Zoria April
Zoria is a writer, of the rare poet variety and a passionate photographer. If you see somebody around Tokyo taking photos of concrete walls, it must be her. She loves to dress fashionably and go drink as many cups of coffee as humanly possible, preferably in cafes with a view.
A short winter trip to Akita – seeing, doing, tasting the best of the...
The snow-covered Akita prefecture in the north of Japan is known for several things, and in February, I headed out there to experience the best it has to offer. Invited by the local Akitainu...
A Panoramic View of Sakura Blossoms in Kaminoyama-shi, Yamagata-ken
Located at the foot of Mt. Zao, Kaminoyama-shi thrived as a castle town and a place for travelers to rest as they traveled along the Ushu-kaido, one of the routes established to connect Edo...
Greet the Gorgeous Pink Sakura in Fukushima’s Inawashiro-machi
Located at the heart of Fukushima-ken, Inawashiro-machi is a town at the foot of Mt. Bandai. To its south side are the clear waters of Lake Inawashiro and to the north is Mt. Bandai....
Heroes and heroines behind the festivals: Sendai’s Tanabata Festival
Sendai’s Tanabata Festival:
Wonders of traditional Japanese paper-making by shopkeepers
Sendai’s Tanabata Festival is touted as one of the three major summer festivals in the Tohoku region, Held in Sendai from August 6 to 8, the lavish...
Tohoku Outdoor Activities
Hachimantai: Hiking Through the Valleys of Hell
When you think of areas for hiking and enjoying leisurely strolls, usually places covered with lush green vegetation spring to mind, right? Well, if you are tired of...
Poetic Beauty of Sakura Blossoms in Morioka-shi, Iwate-ken
Morioka, a historic town at the foot of Mt. Iwate, is reachable in two hours by JR Shinkansen train from Tokyo. Maybe because it thrived as a castle town in the Edo period, the...
Aomori’s Oirase Mountain Stream
A magical world of tiny creatures awaits
Aomori is located in the northern-most part of Honshu island and its vast land area is divided into three major regions: Tsugaru, which neighbours the Sea of Japan; Hakkoda and...
Unveil Intriguing Festivals in Niigata
Though it may still be relatively unknown, there is a wonderful festival in Niigata that is a must for capturing on your social media. Unlike huge festivals packed with thousands of people, this festival...
Heroes and heroines behind the festivals: Aomori’s Nebuta Festival
Aomori’s Nebuta Festival: Passionate haneto dancers give the performance of a lifetime
Aomori is known for holding the Nebuta Festival from August 2 to 7 every year. About 3 million tourists from home and abroad flock into...
Nishitama, Okutama : A Trip Into Tokyo’s Untapped Forests
Forests in Tokyo? Impossible – you might think, but it’s very possible. Two hours west of Shinjuku, lies the Nishitama area, part of greater Tokyo. Now, to many Tokyo residents, Nishitama is nothing special...
