I recently stayed for a month in the Sakura House dorm in Tomigaya, Shibuya. The location was really convenient, ten minutes or less from Yoyogi-Hachiman, Yoyogi Koen or Yoyogi Uehara Stations. There’s also a grocery store that won’t break the bank, Niku-no-Hanamasa, near the Inokashia Dori and Metropolitan Expressway Central Circuit intersection (the one you’ll … Continue reading My Experience And Review Of Sakura House Yoyogi Koen 2
Kichijoji is consistently ranked as the number one place people would like to live in Tokyo. This is mainly due to Inokashira Park, a large greenspace with a quaint man-made lake in the center. But there are plenty of other things to do there, too. Check out our top things to do and see in … Continue reading What To Do And See In Kichijoji And Inokashira Park
At the Tokyo Skytree, there’s a little Edo goldfish festival going on. Goldfish were popularized in Japan during the Edo period, and now they’re back and on exhibition. The Edo-rium will feature over 50 different species of rare and common goldfish. There will also be a festival atmosphere, with special edition goldfish snacks and drinks … Continue reading Tokyo Edo Goldfish Festival: Edo-rium at Sumida Aquarium
If you plan to do a lot of exploring in Tokyo, a Pocket WiFi connection is the way to go. You can get unlimited data, which will allow you to use your chat apps, Skype and email to stay in touch as well as your handy maps and browser functions so you don’t get lost. … Continue reading Japan Wireless Pocket WiFi How-To
Welcome to the lap of luxury. If you’re looking for five-star quality in Taipei, you’ve come to the right place. From rooftop pools and private hot springs to corner suites and legendary service, the country’s capital has it all. Read on for the top recommendations for luxury hotels in Taipei – Instagram Edition. Mandarin Oriental … Continue reading Top 7 – Best Luxury Hotels in Taipei: Instagram Edition
Lanyu is a small island, about 45km², to the southeast of Taitung. It’s a choppy, four-hour boat ride away. It’s not luxurious living. The terrain is rugged and, at first, the island feels dark and mysterious. It is Orchid Island – one of the most breathtaking displays of untouched aboriginal life that this author has … Continue reading Things to Do and See on Lanyu, the Orchid Island
Taiwan is one of the best places in the world to study Chinese. To anyone who’s sort of new to the scene, Taiwan uses traditional (ie. more complicated) Chinese characters to write. The general population also has a distinct accent which is pretty difficult to understand if you haven’t trained your ear for it. Nevertheless, … Continue reading Which School Should I Study Chinese in Taipei?
When it comes to transportation and getting around Taipei, convenience, ease of use and fair prices are the key words. Visitors and residents can take their pick of either UBike, the Metro, taxi or good old fashioned walking. Here is a rundown on the best ways to get around Taipei. -1- UBike The UBike is … Continue reading How to Get Around Taipei
People flock to see the Japanese cherry blossoms, sakura, every spring. The pale pink and white petals are shaken from the branches by the slightest breeze, and everyone agrees they’re beautiful. Eventually, however, the fading piles of petals beneath the trees lose their splendor. Now, imagine if the sakura were always in bloom, never died, … Continue reading Japanese Aesthetics – What is Wabi-Sabi?
Magical girl or mahō shōjo is one of anime’s most beloved genres. It’s also responsible for much of anime’s success outside of Japan, through hits like Sailor Moon and Card Captor Sakura. The magical girl genre developed alongside the western world’s new “good” witches, like Samantha from Bewitched and Sabrina: The Teenage Witch. Since then, … Continue reading The History of the Japanese Magical Girl Genre
Tokyo Wholesome 