Category Archives: Family

Return To The Tokyo Piglet Cafe Which Made My Family Squeal With Delight This Time

When my wife and I went to this pig cafe in November 2022 (the post wasn’t released until April 2023!) I didn’t really envisage going back anytime soon after. Not because it was awful or anything. In fact it was … Continue reading

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My Eldest Sister’s Family Came To Japan & Spent Christmas At Our Place

When my eldest sister mailed me back in the summer saying she was thinking of coming to Japan in December I didn’t quite believe it as I had just never considered the idea of any family member actually coming to … Continue reading

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Tap The Nature! A Hidden Lake, Fine Dining & Unique Buildings In Izu

As well as family time, nature is often at the forefront of any trip we take to the Izu Peninsula. On our most recent trip to this part of Shizuoka Prefecture towards the end of November we encountered a sign … Continue reading

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My Parents Came To Visit Us In Japan For The 1st Time In 7 Years!

When I was last back in the UK nearly five years ago my parents mentioned that they were thinking of coming to visit us in Japan again which surprised me a bit as I didn’t really think they’d be back. … Continue reading

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Little-Known Castles & Beaches, Awful Station Puns, Bad English, A Big Wooden Willy & Japan’s Cheapest Breakfast!

  As far as trips away go this one was for the maximum possible time available to me. As soon as I finished work on the last Saturday in June I headed straight down to Izu and then returned the … Continue reading

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A Week of Golden Funtime With The Family In The Izu Sunshine

  The problem with holidays in Japan is that almost everyone (outside of the service industry) takes them at the same time whether it be Golden Week (late April/early May), O-bon (August) or New Year. Places get extremely busy and … Continue reading

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Alphabet Dating In Japan With My Wife Who Was Completely Unaware Of The Task At Hand! (S01E03: K-O)

  When I heard this idea on the radio a few years ago I thought it might be something that I could try as a way of motivating myself to go to some places with my wife that I’m usually … Continue reading

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Alphabet Dating In Japan With My Wife Who Was Completely Unaware Of The Task At Hand! (S01E01: A-E)

  When I heard this idea on the radio a few years ago I thought it might be something that I could try as a way of motivating myself to go to some places with my wife that I’m usually … Continue reading

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Japan’s Cheapest “Beer” Cans, Family Cup Noodle Time, McShakes, Star Wars Day, Dogs & Dinosaurs!

Back in early May it was the Japanese holiday season known as Golden Week and my wife and I (despite yet another State of Emergency in Tokyo!) decided to still head off as planned to the Izu Penisnula to spend … Continue reading

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At One With Nature In Izu: The Jogaskai Coast, Mount Komuro, Mount Omuro & Ippeki Lake

  One of the most obvious and best things about going to Izu (Shizuoka Prefecture) every few months is the abundant nature in the vicinity of my parents-in-law`s home in Ito. It`s a world away from the city life we … Continue reading

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