Pin it“Gay-dar” seems to work in every country. Using his to guide us through Tokyo’s streets, my traveling companion Matt led us to the center of the city’s small, yet lively gay quarter called Shinjuku-ni-chome, commonly referred to as Ni-chome. As if reaching a mountain summit and basking in his achievement, Matt placed his hands…
Pin itFood is an important part of travel and during my Fall 2004 trip to Japan, I certainly had my fair share of common and odd bites. Following is a snapshot of my culinary journey through Shizuoka and Yamanashi Prefectures.
Pin itLanding in Japan, my traveling companion Matt and I were on a mission. Forget majestic Mt. Fuji and the sacred Buddhist temples. We wanted to see the Japanese Macaque monkeys of Hell’s Valley. When we constantly brought up our desire to see monkeys to our Japanese hosts, we were asked, “Why?” One host warned,…
Pin it“She owns a piano bar,” the Japanese homestay coordinator told me. Anxiously, I sat in the hotel lobby, fidgeting and wondering where my hostess was. As soon as I felt like an abandoned child, a woman confidently walked into the lobby. Her glittery gold top sparkled with each step and black leather pants showed…
Pin it Friends told me I would lose weight in Japan, thinking my palate wouldn’t tolerate raw fish and other new tastes. As I lay on the medical-like table with the lower half of my body snuggly fit into a long, nylon bag, I realized they were right. I spent an afternoon in the city…
Pin itLike most everyone, I’ve had Japan on the brain since last Friday’s earthquake, tsunami and now nuclear power plant situations. I devout today’s Wordless Wednesday to some of the people I met along the way during my Oct. 2004 trip to Japan. I extend my thoughts and prayers to the Japanese people.
Pin itTwo of my worst fears came to fruition during my month-long visit to Japan in 2004: being naked in public and singing in public. Luckily, not simultaneously. This is a tale of my Japanese bathing experiences and karaoke is for another time. I visited Shizuoka and Yamanashi Prefectures, the home of Mt. Fuji. Bathing…
Pin itYes, I admit it. Prior to a month-long visit to Japan in 2004 as part of Rotary International’s Group Study Exchange, I thought unagi was a karate concept invented by Ross on the television show Friends. A visit to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka introduced me to the sweet and savory freshwater eel called unagi and…
Pin itFive years ago the local Rotary district (6960) sent me and four others to Japan on the Group Study Exchange program and a year later I submitted essays to be considered for a travel anthology/travel guidebook called To Japan with Love: A Travel Guide for the Connoisseur , part of the To Asia with…
Pin itFive years ago this month I returned from a month-long trip to Japan and feeling sentimental about the journey, I’m sharing this snapshot from a visit to the Shimada Obi Festival, an unusual event which happens every three years. The children in this photo were adorable and friendly, as were most everyone we met…
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