Category Archives: Asia

Underground Reading

Posted on March 18, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Nestled in a copse in a corner of a verdant field in Kisaru, Japan there’s an inviting library built to serve local residents of a farming community. Designed by architect Hiroshi Nakamura, Library in the Earth occupies a space that … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Asia, Books, Libraries | Tagged | 2 Comments

Travel Trash

Posted on March 16, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Lately, I’ve been reading travelers’ tales about the difficulty in locating someplace to drop-off trash and recycling while visiting Japan. So, I found this short piece by writer and long-time Japan resident Craig Mod on our cultural impulse to immediately … Continue reading →

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Not your typical cat videos

Posted on March 11, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

National Geographic wildlife photographer and filmmaker, Iwago Mitsuaki, presents a charming collection of cat footage from diverse locations around Japan. On this unique trip he discovers the lesser-known charms and customs of regions through the eyes of cats. The selection … Continue reading →

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Sentimental Souvenirs of the Past

Posted on March 10, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

   

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Spring is in the air (somewhere)

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

The kawazu-sakura are now in full bloom 🌸 Known as Japan’s earliest cherry blossoms, roughly 850 of these trees line the Kawazu river in their native Shizuoka, signaling the first signs of spring. Depending on the weather, they should be … Continue reading →

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Travel Stress

Posted on March 4, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

I recently found a fascinating project that examined which rail stations around the world were most stressful. Obviously commuters have different issues with the stations that they need to access on a regular basis than travelers, but there’s always some … Continue reading →

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You couldn’t pay me to go there

Posted on March 2, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

After years of civil war and terrorist conflict that reduced its cultural treasures to rubble, Syria is taking steps to breathe new life into its tourism industry. The nation is focusing on restoring its rich heritage, aiming to attract history … Continue reading →

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Book this Book Hotel

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

The good news in planning an upcoming trip to Tokyo was that I managed to snag a cushy hotel in Shinjuku for five nights entirely free with reward points. However, the bad news is that I won’t be staying at … Continue reading →

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Going In Style

Posted on February 14, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

I finally managed to see Wim Wender’s superb film Perfect Days. This truly moving and heartfelt movie centers on a Tokyo resident who is employed cleaning a set of special public toilets in the Shibuya City district. If you haven’t seen it, … Continue reading →

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First there is a mountain…

Posted on February 10, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is Taranaki Maunga, or Mount Taranaki, has peaked to sentience—at least in a legal sense. … Continue reading →

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