JAPAN

Japan is one of my favorite countries to visit. Ren likes it too but not as much as me. The food, the landscape, the culture, the tech…there is just so much to be fascinated about in this country.

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

JAPAN / Nagasaki / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Nov 30, 2017 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: Nov 22, 2017 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.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Osaka, Japan

JAPAN / Osaka / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Dec 25, 2018 JB & Renée Macatulad

I love Osaka. I love everything about it – the atmosphere, the weather, the shopping, the food. Often referred to as the "Nation's Kitchen", it's one of the best cities in Japan to visit for food. If you travel for food like we do, then you're going to love Osaka too.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Kyoto, Japan

JAPAN / Kyoto / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Oct 23, 2018 JB & Renée Macatulad

Kyoto is a special place for all Japanese. When you're there, you feel it. An historical and culturally significant city, there is a mystique and reverence unique to Kyoto, one that I haven't felt in other parts of Japan.

The Ultimate Sapporo Winter Travel Guide

Hokkaido / JAPAN / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Mar 9, 2018 JB & Renée Macatulad

Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido. It's home to the annual Sapporo Snow Festival, not to mention some of the country's best seafood, most notably crab. If you're planning a trip to Sapporo in winter, then this guide will be very useful to you.

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

Hokkaido / JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Nov 30, 2017 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: May 3, 2018 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: Nov 21, 2017 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: Nov 21, 2017 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: Nov 30, 2017 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: Nov 22, 2017 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: Nov 22, 2017 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.

Takinami Shokudo: Where to Have Overflowing Bowls of Kaisendon in Otaru, Japan

Hokkaido / JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Nov 22, 2017 JB & Renée Macatulad

Otaru is a small port town less than an hour away by train from Sapporo. It's a lovely town known for its beautifully preserved canal, its wealth of dairy shops, and the freshest seafood. Some say that the best seafood in Hokkaido can be found right here in Otaru.

Gotsubo: Where to Have Plump, Juicy Oysters for Cheap in Sapporo, Japan

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

We visited Nijo Market a few days before and oysters there were priced at JPY 150-200 apiece. At Gotsubo? Just JPY 105 each for a minimum order of five. If that isn't enticing enough, the owner throws in an extra oyster or two if he likes you. Just kidding. He does it for everyone.

Sapporo Beer Museum: Beer Tasting and Jingisukan (Genghis Khan) in Sapporo, Japan

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

The red brick of the Sapporo Beer Museum is a striking sight, especially in winter when it's framed against the whiteness of the snow. Sapporo is one of the oldest beer brands in Japan and has been brewing here in Hokkaido since 1877.

Hokkaido Kani Syougun: Where to Have Some of Japan’s Best Crab in Sapporo

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

Japan is one of the best places in the world to have crab and their love for it is apparent nearly everywhere you go. Typically eaten in winter, some of the country's finest crab can be found right here in Hokkaido. From the snow crabs to the king crabs to the hairy crabs to the thorny crabs, the variety and freshness of crab on this island is second to none.

Sapporo Teine: Where to Go Skiing Near Sapporo City

Hokkaido / JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Dec 23, 2017 JB & Renée Macatulad

Niseko is the best and biggest ski resort in Hokkaido but it's about three hours from Sapporo. On top of that, it's expensive. If you're staying in Sapporo and want to ski for the day, then Teine is an excellent choice. It isn't as big as Niseko but it's just an hour away by public transportation.

ホルモン食堂　4条店: Where to Eat Jingisukan on a Charcoal Grill in Sapporo, Japan

Hokkaido / JAPAN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Nov 22, 2017 JB & Renée Macatulad

Jingisukan or Genghis Khan is rumored to have gotten its name in prewar Japan, when lamb was thought to be the meat of choice among Mongolian soldiers. The dome-shaped skillet commonly used today is meant to represent the soldiers' helmets which they allegedly used to cook their food.