Who and Why?

Since the 1990’s I’ve spent time living, traveling, exploring and immersing myself in Japan and its culture. Over this time I’ve witnessed many changes, some quite subtle and some quite blatant, but the uniqueness of the country and culture and enjoyment I get from exploring it remains just as strong today experiencing it first hand as it did reading books about it as a child. I love to experience the sites, sounds, feelings, tastes and smells of the real Japan. Sometimes you can experience it in the big cities, but the recent over-tourism in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and other big cities not only leaves the locals annoyed at the way their cities are being experienced but also other tourists and expats frustrated at their experiences in these areas. So for me the essence of the real Japan is most often seen by stepping out of these big cities and experiencing the smaller cities, costal retreats, rural villages and mountain trails. I’ve set up this blog to help you get a glimpse of what the real Japan is like, life outside the lights of Tokyo, or away from the ski fields of Hokkaido and Hakuba. While my interests are broad I particularly enjoy Japanese Gardens, Bonsai, Japanese food and Japanese history, so while these are probably going to be the focus of many of my posts, I will endeavour to take you beyond that and write also about many of the other things I enjoy in the real Japan. I hope you can enjoy and get a taste for this amazing place and perhaps get some ideas for your own trip to experience it, away from the usual tourists routes. If you have any questions or ideas for future posts, don’t be afraid to get in contact. Thank you for reading.