I love looking out for funny and or cute signs when I travel. Japan should teach a MasterClass in cute signs. In subway stations, on the street, on noren, in hotels — they’re everywhere. Many are intentionally cute while some are unintentionally funny. When the country has warnings about comportment in public places, but animals…
Category: Travel
three art stores (tokyo)
There are very few things in life I enjoy more than going to an art store. And Tokyo is *the* place for amazing art stores — each one distinct with its own personality. Not gonna lie. I want to visit all of them but it would take days so before arriving in Japan, I whittled…
encounter at a bus station (kumamoto)
There’s a lot to see and do in Kumamoto. But almost all of it requires having a car or using public transportation which is no hardship because public transportation in Japan is a dream. Everything is clean and runs on time. On the first day in Kumamoto, a visit to Unganzenji Reigando Cave, an hour…
encounter on ikuchi island
I’ve never been one to do things in a rush. I need time to figure things out, then to experience them. So visiting a city in a day or two will always leave me feeling discombobulated. For the past four weeks, I’ve been travelling around Japan. Although we’ve been staying in each place for more…
encounter on a bridge (kyoto)
A few days ago, I’m walking back to my hotel. I notice an older man parking his bike against the bridge. I smile at him and say hello and he comes right over. “Where are you from?” he asks. “South America,” I reply. “Where exactly?” I explain how originally I’m from Guyana, but now live…