A trip to Hokkaido
By Christopher H.
Published July 27, 2023
During winter, I went to Sapporo for a week-long trip. Immediately after landing, I was greeted by three-inch of snow that did not exist back in Tokyo. Sapporo in February was cold but lively. People mainly came for the same reason as I did: to visit the Sapporo Yuki Matsuri and see the sights. [caption…
Christmas in Tokyo
By Christopher H.
Published June 2, 2023
Christmas in Tokyo is a festive garden of reflecting lights through which friends and couples come together to enjoy each other's company. I was fortunate enough to have a friend who had booked us a ryokan (Japanese-style inn) in Koto for a few days including Christmas weekend. Our plan was to take trains around to…
Flowers for Buddha
By Christopher H.
Published May 31, 2023
During my day off I took a short trip to Yomiuri Land, an amusement park in Inagi, Tokyo. What I was not expecting to find there was a supposed Sacred Buddhist Forest. On the same grounds as Yomiuri Land sits another park called Hana Biyori which is dedicated to the cultivation and presentation of flower…
Temples and skyscrapers: A trip to Asakusa and Sumida
By Christopher H.
Published May 29, 2023
Back in November of 2022 some friends and I decided to spend a few days in Asakusa and Sumida. When we arrived, we were fascinated by how the traditional and modern seemed to blend together seamlessly there. From the ancient sanctity of Sensō-ji temple to the captivating beauty of the Sumida Aquarium. All the while…
Recalling my first time exploring Tokyo
By Christopher H.
Published Nov. 3, 2022
Recalling my first time exploring Tokyo after living in Tokyo for a month, I’ve made a habit of wandering through its thin streets and alleyway paths aimlessly, taking in the atmosphere and searching for novel experiences. At first, however, I remember being quite overwhelmed by it all, but I wasn’t going to let my nerves…