Life is a patchwork of experiences
All great cities have an iconic piece of architecture that uniquely identifies them at a glance. Paris has its Eiffel Tower, London has Big Ben and Rome has the Colosseum. In the USA, one of the most recognizable structures is San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.
Continue reading “PhotoPOSTcard: I Left My Heart in San Francisco”
Please note – the Tokyo International Quilt show is no longer being produced as it was before the pandemic. I am keeping this post for those that are curious about what the show was like when it was running.
It is the largest quilt show in the world. Hundreds of exquisitely crafted quilts made by Japanese artists, any one of which would take home a blue ribbon in a major US quilt show. Visit the Tokyo Quilt Festival at the end of January to see the masterpieces of Japan’s best textile artists on display. Even as a non-quilter you will marvel at the detailed and delicate craftsmanship.
Continue reading “Why You Should Visit the Tokyo Quilt Festival Even if You Don’t Quilt”
During my trip to Japan this November, I was surprised at how many Christmas decorations I saw throughout my travels. I did not expect to find Christmas in Japan.
Continue reading “Photo POSTcard: Finding Christmas in Japan”
I was on a mission. I was in Japan again for the third time in two years, and I wanted to see – and photograph – the perfect cone shape of Mt. Fuji. I hoped that on my planned one day Kawaguchiko itinerary, I would get my wish.
Continue reading “In the Shadow of Mt. Fuji – A One Day Kawaguchiko Itinerary”
The shrines and temples of Nikko, one of Japan’s 21 UNESCO listed sites, are one of the many easy options for Tokyo day trips. You can do a Nikko day trip either as a tour from Tokyo, or you can go there independently. Either option has its pros and cons. Read my recommendations for a complete Nikko day trip experience.
Continue reading “A Nikko Day Trip From Tokyo – Taking a Tour Versus Independent Travel”
The centerpiece and most visited attraction of the Nikko UNESCO World Heritage site is the Toshogu shrine. This final resting place for Tokugawa Ieyasu is like a peacock among the pigeons, an extravagant and elaborately colorful showpiece dedicated to the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate that ruled Japan for almost 300 years.
Continue reading “Toshogu Shrine in Nikko, Japan – A Kaleidoscope of Colors and Shapes”
The setting sun glows off the gold leaf on Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto, aptly named the Golden Pavilion.
Continue reading “PhotoPOSTcard: Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion – Kinkaku-Ji Temple”
The Island of Miyajima is best known for the large floating tori gate in its harbor and for the Itsikushima shrine which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the buildings that make up the Itsikushima compels is the Toyokuni Shrine which has the nick name “Hall of One Thousand Tatami Mats” because of its large size.
Continue reading “Photo POSTcard: Toyokuni Shrine – The Hall of One Thousand Tatami Mats”
Food stalls, craft vendors selling their wares in tents and American country music blaring over a loudspeaker – It’s a fall foliage festival. But this one is in Kawaguchico Japan, within sight of Mount Fuji.
Continue reading “PhotoPOSTcard: A Foliage Festival Food Stall In Japan”
The Japanese love their varied festivals and holidays. For a visitor, the festival with the highest adorable factor has to be Shichi-Go-San, or the 3-5-7 festival which refers to the ages of the children that participate.
Continue reading “Photo POSTcard: Shichi-Go-San – Japan’s Cutest Festival”
