JAPAN

If I could visit just one country for the rest of my life, then it would be Japan. If I had to eat one cuisine for the rest of my life, then it would be Japanese. Japan is without a doubt one of the most unique and culturally fascinating countries on the planet.

Ufufu: Where to Have Yakiniku and Yakitori in Kurokawa Onsen, Japan

JAPAN / Kumamoto / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Nov 30, 2017 JB & Renée Macatulad

Practically all the meals we had on this trip were planned and carefully researched beforehand. It's important for us to find the best places to eat on our trips so we hardly ever walk into random restaurants. Ufufu restaurant in Kurokawa Onsen was one of those rare times, and by chance, it turned out to be one of our best meals in Japan.

Where to Stay in Nagasaki, Japan: Hostel Casa Noda Nagasaki

JAPAN / Nagasaki / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jan 3, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Moving from city to city by bus, always departing early in the morning, it was important for us to find hotels that were near each city's bus station. In Nagasaki, that hotel near a bus station turned out to be a hostel named Hostel Casa Noda Nagasaki.

Iromomiji: Where to Have Soba in Kurokawa Onsen, Japan

JAPAN / Kumamoto / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Nov 30, 2017 JB & Renée Macatulad

To be honest, I became enamored with zaru soba even before I got my first taste of it in Japan. I had seen the Hokkaido episode of No Reservations and became mesmerized watching that soba master make the buckwheat noodles from scratch. It was beautiful to watch and had me yearning for authentic soba ever since.

Where to Stay in Fukuoka, Japan: Fukuoka Hana Hostel

Fukuoka / JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jan 3, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

If you're closer to 30 than you are to 50 and want to mingle with other travelers, then you'll probably like this place. But if you're our age and want a little more comfort, then it's best to go for a real hotel.

Yufumabushi Shin Ekimae: Where to Have Hitsumabushi in Yufuin, Japan

JAPAN / Oita / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Dec 10, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Hitsubamushi is an eel specialty dish of Nagoya in Aichi prefecture. It's served in a bowl over rice with a side of yakumi (condiments) and dashi (soup stock).

Where to Stay in Kurokawa Onsen, Japan: Senomotokan Yumerindo

JAPAN / Kumamoto / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jan 3, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Yumerindo is a ryokan in Kurokawa Onsen, a quaint hot spring town high up in the mountains of Kumamoto. Set in a forested valley with a river running through it, Kurokawa Onsen is known for being one of Japan's most attractive onsen towns.

Warokuya: “If You’ve Tasted Better Fried Chicken, Then We Will Close Down.”

JAPAN / Kumamoto / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Aug 10, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

According to one reviewer on TripAdvisor, Warokuya Restaurant allegedly has a sign saying that if you've ever tasted better fried chicken, then the owner will close down. Challenge accepted!

Yossou: A 150-Year-Old Chawanmushi Restaurant in Nagasaki, Japan

JAPAN / Nagasaki / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Aug 10, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Open since 1866, Yossou is credited as being the very first chawanmushi specialty restaurant in Japan. They make their signature chawanmushi with nine specific ingredients – white fish, chicken, shiitake mushrooms, kikurage mushrooms, bamboo shoots, ginkgo, kamaboko (fish paste), wheat powder, and anago (grilled conger eel).

Horaiken Bekkan: Where to Eat Champon in Nagasaki, Japan

JAPAN / Nagasaki / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Aug 10, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Nagasaki's diverse cuisine is regarded as one of the most unique in Japan. It offers plenty of interesting dishes, perhaps none more famous than this Chinese-Japanese noodle soup called champon.

Kaisen Ichiba Nagasakiko: Enjoy Fresh Seafood on Dejima Wharf in Nagasaki, Japan

JAPAN / Nagasaki / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Dec 10, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Kaisen Ichiba Nagasakiko is a seafood restaurant on scenic Dejima Wharf in Nagasaki. As far as I know, they're one of the few places in the city that serves ika-no-ikizukuri, or "live" squid sashimi.

Hakata Motsunabe Yamanaka Akasakaten: Where to Eat Motsunabe in Fukuoka, Japan

Fukuoka / JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jan 27, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

A specialty of Fukuoka prefecture, motsunabe is a hot pot stew made with beef or pork offal. Innards like beef intestines and tripe are allowed to simmer in a soup base seasoned with soy sauce, garlic, and chili pepper. If you're visiting Fukuoka and like offal, then you need to try this dish.

Korombia Izakaya: Where to Have Yakitori & Chicken Sashimi in Sapporo, Japan

Hokkaido / JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Dec 10, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

If you're unfamiliar with the term, an izakaya is a type of gastropub in Japan. It's the Japanese equivalent of an American bar (like Cheers) or an Irish pub. They're informal and unpretentious establishments where office workers would go to loosen their ties and get a quick drink after work.

The Ultimate Japanese Food Guide: What to Eat in Japan (and Where to Try Them)

FOOD GUIDES / Fukuoka / Hokkaido / Hyogo / JAPAN / Kumamoto / Kyoto / Nagasaki / Oita / Osaka / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Feb 19, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

I adore Japanese food. It's my absolute favorite cuisine in the world and a big reason why I love visiting this country. We plan on exploring every prefecture and trying as many local specialties as we can. If you enjoy Japanese food as much as I do, then you need to read this guide.

Sapporo Snow Festival: A Week of Snowmen, Ice Sculptures, and PPAP in Hokkaido, Japan

Hokkaido / JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Dec 10, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

It's interesting to learn that the Sapporo Snow Festival began as a one-day event way back in 1950 when six local high school students built six snow statues in Odori Park. Today, it's become an annual event attracting over 2 million visitors every year.

Enjoy the Snow Light Path Festival in Otaru, a Charming Port City near Sapporo

Hokkaido / JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Dec 10, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Otaru is lovely. Spend a few hours there and you'll understand its appeal. Unlike Sapporo which is a busy metropolis, Otaru is a small port city known for its well-preserved canal and heritage buildings.

Historical Village of Hokkaido: An Idyllic Open Air Museum in Sapporo, Japan

Hokkaido / JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Dec 10, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

This Historical Village of Hokkaido is an open-air museum on the outskirts of Sapporo. It features about 60 period structures spread out over an area of 54 hectares. All the buildings are from the Meiji and Taisho eras (mid-19th to early 20th century) and were recreated to reflect what pioneer life in Hokkaido was like.

Shirakaba Sansou: Where to Have Sapporo’s Signature Miso Ramen in Ramen Alley

Hokkaido / JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Dec 10, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

When doing research for this trip, I saw many locals refer to Ramen Alley as a tourist trap, a place to steer clear from if you were serious about miso ramen. They warned of the ramen restaurants in downtown Sapporo that served them with sweet corn (gasp!). Sweet corn in ramen is for tourists they said, and something to avoid at all costs.

Snowmobile Land: Where to Ride a Snowmobile in Sapporo, Japan

Hokkaido / JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Dec 10, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

It's funny, Snowmobile Land gets a little sexist when it comes to riding in pairs. For safety, they don't allow women to ride together. In the event that a man and a woman share a snowmobile, only the man is allowed to drive. I know it's because the steering on snowmobiles is a little heavy, but still. Try telling that to Xena.