Dining Out: Chocolate Ramen – The Ideal Japanese Valentines Meal!

Posted on February 13, 2019 by tokyofox

When it comes to ramen, there are many tastes and regional variations whether it be shio (salt), shoyu (soy sauce), tonkotsu (pork bone broth) in Kyushu or miso ramen which is served up in Hokkaido. On top of that come the crazy novelty ones which include things like cheese, coffee, ice-cream, tequila, kiwi, ham, pizza, sake, pineapple and so on. The kind of things that the true ramen masters would most definitely turn their nose up at!

Surely chocolate ramen is surely a step too far isn’t it? Only one way to find out! I came by this restaurant chain in Continue reading →

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How To Make A Garbage Incinerator In Osaka Look More Interesting!

Posted on February 10, 2019 by tokyofox

The phrase “only in Japan” is often bandied about willy nilly for all kinds of unique thing in this country but it’s very apt when it comes to this “sight” in Osaka. What other country would even think to decorate such factories relating to waste matter!

  

It had already been an early start for me that morning and, after a minor detour to a bizarre big head temple in Kobe, I found myself at Nishikujo Station where I then took a bus (#81) along Hokuko-dori Street to the bizarrely-titled Continue reading →

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Around The World In An Hour Or Two At This Quirky Park In Hyōgo Prefecture

Posted on February 7, 2019 by tokyofox

  

The world is full of many wonders but time and money restraints mean it’s not so easy to just fly off to the likes of China, Egypt, Mexico, France, Belgium or Easter Island. None of that is necessary though as you can see the whole lot (and more!) at this slightly strange park in Hyōgo Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan.

Having begun the day in Tottori, I ventured south (via a stop to see the turtle-shaped station) to Okayama and then on to Himeji. I’d actually spent Continue reading →

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A Turtle-y Awesome Looking Station In Okayama Prefecture

Posted on February 4, 2019 by tokyofox

It seems that Japan has a fair few strangely unique train stations. Last August I went to a couple of really interesting-looking ones up in Aomori and Akita prefectures and this is one to rival them.

Having left Tottori in the early hours of the morning I was keen to get to Himeji (via Okayama Station) as soon as possible but when I knew I’d be passing through this unique looking station I just had to Continue reading →

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Beautiful Sand Sculptures & Eggs Cooked In The Desert!

Posted on February 1, 2019 by tokyofox

Sapporo has it’s ice festival with all manner of ice sculptures on display but this place in Tottori manages to do similar but using sand.

The sand dunes are of course the main attraction in Tottori but I also had a real desire to visit this incredible sand museum which was set to close Continue reading →

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If You’re Fond Of Sand Dunes…Then Tottori Is The Place For You!

Posted on January 29, 2019 by tokyofox

Ever since I first heard about there being sand dunes in Japan I have really wanted to visit Tottori prefecture to see them for myself. I’ve mentioned this to many students over the last five years or so and most of them are quite surprised. Some of them really couldn’t believe that it’s been on my Japan bucket list for a while when they found out that I have been to some pretty decent deserts in the likes of Tunisia, Jordan, Australia and the USA. You would maybe expect to see deserts in those countries but you really wouldn’t forecast Continue reading →

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Taking Japan’s Most Terrifying Bridge En-Route To Supernatural Monster City

Posted on January 26, 2019 by tokyofox

This terrifying bridge has featured on the Only In Japan YouTube channel before. (Watch it here). I’d even looked it up on a maps app to see where it was in the past. However, that had all been long forgotten when I boarded a bus at Matsue to go to Sakaiminato Station which was a much quicker and easier option than taking the train. To my surprise there was actually Continue reading →

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On The C*cks Trail……At Yaegaki-jinja Shrine!

Posted on January 22, 2019 by tokyofox

It wasn’t just the fox trail that I was on in Matsue!

Tracking down such temples and shrines has inadvertently became something of a passion for me. Naturally it started as a way of amusing my childish brain but I keep ending up at such places and have now been to a sizeable amount of them around the whole country. Yaegaki-jinja Shrine in Matsue was one of the easiest to get to thanks to a direct  Continue reading →

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On The Fox Trail……At Jozan Inari Jinja Shrine (Matsue)

Posted on January 19, 2019 by tokyofox

Other than a few major Inari Shrines in Kyushu and a possible return to Zao Fox Village when it’s snowy, the end is nigh for this ‘On The Fox Trail…’ series. Or so I thought!

Whilst searching for things to do in Matsue I came across this shrine which is located just beyond the castle but within the moat and it’s grounds. Beforehand I knew this shrine possessed a load of foxes but I just assumed it was only the small white ceramic figurine foxes that can be purchased as a token of good luck. However, it turned out to be a lot more than that and proved to be Continue reading →

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Paying The (Much Higher) Price For Taking The Bus From Hiroshima To Matsue!!

Posted on January 16, 2019 by tokyofox

  

When sketching out this five day trip of western Japan I thought I’d spend a day in Hiroshima to recover from the epic 16 hour local train trip from Tokyo. Having been to Hiroshima countless times though, there was nowhere I really wanted to go other than the pizza vending machine, so I decided that I should move on and explore pastures new.

10 hours was all I actually spent at my in-laws apartment but Continue reading →

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