With the arrival of spring, all of Japan is covered in pink. This is because at the end of March, sakura (cherry blossoms) begin blooming! You can see the cherry tree flowers in parks and botanical gardens, around temples and shrines, on the banks of rivers, or covering mountains. The season of the cherry tree is synonymous with new beginnings. Cherry blossom season also coincides with the start of a...

Traveling with kids adds an extra challenge to all travel plans. You need to find activities that are interesting to your little ones because many probably won’t want to see the same attractions that adults do. This post highlights the top things to do in and around Nagoya with your family. It is filled with all the best amusement parks, interactive museums, and parks that your kids are sure to...

The history of manga in Japan can be traced back to scrolls in the 12th century. Since then, it has evolved into many genres and styles, has been animated, and is now available internationally. Manga and anime are such significant parts of Japan, that you can’t visit without encountering some sort of manga or anime character along the way. Manga and anime are literally everywhere in Japan. The Culture of...

Kiyosu with its castle is just minutes from Nagoya Station, and yet it is generally never mentioned in guidebooks or travel magazines. In fact, many people in Nagoya have never heard of Kiyosu Castle, and even I didn’t hear about it until I had been in Nagoya for more than 10 years!  This is unfortunate, because Kiyosu is definitely worth a visit. Take a look below for some of the...

You probably won’t be surprised to hear that Japan loves its noodles, or men as it’s called in Japanese. There are all sorts of kinds: Ramen, Somen, Tsukemen, Tantanmen, Ikemen… OK, that last one actually isn’t a type of noodle, but to anyone who knows some Japanese, you might get the joke! Kishimen is part of the Nagoya Meshi, which is the culinary culture of Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture. If...