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A break in the rain, brilliantly blue skies!
The rainy season is underway in Japan, meaning that it might not always be preferable to take a walk for enjoyment, or for getting to know a town you may be visiting, but once there is a break in the...
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Things to do in Matsue: Hydrangea of June
With the peak season of the rose and peony flower having just passed, and the high-probability of rain due to it being the rainy season at the moment, you might not be so inclined to go flower viewing...
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Foods to beat the summer heat!
While ice-cream and cool beverages may be ideal for cooling down when the temperatures soar, they don’t quite amount to a proper meal. That’s when chilled buckwheat noodles save the day ^-^ You can...
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Places for taking a break: Cafe Cozy
Every now and then, you find a cosy little gem ^-^ This isn’t a new place, but it was my first time to stumble upon this small cafe that is set-up in a renovated Japanese home. The cafe itself is a...
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Eating out in Matsue: Mr. Barg , American Steaks and Hamburgers
If you happen to be visiting Japan, maybe you’ve had your fill of delicate servings of carefully prepared traditional dishes, and are looking for something tasty, something recognisable, and something...
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Lake Shinji & Matsue: Sunsets of June
We’re now into July, but lets take a little look back over the sunsets that we had here in Matsue during the month of June. In the early part of June, we were yet to enter the rainy season, meaning...
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Feeling hot?
If you were thinking that it feels hot today, there’s a good reason for that. Temperatures will continue to reach 34 degrees Celsius. The westerly winds help in keeping things cool, but the 60%+...
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Places to eat: Ramen-cho san!
If you’re a fan of ramen (noodles), or have yet to give them a try, you can’t go wrong with ‘Ramen-cho san’ (ラーメン長さん lit. Ramen Master Chef). This is a relatively small (but delicious!) ramen...
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Eating out: Hibi no Kate (Macrobiotic-vegan Cafe Restaurant)
In Japan, where vegetarianism and other ways of eating such as in the western world still remain a little in the dark, it’s not uncommon for vegetarians (let alone vegans or people with other dietary...
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Yesterday’s sunset, stepping out of my comfort-zone in shooting a familiar scene
A quick post today, to share the unexpected yet beautiful sunset over Lake Shinji yesterday. As yesterday was overcast and cloudy, I wasn’t expecting to be able to see much sun or colours for the...
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Visiting Rainbow Waterfall!
Niji-ga-daki(虹が滝), or rainbow waterfall as it would be rendered in English, is another escape from the summer heat not far from Matsue city (approx. 25km). It is located near Ichibata Yakushi, within...
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Shimauma Cafe
The name, Shimauma, meaning zebra in Japanese, was chosen because of the owner’s fondness for the attractive African equids, and thankfully not due to the use or consumption of them at this...
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Let the noodles flow!
And flowing they were at the summer restaurant beside Kumai Waterfall in Matsue, where they set up shop during the hot summer months to serve chilled somen, a thin wheat noodle, continually flowing in...
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Getting into the festival (matsuri) spirit!
Japan‘s summer festival are known for their lively and energetic processions, usually with a long tradition. There are many aspects of the Japanese festival that makes them attractive, one of such,...
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Tenjin-san Festival: Sacred portable shrines and lively street amusements
Tenjin-san is an annual festival held at Shirakata Tenmangu ( 白潟天満宮; dedicated to Michizane Sugawara, known throughout Japan as the god of Learning) a mere five-minute walk from Matsue JR Station. The...
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Eating at a Japanese matsuri
Festivals, or matsuri as they are known in Japanese, are the perfect opportunity for those adventurous eaters seeking something new and exciting. Most matsuri will have rows upon rows of stalls (yatai)...
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A recap over July’s sunsets
Time brings all things to pass -Aeschylus (Aiskhulos 524 BC – 455 BC) …July has come to an end. Here is a brief look back over the sunsets that have come to pass this month… …and wonder what will come...
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Eating/Drinking in Matsue: Cafe Blanc
A cafe with an impressively varied menu, Cafe Blanc offers a wide rang of teas and coffees, hot and cold, juices and smoothies, pasta dinners, stew, and lots more. This place is rather popular for its...
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Folk Songs at Karakoro Art Studio(Aug.18th)
The mention of summertime in Japan to those who have lived or visited, will more than likely bring back memories of lively and colourful festival matched with the endless array of foods served up by...
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Cafe Lunch: May in the Countryside 五月の鄙(go-gatsu-no-hina)
A bakery with adjoining cafe, a natural and relaxed atmosphere, vegetarian with macrobiotic influences, if this sounds good to you, then you might want to try out Go-gatsu no hina五月の鄙 (roughly...
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