Tag Archives: Japan

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 →

Posted in Asia, Tourism, Travel Writing | Tagged , | 2 Comments

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 →

Posted in Asia, Film, Tourism | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Sentimental Souvenirs of the Past

Posted on March 10, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

   

Posted in Architecture, Art, Asia, Tourism, Travel Writing, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Asia, Tourism | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

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 →

Posted in Asia, Books, Bookstore Tourism, Hotels, Tourism | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Would You Pay to Stay in a Shipping Container

Posted on February 9, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Researching hotel accommodations for an upcoming Japan trip has resulted in some unusual options. One of the oddest is Hotel R9 The Yard. This chain with the industrial-sounding name is notable for its unique lodgings, which are made out of storage … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Hotels, Tourism | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Please turn down your volume

Posted on February 3, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Those of you who visit regularly know that I am a fan of clever transit poster art and of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock printing. I recently stumbled upon this series of posters from the Tokyo region Seibu Railways that I absolutely … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Asia, Public Transport, Tourism | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Would you pay a fee to visit a bookstore

Posted on January 9, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Bunkitsu (文喫) in Tokyo’s Roppongi neighborhood is a bookstore that stocks more than 30,000 titles. It also features something else: an admission fee. It costs 1,650 yen (USD $10.50) on weekdays and 2,530 yen ($16) on weekends. There’s also a … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Books, Bookstore Tourism, Tourism | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

“It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry”

Posted on January 7, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

As you may have noticed, my latest travel obsession revolves around all things Japan. I have never been, but I’m looking forward to a three week visit this Spring. Between travel video warnings and admonitions about tourist etiquette from Japanese … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Public Transport, Tourism | Tagged , | Leave a comment