Category Archives: Japan

Ohashi Roka is a covered bridge providing passage into the grounds of Wakayama Castle. Restored from 2003 to 2006, the bridge once protected the identifies of people entering the castle. Its angled architecture is rare in Japanese design, but served … Continue reading →

The unifier of Japan in the last part of the 16th Century, Toyotomi Hideyoshi built Wakayama Castle on a hill overlooking the city of Wakayama. The hill is shaped like a tiger reclining on its stomach and looking around. Today, … Continue reading →

While verifying September 1945 facts at the Wakayama City Museum in Wakayama, Japan, we noticed a flow of rocks on the concrete wall of the lobby. It appeared to be rock art of a waterfall. Our host affirmed this, showed … Continue reading →

Despite mythology claiming its USA origins, pizza was indeed invented in Italy—specifically in Naples by a man named Don Raffaele Esposito. Even the name—pizza—comes from the Latin word ‘pitta’ with two t’s, a flatbread meaning—amazingly—pizza. In Wakayama you can order … Continue reading →

We have way underestimated the amount of time we need to spend here. We thought four days would be very adequate. Not so. We need at least two weeks here. The city is clean, the area is beautiful, the people … Continue reading →

We saw this on our approach to Narita International Airport in Japan this morning. You seldom get to see Mt. Fuji without clouds. White and gray billows circle the mountain most of the day everyday, although at times in the … Continue reading →