There’s something undeniably enchanting about Mt. Fuji that the mere sight of it can make ourhearts skip a beat, evoking an unspoken sense of admiration.

This iconic Japanese mountain has woven its way into the dreams of poets, artists, and travelers, standing as a timeless symbol of Japan’s natural grandeur. Its elusive charm only fuels the passion of those eager to witness its majestic silhouette.

Now, we’ve all heard about Mount Fuji’s perpetual popularity and the classic clichés that grace travel brochures – the iconic peak, the five-story Chureito pagoda and the cherry blossom trees at Arakura Sengen Shrine.

But today, let me introduce you to a new gem just over an hour from Tokyo – the Mishima Skywalk, nestled in Mishima City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Consider it your escape bridge from urban hustle to serene landscapes.

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Picture this: five days of sake-induced giggles, cultural capers, and an avalanche of instagenic photos that will have your iPhone storage pleading for mercy, and by the end of the this boozy voyage we may or may not have emerged as Japanese sake connoisseurs… and that’s just the tip of the sake bottle.

Make yourself a hot cuppa coffee (or sake, to match the theme–hey no one is judging here) because we’re diving into a very, very long article (3500 words!) of a five-day whirlwind through Japan’s Chugoku Region, swirling sake and unlocking travel treasures.

But first, let’s get our geographical bearings straight.

First of all, where is Chugoku Region?

Kobe City, the town that needs no introduction! If you’re planning a visit to this romantic port city and you’re thinking about adding some pizzazz to your trip beyond just indulging in mouthwatering Kobe Beef teppanyaki, you’re in for a real treat!

Rokko Meets Art 2023 beyond is here to light up your day (and especially your night) with an artistic extravaganza.

Are you done with all the major attractions in Tokyo and looking for something different to spend a day near the megacity? Well, Seibuen Amusement Park is on the list.

As a Showa-born millennial, Seibuen Amusement Park, or Seibuen Yuenchi in Japanese, brings back all the childhood memories.

Dear blog, happy 19th birthday.

(There’s a photo only because each post requires a thumbnail photo.)

There’s no photo for this 19th anniversary post. It’s kinda like how your nineteen-year-old offspring is probably not even there to celebrate their birthday with you so there isn’t any picture to be taken to begin with.

Things feel like they fall apart so that they can be put back together so that they can fall apart again so that they can be put back together again… and so on and so forth. I think that’s how things work, generally. Like buildings that are torn down to give way to new developments, regardless if the new developments are better or the city or worse. Things like that happen all the time.

I think I have written about all these so many times that I feel like I am just plagiarising myself. Even the previous sentence feels like self plagiarism. Which is probably the only thing I’m good at at this point.

The past year whizzed by like Hayabusa you can’t even turn your head in time to catch it.

 

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When this post is being published I have vanished into the mountains for a few days to disconnect and reconnect. Hopefully I will come back alive and stronger.

I have come to accept that healing is not something you do once and then be done with, but a life-long journey. Sometimes it can feel like you have tasted every single colors of the rainbow and you are so done with it, although you know that there’s an infinite amount of other subtle hues in between the spectrum you have never seen before. But especially because you know that colors inherently don’t exist and are just mere perception and the psychedelic kaleidoscope is getting too head-spinningly dizzying and you just want to close your eyes for a little while.

Sometimes it can feel like you have finally sailed to the other side of the wave where things are calm and you are full of hope because now you can see the little island within reach and because now you build yourself a little escape raft and have learn how to flow with the tide and fish and you are just so happy to have fresh sashimi on your spear.

Sometimes it can feel like the deep hurt you so nourishingly tended to has never really gone away even during times when multiple glittery rainbows are hanging in the sky, except that the hurt is just more numb than ever. Like the feeling you get when the pain killer is slowly wearing off after you pulled out your tooth at the dentist and now you are feeling this annoying tingling sensation you know is pain in disguise that will imminently resurface again.

Sometimes you are just sitting there thinking what’s the lesson for you this life time. Is it to be less greedy, or to be more grateful; to try harder, or to try lesser, or that it is time you turn into a tree…

Sometimes things get so heavy it feels like a dense, dark cloud lingering inside of your entire being slowly smothering your ikigai.

Sometimes you feel like you just want to close your eyes now for a lot longer, maybe until you can spawn on another star which doesn’t know hurt.

But sometimes like Himi from Miyazaki’s final movie “How Do You Live” (also called “The Boy and the Heron” later, but I much prefer the original title), you know that everything will be worth it. You just do. And you pull yourself up to do it over and over and over again.

