Themes - Japan for the 109th Time

Best Places to Eat Near Hitachi Seaside Park – Hidden Local Food in Tokai Village, Ibaraki

07/14/2025

Just a 15-minute drive from Hitachi Seaside Park—famous for its baby blue nemophila and fluffy red kochia—lies a quiet and often overlooked town: Tokai Village. While not well-known as a tourist destination, Tokai is actually a hub of cutting-edge research. It’s home to Japan’s major nuclear and physics research facilities, drawing scientists and engineers from […]

Onsen Etiquette 101: How to Bathe Like a Local in Japan’s Hidden Hot Springs

Welcome to the World of Japanese Onsen Hello to all of you planning your 109th trip to Japan! If you’re venturing beyond Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, chances are you’ll encounter one of Japan’s best-kept secrets—rural hot spring towns where the steam rises gently into the mountains and time seems to slow down. But before you