See the World Differently
With a shaky clunk the cable car passed the pylon at the apex of the ridge. As the next valley came into view, the lush greenery of Hakone gave way to a scorched landscape of steaming vents, stained yellow and white by minerals dredged up from the bowels of the Earth. In the distance, the […]
The first rays of light burst over the horizon, bathing the clouds below in pink, orange and gold. Here and there jagged peaks poked through the sea of clouds, all seeming small and insignificant compared to the lofty heights of Mount Fuji, our sacred perch. The sun finally appeared and still everyone was dumbstruck. We […]
Hosting a sushi party may seem like a daunting prospect but it’s actually surprisingly easy. Learning how to make temakizushi, hand-rolled sushi, was probably the most useful thing we took away from several years living in Japan. It takes minimal effort and the results are delicious. The Japanese concept of a party is distinctly different […]
Partway up the hill we came across a small, grassy plateau. A row of people stood in silence, bent double with their heads between their legs. Coloured banners flapped in the breeze, each adorned with a cartoon-like character demonstrating the same inverted pose. We joined the line, turned our backs to the sea and assumed […]
The timid young girl carefully extracted a strip of the pink, fish-flavoured treat from the bag. Every furred head turned, with envious green eyes transfixed by this highly coveted reward. They moved as one, a wave of fluff and claws sweeping across the floor of the cat cafe, enveloping the hapless girl’s feet in a […]
Strips of squid blister and curl on the hot plate while tightly packed skewers of chicken sizzle and spit over an open flame. Hungry patrons hunch over piping hot noodle soup, served in disposable bowls. With a blur of chopsticks, they inhale the noodles noisily. Nearby, freshly grilled fish-shaped cakes are nibbled with care lest […]
As we approach in the pre-dawn gloom, the foreboding metal gates of the temple are chained shut, an unexpectedly tangible barrier on our path to enlightenment. Buchi san guides us to an unlocked side gate and we creep into the tranquil gardens, careful not to disturb the air of calm. Among the shadows, silent shapes […]