9 The Arrival of Spring Takako Sakamoto Japanese garden inside Osaka Expo Commemoration Park: the brilliant spring flowers in this Japanese garden always inform me of spring's arrival.
Culture Osawa-no-ike Pond, Kyoto Sam Hardwick Taking place across three days the festival has costumed dancers, musicians... was happy to stand at for a fair amount of time while the drizzle kept me
Heisenji Hakusan Shrine Takako Sakamoto And I'm glad that I did. It was just awesome.... If you think I'm exaggerating come feel it yourself.
10 Activities Water Buffalo Cart Ride in Ishigaki Manish Prabhune Yes, you read that right, a water buffalo cart in Japan!... The water buffalo that was taking me along with my family suddenly stopped
14 Snow Garden of Shougenji Temple Takako Sakamoto If you take photos in snow, watch your head! You may be hit by chunks of snow dropping from trees above!
Accommodation Dormy Inn Sendai Hirose-Dori Peter Sidell Disclosure: I'm a big fan of the Dormy Inn chain, and staying here... has only made me more of one.
Activities Huffing and Puffing Up Mt Asama Arlene Bastion Starting at the trail-head, it makes no bones about what’s in store for... But the scenery, the feel of the forest so close to me, increasing in majesty
Food Genmai Café Kim Bergström the Ichiju Sansai plate (¥ 1,045) which includes brown rice, soup, and three... For those seeking a sweet treat, Genmai Café also has dessert options made