In this installment of No Work All Travel, I will be introducing a Tokyo weekend trip to Nagano prefecture. More specifically, a voyage to the castle city of Matsumoto, and Daio Wasabi Farm, in Hotaka. The first recorded instance of wasabi, sushi’s hot-headed colleague, dates back to the year 981, during the Heian period of […]
Japan
Kurume Tonkotsu Ramen
In 2016, I visited the city of Kurume, Japan, located in the southwestern island of Kyushu. The city is notable for two major contributions to the Japanese economy: Bridgestone, the world’s largest tire and rubber company, and Kurume tonkotsu ramen, the “parent” of Hakata-style ramen. I guess that’s why the noodles were so chewy. Vocab […]
Japan Trip Report: JR East Pass (Tohoku Area)
Although I’ve traveled throughout much of Japan, I embarrassingly didn’t once set foot in the Tohoku region until a few days ago. That’s where the rail pass, the JR East Pass (Tohoku Area), was of tremendous benefit. Firstly, let’s define the Tohoku region (in Japanese, 東北 touhoku, meaning northeastern): The Tohoku region is generally characterized […]
Sapporo, Japan’s Miso Ramen (味噌ラーメン)
In addition to Japan’s most well-known home-grown soup, miso soup, there have historically been others – houtou, with pumpkin, mushrooms, and meat, and miso nikomi made in a clay pot – that employ both noodles and miso, or fermented soybeans. Miso is beneficial for immune and digestive support, and has a fair amount of protein, […]
Next Month, Japan Is Eliminating All COVID-19 Restrictions
Japan eliminates all COVID-19 restrictions … that has nice ring to it. Especially after all of those months of waiting in vain for the country to open (i.e. to reciprocate). And then seeing it open to badly planned tour groups. And then this: Yep, that was back in September 2022. I was able to get […]
Review: JAL Sakura International Lounge, Tokyo Haneda
Does the Tokyo Haneda Sakura International Lounge have anything on the Tokyo Haneda Sakura Domestic Lounge? You betcha. Ish. Access There are two security/immigration queues at Tokyo Haneda’s Terminal 3, aka the International Terminal. Regardless of the one you choose, look for escalators by Gate 114. Go to the 4th floor to access this Japan […]
Lounge Review: Nagoya (NGO) Centrair Airline Domestic Lounge and More
I’ve finally found a lounge as miserable as the Priority Pass one in Chicago O’Hare’s Terminal 5. And it’s the Nagoya Centrair Airline Lounge (click to skip ahead)… in Japan? First, a smidgen of background about today’s Nagoya aviation. After another recent trip to the country, this time was a little different in that I was […]
Review: Domestic Sakura Lounge at Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND)
To sum up the Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge at Terminal 1 of Tokyo Haneda International Airport a very simple one, the place sucked. There was barely a distinction between the lounge and the rest of the terminal, unless you appreciate an espresso buffet. But before I delve into that stuff, let’s start with check-in. I […]
