Last year, Jan and I visited Mt. Tate (Tateyama) and made a little promise that we’d come back with the kids next time. And this year, we fulfilled that promise. 😊 Since it’s almost impossible for us to book a winter trip because the season falls while the kids still have classes and th…

Japan has become one of those places that keeps calling us back. This was already our third trip, and every visit has given us something new to love, whether it's the food, the culture, the convenience, or simply the feeling of being there. But despite visiting Japan before, there was…

First, let's get things straight. This is not a guide on how to get your Japan visa approved. If that’s what you’re looking for, you may refer to  this post  instead. What I will walk you through is the actual process of applying for a Japan tourist visa , based on timing and preparat…

Our most recent trip to Japan  wasn’t the usual Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka cities that most tourist visit. This time, we flew to Nagoya. And from there, we hopped on a bus for about 4 hours to Toyama City, a place framed by the dramatic backdrop of the Northern Japan Alps. We could have opted for …

There’s something about historical sites that get me. Old castles, ruins, ancient temples, abandoned villages. These are the places where time seems to pause and let you slip between the past and present. I’m the person who reads every plaque, runs my hand along weathered stone walls, and…