The allies had originally planned to drop the first atomic bomb on Kyoto. Kyoto was spared by the personal intervention of Henry L. Stimson, United States Secretary of War. Stimson wished to save this cultural center in which he spent his honeymoon. There are over 1600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines in Kyoto. It […]
Every visitor to Japan, if time and budget allow, should try to spend time away from the big cities and more well-known tourist areas. Highly recommended, if you can see your way to a sidetrip, is a stay in a traditional ryokan. The tariff might seem high and it is certainly a luxury to average […]
2.5 hours on two Shinkansen, with a stop in Nagoya, brings you to Takayama from Tokyo. Approaching Nagoya, the views of Fujiyama from the Shinkansen are spectacular, probably the best in all of Japan. After all, you can’t really see the mountain from the mountain. In the heart of the Japanese alps, the town of […]
Where else in the known universe can you see a graying middle-aged man, possibly someone’s Grandpa, walking quite nonchalantly down a heavily-trafficked urban sidewalk, dressed in full Sailor Moon regalia? Or, pet impossibly clean sheep? Then, there was this street performance. And, more people than you can imagine trying to cross the street at the […]
Meiji Jingu is a peaceful oasis, a respite from urban frenzy, and is the most important Shinto site in Tokyo. One of the largest tori to be found in Japan spans the entrance as you enter from Omotesando Street at Harajuku Station. The shrine is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his […]
I’m 5’4″ and 119 lbs before pooping and I feel like Godzilla next to the tiny girls of Harajuku, dressed in a fashion that is both bizarre and adorable. Adorable if your butt is the size of a thumbprint and you can fit your size 9 feet into doll shoes. Lolita Girls, Roller-Zoku, Gosurori, Otaku, […]
High above earth, sailing through the skies, the clouds below look an awful lot like storm-tossed seas. I am en route to Tokyo, approaching Narita Airport. What defines “home?” I’ve lived in San Francisco for nearly 30 years. My heart has been broken, tested, mended, and restored here more times than I can count. You […]
I never get enough of Barcelona, even in the sweltering heat of July. I hear this is a city built for hedonists with pulsating clubs and designer cocktail bars. I’ve never experienced this Barcelona of night owls and vampires. I am more familiar with the Barcelona of Freddy Mercury and Monserrat Caballe, perhaps Rufus Wainwright. […]
Mahon, also known as Maó, became the capital of Menorca under British rule in 1722. British rule also left behind a rich Georgian architectural style, unique in Spain. The second deepest natural port in the world, the harbor is lovely and full of restaurants, but the real beauty of this city can be found in […]
The white-washed seaside village of Fornells could be just one more tourist trap on another island full of trapped tourists. But, because the people here are so kind and good-humored, and fiercely proud, an authentic experience of life on the island is easily within reach. There are also many outstanding restaurants, specializing in seafood from […]
