13:00:00 +0000

The beer story in Japan was something of a mixed bag. After discovering a thriving and incredible craft beer scene in Korea, I had high hopes going in. While Japan did not disappoint in terms of the craft beer scene, it was not on the same scale as I found in Korea. Japanese craft breweries […]

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Hiking and Spelunking Around Fujisan

Clint R — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

While the mountain itself is obviously the primary draw, the region around Mt. Fuji is not lacking for areas to explore and natural beauty to discover. The whole area is comprised of volcanic (igneous) rock, and is home to several very large cave systems. There are also multiple gorgeous alpine lakes to enjoy, and the […]

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Mt. Fuji is Very Photogenic

Clint R — Wed, 31 May 2023 12:00:00 +0000

You can take amazing photographs all over Japan; however Mt. Fuji still deserves special recognition. This mountain – the tallest in Japan, at 3,776 meters (12,388 ft) – stands out like a beacon among much lower surroundings. Up close Fujisan dominates the skyline, but on a clear day the peak is visible as far as […]

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Travel Day in Japan – Osaka to Mt. Fuji

Clint R — Sun, 28 May 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Japanese public transportation is world-renowned – during our month in the country, we definitely learned why. Apart from taking a van ride to the airport on our way out (offered by our hotel for free, otherwise we wouldn’t have) we spent our entire time in the country without using a car – it just wasn’t […]

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Buying Crazy Things (in Crazy Ways) in Japan

Clint R — Fri, 26 May 2023 12:00:00 +0000

More than any country we’ve visited – US excluded, of course – Japan is a country that really seems to enjoy consumption. Even as Americans who are used to this sort of thing, we were not fully prepared for what the consumer economy would be like in Japan. Both in terms of what you can […]

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A Day Among The Deer – Exploring Nara, Japan

Clint R — Wed, 24 May 2023 12:00:00 +0000

These days, Nara Japan is famous for one major thing. Wild, yet tame deer roam throughout the entire city among the crowds of tourists. For 100 yen ($0.75 USD) you can buy “deer crackers” to hand feed them yourself. The deer have even learned to “bow” in in order to ask for some (when they […]

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Japanese Cuisine – More Than Just Sushi

Clint R — Mon, 22 May 2023 13:00:00 +0000

(Of course, there’s plenty of sushi too) Japan’s culinary landscape is nothing short of incredible. While most in America are aware of the major dishes – sushi and ramen – an exploration of the country will uncover new things to try on a daily basis. For example: everybody knows “ramen” as an individual thing, but […]

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Chasing Cherry Blossoms in Japan

Clint R — Fri, 19 May 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Sakura – or Cherry Blossom – season is a pretty big deal in Japan. The government actually publishes a cherry blossom forecast to help people plan! While the specific dates for peak blooms fluctuate every year, the best time to view Japanese cherry blossoms in bloom is typically in late March/early April. We were fortunate […]

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Feeding Monkeys by Hand at Iwatayama Park

Clint R — Wed, 17 May 2023 12:00:00 +0000

The Arashiyama District in Kyoto, Japan is home to Iwatayama Park, a unique area where hundreds of wild Japanese Snow Monkeys exist peacefully alongside humans. The monkeys are definitely wild, as many signs around the park will warn. The monkeys are used to the presence of humans, however, and will casually hang out mere inches […]

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Ancient Temples, Shrines, and Palaces in Kyoto, Japan

Clint R — Sun, 14 May 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Kyoto was originally settled in 794 AD, and was the capital of Japan for over 1,000 years. Needless to say the city is packed full of ancient historical sites, from grand palaces and castles to small shrines and temples. We spent several days in Kyoto, and used bicycles to explore as much of the city […]

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