With less than a month to go until hanami (flower viewing) season reaches Fukushima Prefecture, I wanted to share some of my photos from Hanamiyama Park in Fukushima City. These photos are from my visit last year! The weather wasn’t the best, but the park still looked amazing. For more information on Hanamiyama Park: Here’sContinue reading Photo Blog: Hanamiyama Cherry Blossom 2018
Sorry for the lack of new blog articles in recent weeks. Among other things, I went on a business trip to the UK to promote the samurai history and culture of Fukushima Prefecture, so unfortunately I haven’t had time to sit down and blog. Next week I’m actually going to get the chance to rideContinue reading Local Delicacies from Fukushima: Rice Dishes & Sides
Where is Iizaka Onsen & What is a ‘Kenka Matsuri’? Iizaka Onsen is a quaint town built around the sources of the Iizaka Onsen hot springs. Iizaka Onsen hot spring water has been loved for over a millennium, and is well-known in Japan. Residents of Tokyo often pop up on the Shinkansen to takeContinue reading Iizaka Onsen & Kenka Matsuri Autumn Festival
Important News: Access to the Bandai-Azuma Skyline Sightseeing Road has been restricted following the Volcanic Warning Level for Azumaya being raised from Level 1 (“Potential for Increased Activity”) to Level 2 (“Do Not Approach the Crater”). A restricted access zone has now been put into effect around within 1.5 k of the crater, meaning thatContinue reading Mt Issaikyo ‘The Witch’s Eye’ - in Fukushima City
I visited Bonsaiya Abe around a year ago, and was lucky enough to spend time talking to Daiki Abe, the 3rd generation of the Abe family to be involved in growing bonsai trees. The Abe family have been cultivating Goyomatsu (Japanese White Pine) bonsai trees for over 90 years. Kurakichi Abe began growing bonsai fromContinue reading Bonsaiya Abe - Fukushima City’s Own Bonsai Master
Whenever I visit a new place in Japan, I make sure to prioritise trying local food and buying souvenirs for friends and family. When you visit Fukushima, you can do both of these things in one place - the Fukushima Bussankan in Fukushima City! The Bussankan (or Fukushima Prefecture Local Products Promotion Center) has aContinue reading Fukushima Bussankan & Buying Souvenirs in Fukushima
Happy New Year! I hope you had a good holiday. I didn’t make it to the New Year’s festival at Mt Iwatsuno, due to sudden snowfall in Fukushima - I’ll make sure to go next year - but I did visit Nakano Fudoson! I’ve really wanted to visit Nakano Fudoson for a long time, andContinue reading Nakano Fudoson New Year Traditions
Tsuchiyu Onsen has been a well-loved kokeshi-producing onsen town for over 170 years. Kokeshi are painted wooden dolls, which have been produced in Japan since the late 18th century in onsen towns in Tohoku (the eastern region of Japan). Kokeshi were originally made and sold in onsen towns as souvenirs for visiting guests to takeContinue reading Spending a Winter Day in Tsuchiyu Onsen
When it comes to the Japanese traditional of autumn leaf viewing, Fukushima Prefecture has so many fantastic spots to choose from. Whether the leaves of dark red maples, or bright yellow ginkgos, there are countless places worth visiting. In this post, I’ll introduce some of the famous and lesser-known ginkgo tree spots to visit thisContinue reading 5 Ginkgo Tree Spots To Visit in Fukushima this Autumn
Yesterday a special event was held by my office to celebrate Fukushima holding more gold awarded sake at the Annual Japan Sake Awards 2017 than any other prefecture in the country, for the fifth year in a row. Event attendees could try 3 different types of gold-award winning sake for only 500 yen. Every dayContinue reading Fukushima’s Sake Success: Celebrating with the Governor
