If you’re planning to be in Yamagata for the Flower Hat Festival this summer, you must fit in a trip to the breath-taking Okama Crater Lake. Nestled in the Zaō mountain range, a cluster of stratovolcanoes bordering Yamagata and Miyagi Prefectures, the Okama Crater Lake was formed after a volcanic eruption of Mt. Goshikidake in […]
Asia/Oceania
Hanagasa Festival, Yamagata
The next stop on our summer matsuri (festival) circuit is Yamagata’s Hanagasa Matsuri (Flower Hat Festival). The word hanagasa refers to the conical hats adorned with artificial safflowers, the unique prefectural flower, used in the festival’s dances. The festival is relatively new, beginning in 1964, but attracting more than a million visitors annually it is […]
Nebuta Festival, Aomori
Almost every Japanese has heard of the Nebuta Matsuri (Nebuta Festival) for a reason. Held annually from August 2-7 in the northern city of Aomori, the Nebuta Matsuri is one of the most spectacular festivals you’ll ever see. Over the six-day period, Aomori City is transformed into a dazzling display of artistry, light and dance. […]
Kanto Festival, Akita
It’s heating up in Tokyo! With summer well and truly on its way, I thought it was time to introduce you to some of the great summer festivals of Japan’s Tohoku region. Two summer’s ago, we went on an 8-day matsuri (festival) camping adventure, driving from Tokyo all the way to Aomori in far-northern Honshu […]
Cherry Blossom Season in Tokyo, Japan
You know sakura (cherry blossom) season is approaching when your latte turns pink and your kombini (convenience store) snack becomes a floral tribute. Just a couple of weeks ago, the cherry trees in Tokyo looked winter-bare. I had attended our local cherry blossom festival which unfortunately had to go ahead without the guest of honor. […]
Dog Bites & Rabies Shots
The sun had long set – the streets of Ubud already virtually in complete darkness in the absence of street lighting. They were lurking in the silent shadows. I started riding in the center of the road to give as wide a berth as possible. I saw the shining beads of eyes reflecting back at […]
The Cock Fight
This is Part III of a three-part story. For Part I (The Cock Meeting), click here. For Part II (The Prelude), click here. ~ One bout had just finished when I approached the group of men who were intently focused on the task at hand. Several roosters were brought under the small wall-less shelter where […]
The Prelude
This is Part II of a three-part story. To read Part I (The Cock Meeting), click here. ~ I sat across from an elaborately decorated compound. It had been the site of much traffic for days. On my daily ride home from work, the surrounding area would be abuzz with well-dressed locals spilling out onto […]