Keika Ramen's Soy Sauce-Based Shoyo in Shinjuku (Tokyo)
Just beside Tokyu Stay, my hotel in Shinjuku Suehiro, was a ramen shop offering no-frills dining in this metropolitan corner. Keika Ramen originated from Kumamoto - home of tonkotsu ramen, thus you...
View ArticleOkonomiyaki in Reichan (Hiroshima, Japan)
Soba has thinner noodles, and is made of buckwheat and wheat flour. Years ago, I met a girl traveling through England at an ATM machine in London. She had difficulty using the machine for some reason....
View ArticleMomiji Manju at Momijido (Itsukushima, Hitsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture)
Miyajima (Itsukushima) is a dream destination; one of the 3 most visited in Japan. But it also has a contribution for regional gastronomy, bridging a bit of history, culture and food consumption. I...
View ArticleFukushima District's Machiya Houses in Yame City (Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyushu)
Some of the most beautiful of Japanese countryside I have seen are in the remote corners of Yame City in Kyushu. That's a fact that doesn't need sugarcoating. Thus when I read about Fukushima...
View ArticleYame City's Shofukuji and Muryojuin Temples (Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyushu)
Shofukuji Temple, Yame City The temples in the central area of Yame City aren't particularly striking but they reek with local color. During our visit, it would intermittently rain so our time to...
View ArticleMyoeji Temple's Lush Surroundings (Yame City, Fukuoka Prefecture)
Myoeji Temple was mostly deserted when we visited. It's an idyllic space filled with plants and trees, as well as a red Chinese-style temple at the side, seemingly misplaced in Japan's mostly...
View ArticleHandicrafts Heaven at the Yame Traditional Crafts Museum (Yame City, Fukuoka...
If you're the type who likes to take home traditional handicrafts as souvenirs, then you'll have a grand time visiting the Yame Traditional Crafts Museum (Yame Traditional Craftwork Center/Yame Dentou...
View ArticleThe Giant Stone Lantern (Ishidourou) of Yame City (Fukuoka Prefecture)
At the Yame Dentou Kougei-kan (Yame Traditional Craftwork Center), there is as giant lantern that might as well be a torii or a pagoda because of its size. It is the biggest Stone Lantern I know. In...
View ArticleYamanoi Park of Yame City (Fukuoka Prefecture)
Yamanoi Park stands just a few steps beside a riverine community. The area I visited is sparsely designed with a torii at the front, flanked by pine trees. It looked a bit worn down. There's an...
View ArticleThe 620 Year Old Wisteria Tree of Kurogi (Yame City, Fukuoka Prefecture)
You have to respect something that has seen the world for 620 years, right? Like this Wisteria (Fuji) tree in the town of Kurogi. The village has put up a torii in honor of this tree. It has survived...
View ArticleReiganji Temple and the Monk who Brought Tea to Kyushu (Kurogi, Fukuoka...
Long time ago, a wandering Chinese monk traveled to Japan, bringing with him tea seeds. Before then, there were no tea plantations in the country. He loved the remoteness of the mountain that he...
View ArticleInformation and Access on Travels to Yame City and Kurogi (Fukuoka Prefecture)
The photo above is that of the Yame Chuo Tea Plantation, the iconic symbol of Yame City, Japan's source of its best tea. The same photo is the cover of the Yame City Tourist Guide brochure. We're...
View ArticleA Taste of the Authentic Tonkotsu Ramen of Fukuoka (Kyushu, Japan)
"Do you have Ramen?" I kept asking that question in every diner at a corner of Hakata Station in the city of Fukuoka. Rows of food joints litter the space and I wanted a taste of the world famous...
View ArticleNight Stroll in Nakasu, Fukuoka's Red Light District (Kyushu, Japan)
Naka River from Fukuhaku Deai Bridge Someone wrote about Nakasu as "the underbelly of the dregs of Japanese society" where yakuza and the local mafia rule alongside street walkers and geishas. It is...
View ArticleHakata Station - Fukuoka City's Main Transport Hub (Kyushu, Japan)
When my plane landed in Fukuoka, I opted for the bus to take me to Hakata Station which is 15 minutes away (about 2.7 kilometers). This was because the bus' access was easier, not to mention cheaper...
View ArticleThe Streets of Fukuoka City (Kyushu, Japan)
Fukuoka is the capital of Fukuoka Prefecture. It is a city with two centers. The older area is called Hakata which used to be a city until it was merged with Fukuoka. Hakata has the main transport...
View ArticleDurian as Davao's King of Fruits (Davao del Sur, Philippines)
Along the roads of Davao del Sur, south of Davao City, you will sometimes find these makeshift stands selling Durian when they are in season. There are plenty of varieties, but the most popular and...
View ArticleHotel Vicente - Finding a Home in Davao City
Last Kadayawan Festival (August), I found myself scampering for a last-minute booking to visit the city. It wasn't for the annual festivity but for something else. Most of the major hotels were fully...
View ArticleZark's Burgers - Fat and Tasty Burgers (SM Davao City)
Zark's Burgers is home grown, make no mistake about it. From a small 18-seater, 3-man crew somewhere in Manila in 2009, the restaurant has grown with multiple branches nationwide. The restaurant was...
View ArticleUpper Farm - Rustic Atmosphere in Upper-End Steakhouse (Digos City, Davao del...
It was a pleasant surprise finding Upper Farm in Digos City, Davao del Sur. The joint is a hamburger and steakhouse set in a rustic ranch-inspired, rough-around-the-edges diner at the back of a...
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