Nobody knows much about Ben Allison, but he must have had one heck of a life. Around 160 years ago, he was part of the British aristocracy. He spent much of his time going off on adventures and hunting animals. Today, there’s little information about him left, but take a trip to Kobe and you…
This week we decided to sign the children up for tennis lessons near our home in Japan. The place is a two-minute walk away and offered an 80% discount on lessons, so I figured we’d drop by and quickly book some lessons. And then the paperwork arrived. We sat for the next hour as I…
Leaves are a big deal in Japan. For a fortnight each Spring, locals will travel miles to catch a glimpse of cherry blossom, or sakura. The birth of these delicate pink leaves signifies the end of winter and the start of a new season. Then, each November, the leaves transform again. Autumnal oranges, yellows and…
My first ten minutes in Japan were spent staring at a picture of a lemon. The lemon is Japan’s first example of helpfulness, as the lemon is there as a guide to how your salivary glands may be persuaded to produce enough saliva to pass a covid test. From the airport, where dozens of staff…
Top 10 things for children to do in Osaka Osaka may not have the old-town retro feel that nearby Kyoto boasts, but this coastal city compensates with a host of activities. This makes it ideal for younger visitors. It’s also a simple city to navigate, with excellent train and bus links. Here are our top…
With a furious flurry of fingers and thumbs, Ryu unleashes his special move – a fireball of energy. In the other corner, Blanka stumbles, staggers and then collapses. Game over. An electronic wave of cheering heralds Ryu’s victory. The gamer playing Street Fighter acknowledges the real-life applause and slaps on the back. Next to this,…