Tony Sutherland-Smith
The sound of taiko drums has been described as the heartbeat of Japan. Particularly when played in a group the sound is powerful and very primal. In the hands of skilled practitioners, taiko drumming is also visually spectacular. A high-level performance is equal parts dance, music and martial arts. Great taiko performances sound fantastic and … Read more
If you are visiting Universal Studios Japan Harry Potter fans of all types (die-hard or casual) must visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. In fact, even if you are interested in nothing else at USJ Harry Potter is reason enough to visit Universal Studios Japan. Hogsmeade Village and Hogwarts Castle have been faithfully recreated … Read more
A Japan travel sim card is a great option for easy and convenient access to the internet without going through the hassle of finding free wifi hotspots and the associated security concerns. It’s common for your accommodation provider to offer wifi for guests but once you step outside you won’t be able to use it … Read more
Between us, we have travelled to Europe multiple times over almost thirty years. Nowadays, if we want to easily stay in touch with family and friends, purchasing a Europe sim card is a fantastic option for us. Europe sim cards also make it easy for you to find your way around unfamiliar places, make sense … Read more
Most visitors to Japan are keen to have a sumo wrestling experience, however the main sumo tournaments are only held six times per year. A great alternative option is to watch a sumo training session as it is a great way to learn more about this fascinating Japanese tradition, and you are also a lot … Read more
Many visitors to Singapore also plan to spend time on Sentosa Island to enjoy the beaches, theme parks and many other attractions. Options to get to Sentosa Island include more conventional bus and train options, however you may not realise that there is also an extensive cable car network to enable people to more easily … Read more
Universal Studios Japan doesn’t have a free line-skipping system such as the Fast Pass at Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea. Instead, USJ has various Express Passes which need to be purchased in addition to a standard Studio Pass. An Express Pass is a fantastic queue-jumping tool. With an Express Pass in your hand, you will spend … Read more
A visit to Fuji Q Highland was one of the most anticipated experiences ahead of our recent trip to Japan particularly for myself and my two thrillseeking older children. We had first become aware of Fuji Q when planning our previous Japan holiday but at the time we weren’t able to fit it into our … Read more
One of the times I am most relaxed and at peace is when I am in the pristine beauty of Alpine country. Prior to arriving at Kai Matsumoto, we had started off our day in Takayama before driving to Shinhotaka Ropeway. The ropeway climbs over 1000 metres up the Hotake Mountain Range to Nishihotakaguchi Station … Read more
A very common question from our readers is where to find tattoo friendly onsen or hot springs in Japan, including population destinations such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and in Hakone and Kawaguchiko near Mt Fuji. We have conducted extensive research to identify the onsen which will best suit people with tattoos. These onsen are also … Read more