Tag Archives: Kansai

Food Report: A Peanuts-themed Omurice Lunch at Snoopy Cha-ya (Ise, Japan)

Lunch? Good. Snoopy? Better. A Snoopy-themed café that offers a hearty lunch and official merchandise? Hmm, I think we’ll need to skip the superlative level and fish for another adjective above “Best”. Welcome to Snoopy Cha-ya.

Field Report:  Ise Jingū, Mie, Japan (26 November 2018)

Nagoya is one of my favourite places in Japan, with history and culture and delicious local cuisine in spades. That said, when I’m in the mood for something a little different, this city’s status as a regional transport hub really proves its worth, with a broad range of options for easy day trips in allContinue reading “Field Report:  Ise Jingū, Mie, Japan (26 November 2018)”

Field Report: Azuchi Castle Ruins and Museums, Shiga, Japan – Part One (03 May 2017)

In a quiet corner of Shiga Prefecture, on the slopes of a thickly forested hill overlooking Lake Biwa, I came across the scattered remnants of what was, for a few glorious years, the mightiest fortress in all of Japan. A castle to end all castles, unequalled in size or grandeur by anything that had comeContinue reading “Field Report: Azuchi Castle Ruins and Museums, Shiga, Japan – Part One (03 May 2017)”

Field Report: Takeda Castle, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan (02 May 2017)

In this post, I’ll take you to the ruins of a hilltop castle in Hyōgo Prefecture: a place where stone walls, sheer drops, and fantastic views come together to create one of the most splendid castle vistas I’ve seen anywhere in Japan. Some people have dubbed it “Japan’s Machu Picchu” – an exaggeration, to beContinue reading “Field Report: Takeda Castle, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan (02 May 2017)”

Field Report: The Autumn Splendours of Arashiyama, Kyōto, Japan (26 November 2016)

The hills of the Arashiyama district are ablaze with colour every fall, transforming the northwestern reaches of Kyōto into a teeming hive of tourists. This particular season – out of the several autumns I’ve spent in Japan’s ancient capital – seemed the worst by far in terms of visitor overload, but it’s hard to complainContinue reading “Field Report: The Autumn Splendours of Arashiyama, Kyōto, Japan (26 November 2016)”

Field Snapshot: Kyōto National Museum, Japan (25 November 2016)

Another short and sweet snapshot post, just to tide us over until the next proper field report. Today, let’s have a look at one of my favourite hangouts in Kyōto … which, surprise surprise, happens to be a museum.

Field Snapshot: Kōdai-ji, Kyōto, Japan (25 November 2016)

Following my customary walking route through Kyōto’s Higashiyama district, I began with Kiyomizu-dera and gradually worked my way north, pausing for the usual refreshment break at my favourite tea house. Further on into the stroll, I entered a well-known landmark for the first time in years, having skipped it a couple of times after myContinue reading “Field Snapshot: Kōdai-ji, Kyōto, Japan (25 November 2016)”

Food Report: Tea and Traditional Sweets at Kasagi-ya (Kyōto, Japan)

The winding, hilly lanes of Kyōto’s Higashiyama district require a fair bit of effort to navigate. Fortunately, a little tea shop tucked away next to one of the area’s scenic stone-paved streets offers the perfect antidote to depleted energy levels: freshly-made Japanese sweets and a bowl of hot, frothy green tea.

Field Report: Kiyomizu-dera, Kyōto, Japan (25 November 2016)

Kyōto’s Higashiyama district is an area I’ve grown rather fond of, and quite familiar with, through my regular visits to Japan’s former capital. Since I first came here several years ago, I’ve seen a few things change – and not always for the better. The crowds, for one, have grown so unbelievably thick as toContinue reading “Field Report: Kiyomizu-dera, Kyōto, Japan (25 November 2016)”