Kurotani in rural Kyoto is one of the oldest paper-making villages in Japan. For more than eight centuries, the villagers have transformed the mulberry plant into elegant washi (Japanese paper) products.
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Riding the slow train around Yangon
The Yangon Circle Line is a slow ride, taking three hours to complete the loop as it passes through the city’s outlying areas. It is, however, a good way to see the rest of Myanmar’s former capital.
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Pulling strings to keep alive Myanmar’s puppetry tradition
In Yangon, one artist and his family are helping to save the country’s marionette heritage through education and staging puppet shows in their living room.
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Vignettes of Japan #15: At one with nature
During our brief sojourn in Higashi-Yoshino, we took leisurely walks by the river, passed a waterfall and ancient shrines, climbed over many moss-covered stones, weaved amongst skinny tall trees, and listened to riotous symphonies by unknown insects.
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Vignettes of Japan #14: Countryside living
Once in a blue moon, I would select my next travel destination because of an unusual or exceptional lodging in the area. This has brought me to places that I had not heard of before; the mountainous village of Higashi-Yoshino 東吉野村 in Japan’s Nara Prefecture is one example. I was looking for a place to stay…
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Looking back at 12 days of summer in Hokkaido // 北海道
Compilation of a series of posts about a self-drive trip in Hokkaido. I hope these stories will continue to inspire someone to discover the low-key charm of Hokkaido and its remarkable natural landscape, and, ultimately, to see another side of Japan.
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Flowers here, there and everywhere in central Hokkaido // 北海道
Summer is the best time to view flowers in full bloom in the towns of Furano and Biei in central Hokkaido. Hopping from one farm to another, you will be surrounded by lavender, sunflower, poppy, salvia, cosmos, Japanese rose, and more.
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Steaming hot in Noboribetsu and Shikotsu // 登別 + 支笏, 北海道
Located within the Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Noboribetsu 登別 is the largest onsen in Hokkaido and one of the most well known hot spring resorts in Japan. The source of the town’s fortunes comes from Jigoku-dani 地獄谷 – also known as “Valley of Hell”, a massive geothermal crater formed following the eruption of Mount Kuttara some…
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One summer night in Sapporo // 札幌, 北海道
One summer night in Sapporo where we stumbled upon the Hokkaido Bon dance and automated multi-storey car parks.
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