Something I noticed when I last visited Japan was how pristine the parks were. Even in small, local parks, local councils build public bathrooms that look so much nicer than those I've seen in Australia. That isn't to say that the hygiene inside is perfect. I recommend you bring your own flushable wipes and some fragrant oil, which I sprinkled whenever I had to use a public bathroom. I had a chance to visit one such park close to YAMAMOTO Roketsu dyeing studio. It was called

When I've travelled to Japan, sooner or later I've usually ended up visiting an Aeon Mall. If you're only in Japan for a very short time, I don't suggest going out of your way to do the same. But if you happen to pass an Aeon Mall incidentally, or if you're in Japan for more than 4 days, I'd say it's worth a look. It's interesting to see the ways Japanese shopping malls differ from those in your homeland. (Me and a friend at Aeon Mall, 2017. Photos taken by me and Josiah Sill

(Image taken from Google Maps. 14/7/20) One of my greatest regrets about my last visit to Japan was that I visited the Yatsuhashi-An but did not schedule enough time for me to meticulously photograph it, and myself in it. It's a cultural institution in Kyoto where you can buy and eat traditional Japanese confectionery. But you might be surprised to know that they also hold many craft and cultural classes in the same building. Some of those classes involve making Yatsuhashi, w

(Photos I took of the Nankai Rapit, inside and out.) When I was preparing for my most recent trip to Japan, one of the things I wanted to do was to pay for as much as possible in advance, meaning that I could largely put money out of mind for the rest. One of the things I definitely wanted to do on my last trip to Japan was visit Universal Studios Japan aka USJ. But I wanted some way to save a little money on it. So I ordered a ticket through Klook that came with discounted N

My first experience of staying in accommodation with a share bathroom was during my second stay in rural Australia. I won’t name the town, since I don’t want to bring them any shame. Since the town is very small, and the accommodations very basic and even squalid, it was very cheap. The hotel was also a pub, so all night long, there were audible sounds of cheering, drunken shouting, boots tramping up and down stairs, and loud vomiting in the bathrooms just outside my room. T

(Photos taken by me in Dottonbori, 2017) When people think of Japan, there are many images that would flood their mind. Samurais, Ninjas, Geishas. Palaces, anime characters, ramen. But when the average tourist lands in Japan, they may sometimes feel disappointed by how modernised and Westernised the contemporary Japan is. To those who feel this way and are visiting Osaka, I recommend a visit to Dotonbori. (Photo taken by me in Dotonbori, 2017) It's a strange place, where many

One of the greatest fears I had about my trip to Japan was the thought of catching a cold while I was there. I knew I would be moving many times between different cities, which could be quite taxing and stressful. So I packed carefully for such an eventuality. I packed special pills, and a reusable face mask. So, when I did get sick, I wasn't without some way of coping. Travelling to another country can create that perfect storm of factors that lead to colds and flu: Stress

(Free image from Wix.) (I originally wrote most of this piece as I was preparing to go on a study tour in China. Since then, my mindset has changed. I am less anxious and more inclined to feel sure of my perceptions. But I still think this piece can be a vehicle for thought.) The fact is that sometimes when I think of being far from my home, I feel anxious. In order to deal with my anxiety, I have three tactics. I hide away somewhere by myself, I go for a walk by myself, or I