Can I just start this post by saying I adore Kurashiki (倉敷)! Kurashiki is somewhere I had wanted to go for quite a long time, and I was so please to have the chance to squeeze it in to my holiday last year. I visited as a day trip between a night in Okayama and … Continue reading
Introducing the latest addition to my kokeshi doll family… My friend rescued this kokeshi for me from the internet as an early birthday present. She’s absolutely gorgeous, but I don’t know anything about her origin. She has a slight wonkiness about her, which I like. The head was separate and just slots on with a … Continue reading
It’s time for ‘Japan by Prefecture‘ again! This is the series that aims to provide the highlights of each prefecture of Japan, along with my personal favourites and suggestions from readers. This week, we’re looking at Gunma Prefecture (群馬県). Gunma Prefecture is part of the Kanto region (関東地方), just north-west of Tokyo. It’s an area mostly known for its hot springs, … Continue reading
On Tuesday 3rd June I visited Shichigahama (七ヶ浜). Shichigahama is not a place many people will have heard of, but it’s been somewhere I’ve been aware of for the last few years since I first got involved with the charitable organisation Seven Beach Aid. Shichigahama, or ‘Seven Beach Town’, is home to the founder of … Continue reading
Continuing on from my Naruko Onsen (Part 1) post, I’m finally back with Part 2! (Sorry it’s taking me forever to write up my Japan adventures!) On Wednesday 28th May, I woke up relaxed and refreshed in Naruko Onsen (鳴子温泉) and ate the most amazing breakfast at the Taishokan (大正館) ryokan. The food there was just so good – … Continue reading
On Tuesday 27th May my Tohoku adventure continued. Just before midday I left Yamagata Station on the Tsubasa shinkansen and travelled north to Shinjo. At Shinjo I changed to the JR Rikku East Line, a local line with small trains full of character. My destination? Naruko Onsen (鳴子温泉). The journey to Naruko was simply gorgeous. The … Continue reading
TENUGI (Japanese Hand Towels), an e-book published by Airy Rhyme, Inc., is one of a series of e-books about traditional Japanese culture. The series aims to introduce traditional items and skills deeply rooted in Japan, and so far consists of three titles: TENUGI (Japanese Hand Towels) , SHOYU (Japanese Soy Sauce) and WASHI (Japanese Paper). This series … Continue reading
こけしのこころは見る人の心をうつすこころです “Kokeshi no kokoro wa miru hito no kokoro o utsusu kokoro desu” “The kokeshi’s heart is the heart that reflects the mind of the beholder” (or something like that!)
Recently I attended an event in London about Kyushu (九州), Japan’s third largest island. It was a great opportunity to learn more about a part of Japan I haven’t yet visited, and I found it very inspiring. Kyushu has so much to offer – from delicious food to traditional towns, hot springs to nature. It … Continue reading
It’s time for A to Wa of Japan again! Last week’s post was about things beginning with よ (yo) and we looked at Yoyogi Koen (代々木公園). This week we are looking at things beginning with ら (ra). A big thank you to those who joined in with suggestions this week: UK Seikatsu suggested ramen (ラーメン / a noodle soup dish using … Continue reading
Haikugirl's Japan 