Category: Uncategorized

Wow Place #356:  Shimabara, Japan   When it comes to reputation, there are places that come close to meeting the hype, places that live up to the hype, and places that exceed the hype. Shimabara is not one of these places. Nicknamed the “City of Water,” the castle town of Shimabara in Nagasaki Prefecture is [...]

Wow Place #355:  Kumano Magaibutsu, Kunisaki Peninsula, Japan   When I was a kid, one of my favorite cartoons was “Tennessee Tuxedo.” Its plot was simple: Tennessee, a penguin, and his dimwitted pal Chumley, a walrus, live in Megapolis zoo.  Regularly, the duo escape over the zoo’s wall and get into all manner of trouble [...]

Wow Place #354:  Kuju Flower Park, Taketa City, Japan   I’m embarrassed to admit that I have a little cellphone problem. When I’m standing in line, I look at my phone.  When I’m watching a movie or reading a book, my phone is never far away.  If a text arrives (with its enticing ping), I [...]

Wow Place #353: Chichu Museum, Naoshima Island, Japan   To my surprise, there have been over 100 James Bond Villains over the course of 25 or so 007 movies.  Some of them I’d call “Bond Thugs” as they were more hired assassins than actual evil masterminds.  I’m talking Odd Job from Goldfinger, Donald “Red” Grant [...]

Wow Place #352: Takachiho Gorge, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan   Time and again, I’ve been tricked into thinking that a famous site isn’t nearly as good as its hype.   There was the time I arrived at the main gate of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, at 7am on a brisk January morning.  Bleary eyed [...]

Wow Place #351: Futago-ji Temple, Kunisaki Peninsula, Kyushu Japan   Cenzo:  “Where do you think it goes?” Dave:  “I’m not sure.  The sign says, “Mountain Pilgrimage Path.” Cenzo:  “It’s pretty steep. And look, you have to use a chain to hoist yourself up the first part!  You don’t think it goes ALL the way up [...]

Wow Place #350: Chiran Peace Museum For Kamikaze Pilots, Minamikyushu City, Kagoshima, Japan   "Mother, I have nothing to say. In my last moment, and my first act of filial piety, I will smile and conquer. With dry eyes and knowing I have done well. Please offer some rice dumplings at our Buddhist mortuary tablet."    [...]

Wow Place #349: Wakaba Ryokan, Kurokawa Onsen, Japan   When you think of a stay in a Japanese onsen (hot spring) hotel, what tends to come to mind is a traditional room with futons and tatami mats, a delicious, multi-course Japanese meal and, of course, an outdoor bath surrounded by beautiful nature.   What no [...]

Wow Place #348: Mount Fugen-dake, Japan   By and large, I’m a “moderate” guy.  Moderate height. Moderate weight. Some might say moderate looks and intelligence.  😊   I like moderate portions in my food.  The spice level of my curry? Moderate!   So when I found a hike in Unzen-Amakusa National Park described in the guidebook [...]

There’s a scene in the movie Kill Bill: Vol. 2, where the Bride (played by Uma Thurman) wakes up in a coffin, buried alive by her evil nemesis, Bill.  Luckily, she has trained for situations like this, able to break through wooden containers via the sharp, focused, rap of her knuckles.   I have no [...]