These feelings happen one after another over and over again, in no particular order and for an unpredicted amount of duration and all you can do is to accept them and see where they bring you.

That really is all there is to do.

And also because now that you have done it for 19 years, you know that you will be able to do it for at least a little longer.

Hello travellers! If you are planning to travel to the Kansai region soon, this post is for you.

As many of you might be aware, there have been announcements of a massive price hike all types of Japan Rail Passes, which have caused many keen tourists to have second thoughts about booking their flights to Japan, given airfares nowadays are not exactly the most affordable either.

Although I think that international travelers are still enjoying huge benefits in saving if they properly utilize their now more-expensive-passes compared to us residents here who could not even get our hands on those delicious discounts, I do want to give an alternative if you are looking for something else, especially when you are bored of the usual (and now very, very crowded) Kyoto and Osaka.

Introducing Kintetsu Railway’s KINTETSU RAIL PASS!

Come on, let’s open that door to more amazing places in Japan!

If you have been to Japan even once, I am pretty sure that you have had an intimate encounter with one of the greatest inventions in the world: washlet.

In fact, many international travelers are so impressed by Japan’s toilet system that they can never forget about their first experience using one. And more often than not, I have heard that it is one of the things they miss most about Japan. I mean, just recall the involuntary sighs of “ahhhh….” when you place your behind onto a spotless, warm toilet seat on a freezing winter night. (Don’t worry, it’s not because someone sat there for a long time before you.) Who would have thought that doing your business in the lavatory could be such a blessing!

Today’s rather unusual blog post is about the greatest toilet brand in the world, TOTO, and how I have embarked on a curious journey traveling around Kyushu Region exploring the wonders of Japanese toilets.

Ironically, the last blog post was titled “The Movie” but it wasn’t about a movie at all.

This is.

I should be better at titling. Or entitling. I’m pretty sure that’s not how “entitle” works but I am entitled to title titles however I like. Now the word looks funny to me.

(Then again, if one is entitled, they are literally being titled. What would their title be?)

(Also, I suspect this is the reason why nobody reads this blog anymore. Because I am bad at writing titles. And writing. Maybe.)

Anyways.

This post is about the movie “Suzume no Tojimari”, or in English, just “Suzume”.

Note: This blog post contains spoilers. If you are a fan of Shinkai Makoto and have not watched this film and do not wish to hate me for the rest of your life, please close this page and go watch some alpaca memes instead. (I will give a spoiler warning before proceeding to reveal part of, but not the entire plot.)

One of the things that international travelers look forward the most visiting Japan is food experience.

There are DMs flooding my inbox non-stop asking about the best food to enjoy in various cities of Japan. While it is easy to identify each region’s meibutsu (popular gourmet/specialties) , things get a little shrouded in mystery when it comes to Tokyo, the world’s largest and busiest megacity.

Why? The reason is simple. Tokyo has everything.

It was warm. Beyond warm. The sky was clearing out, as if Hina from “Weathering with You” has just stretched her arm wishfully far into the blue above and beyond, with surrounding clouds gradually drifting away, revealing glimmering rays which warmth filled my core.

I remembered when I checked the day before, the forecast read cloudy. But who cares.

“Sasuga desu…” they laughed, so impressed and surrendered. I couldn’t help but feel pleased, and let out a relieved sigh. The soft shore breeze tickles lightly wafting through my cardigan. There were sparkles of magic in the air, so light and soothing.

Sashimi bento was so delicious. The oysters were voluptuous and flavorful in its briny natural dashi of the Setonaikai. Nature’s intentions need no embellishment.

The Seto Inland Sea will always and forever, be my favorite ocean on this planet. I have these pieces of salt-seasoned memories, where I stand on a raised platform–a rock, a bridge, an observation deck. Unfolding before me is the vastness of the calmly flowing waters crowned by countless of faint islands sitting in collectedness like the monks in a zazen hall, so unfazed by the worldly happenings of what we call life.

I have seen the majesty of it from Shiudeyama. Shodoshima. Kankakei. Misen. Kojima. Naruto. Suo Oshima. Each so breathtaking in its quietude as if from a parallel world, but in actuality all are connected, like a piece of colossal cosmic puzzle. I took a deep breath as I try to grasp the grandeur of this universe of mine called Japan.

I love the Seto Inland Sea endlessly.

If you follow me on IG, you may have realized that I am updating less these days.

That is because I started writing for myself again.

Left: 2023 Right: 1993

Recently I received a few private messages on social media asking me if I ever detail my journey of finding spirituality. I did start writing a little back in 2021, but I think I am ready to share some glimpses of walking the curious path of self exploration. This is one.