It’s not unusual for someone to wake up one day and decide to start a cafe, however, few people would then decide to theme that cafe around a hospital ward complete with a scan of their own brain as part of the decor, but not everyone is Fukuoka-based artist Sumi Takamasa – and not every cafe is the Sanatorium WONDER MUSEUM.
Japan
What are Billiken – And Why is Osaka Full of Them?
Billiken are little fat tummied, smiley statues that you’ll find all over Osaka – but why? That’s what we wanted to know too – so we found out.
12 Fun and Unusual Things to do in Kokura, Western Japan
Kokura is a fascinating city in Western Japan. Saved, through chance, by destruction from atomic bomb, it has castles, pufferfish dinners – and an entire museum full of toilets. Check out our guide to the fun and unusual things to do in Kokura.
28 Fun and Unusual Things to do in Fukuoka
Fukuoka in Western Japan is Japan’s seventh biggest city, but despite this when you look for suggestions of things to do in Fukuoka not much comes up – so we decided to change that and find the most fun and unusual things to do in Fukuoka.
Cool Things to do in Matsue, Western Japan
Matsue in Western Japan isn’t on every travelers itinerary – but, perhaps it should be. Here are some of the most fun things to do in Matsue.
Motonosumi Inari Shrine: How To Find This Stunning Shrine in Western Japan
The Motonosumi Inari Shrine in Western Japan is famous for it’s 123 scarlet torii gates. Here’s where to find it and how to get there.
How to Visit Ainoshima: Fukuoka’s Cute Cat Island
Japan has a few different cat islands, but one of the easiest to reach is Ainoshima which is a simple day trip from the major city of Fukuoka. Here’s what you need to know… I’m surrounded by kitties – they’re sleeping in fishing nets, chilling out in wheelbarrows, prowling the paths around the bright blue, …
How to Visit The Stunning Adachi Museum of Art Gardens
Regularly voted Japan’s most beautiful gardens the really interesting thing about the gardens at the Adachi Museum of Art is that they’re designed to be viewed from the inside. Here’s why – and how to visit them
The Tiny Kokura Restaurant That Changed Noodle Eating Forever.
Today in Japan, and, in Japanese restaurants all over the world, the idea of frying udon noodles to make yaki udon is normal – but, if local legend is to be believed, we can thank a tiny 8-seater restaurant in Kokura, Western Japan for the invention of the dish. I popped along to try a plateful of history…
Nanzoin Temple, Fukuoka – It Blew my Mind.
I nearly didn’t visit the Nanzoin Temple in Fukuoka. That would have been a mistake. A big mistake. Here’s why, and how you can get there to see how cool it is too.