Some of the greatest sights in our lives can come from just setting out your front door at the right time. Few sights can command as much presence as the sun and moon, which both decided to illuminate Okinawa in very special ways recently. As I am living on the west side of the island, […]
Coming back to Gundam models, I present the latest of my creation, known as the Astray Blue Frame Second Revise. If this model seems quite similar to another model I completed recently, you would be correct. The Blue Frame shares the same basic design as the Red Frame I built last month, but with some […]
September is always an enjoyable month in Japan, due to the wealth of holidays that make up the latter half of the month. Seizing this opportunity, I returned to Tokyo to see my old friend Miranda again, as we explored the port city of Yokohama just outside Tokyo. The main harbor was rather peaceful on […]
After a long busy summer, I finally submitted my thesis proposal, setting the next phase of my thesis in motion. With the proposal submitted, I need only to await my oral exam to officially start my PhD research. Until that time, I decided to take things easy and enjoy myself, embarking on a hike up […]
I have been keeping a little busy working through my backlog of Gundam models as of late. The first of these models was a gift from my friends, since they are all well aware of my hobby and knew I would like this particular model. It was strangely difficult to finish, especially the sword itself. […]
As we ran about Sapporo enjoying our final evening in the city, we came upon a large dancing festival known as Yosakoi Soran that was taking place in the central park. Along each side of the park, teams of dancers would perform a routine that traversed the block on the street, before resetting at the […]
Today we had to bid farewell to the mountains, and make our way back into the fields towards Sapporo. This would take us through many of the major touristy scenic points in Hokkaido, including the famous Furano lavender fields. Before that however, we passed through farms of all types, growing everything from rice to cows. […]
Unfortunately during our time in the eastern side of Hokkaido I was primarily occupied driving from place to place, so there is very little I can show of that time. However, this all changed as we approached the one region I had wanted to visit the most on this trip, Daisetsuzan National Park. This park […]
Along with its green mountains and rolling fields, Hokkaido is also known for its plentiful onsens, or hot springs. Our first foray in to this side of Hokkaido occurred in the small town of Noboribetsu, hidden in the mountains amidst the trees and mineral deposits. These same deposits provide the town with water unusually rich […]
As I alluded to previously, we were not quite done with Lake Toya and the surrounding area after our brief visit to Hakodate. Not only did we intend to visit the island at the heart of the caldera, but we insisted on taking the castle ferry there for the sheer novelty of it. Turns out […]