The Shuto Expressway Explained
If you are living in or visiting Tokyo you may at some point need to use the Shuto Expressway (首都高) or “Capital Expressway”, a network of roads that fly over the traffic on stilts or…
Meiji Centennial Observation Tower: Japan’s Most Bizarre Viewing Deck?
A couple of months having gone by with my motorbike sitting unused I was feeling guilty, and with the weekend a little cooler after the humidity of August I was tempted out. I decided to…
Mount Nokogiri & Japan’s Biggest Stone Buddha
Mount Nokogiri is a low mountain on the west side of Chiba’s Boso Peninsula. It was the site of heavy quarrying during the Edo period which left it with a uniquely jagged profile and gave…
Omiya Bonsai Village: Saitama’s Hidden Treasure
Omiya Bonsai Village is a small bonsai nursery precinct in Bonsaicho in Saitama started by a group of professional bonsai gardeners in Tokyo during the 1920s. Spurred on by the destruction wrought on the capital…
The Day Tour of Tokyo Imperial Palace
Signing up for a tour of the Imperial Palace is one of those things that I had been meaning to do for a long time, but figured I could do anytime so never actually bothered…
Tokyo City Keiba: A Night at the Races
If you’re looking for something a little different to do one evening, why not try your luck at the races? There are two racetracks in Tokyo: Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu and Tokyo Oi Racecourse in…
Why Do Japanese Eat Eel in Summer?
At some point around mid-summer you’ll no doubt notice a fleeting craze among Japanese for eating eel (unagi). The unique dish is obviously a firm favourite among Japanese, and usually it is only the price of…
Adachi Fish Market: The Tsukiji Alternative
Tsukiji Fish Market is undoubtedly a fascinating experience: the biggest whole fish market in the world with over 2 million kilograms being sold every day. But—despite the seemingly never-ending delays—it will at some point move…
Inside Akasaka Palace: Touring the Japanese-style Annex
Usually the best view you get of Akasaka Palace is from peering through the pristine white gates of the main entrance, but from late April to late June the main house, garden, and Japanese style…