solo travel

Travel Walks: Former Konpira Grand Theater, Kanamaruza (October 2026)

On a rainy day with no performance on, I visited Kanamaruza, Japan's oldest surviving kabuki theatre. I stood on the hanamichi, went beneath the stage to the toya, listened to the rain in an empty dressing room. A solo visit that let the building itself shine.

2026.10.04

Travel Walks

Lucie Rie: Elegant Vessels Fusing East and West (September 2026)

I went to the Teien Art Museum for Lucie Rie's vessels, swooned over a white vase I imagined filling with flowers, and then lost my heart to the staircase and study of the former Prince Asaka Residence. Architecture over Lucie Rie, sorry. A solo museum visit.

2026.09.02

Museums

Travel Walks: Ohori Park (June 2026)

After the castle and the museum, on to Ohori Park next door. A big pond that was once Fukuoka Castle's outer moat, circled on foot — swan boats, intently staring carp, and a Noh theatre. A solo travel walk all about the air by the water.

2026.06.25

Travel Walks

Hakataza Grand Kabuki: Matinee (June 2026)

A solo trip to Fukuoka for a father-and-son name succession at the Hakataza. Banners along the Kawabata arcade, the celebratory curtain seen from straight below, 12-year-old Kikunosuke's Umeomaru, and Kikugoro's Ibaraki Doji - a matinee on closing day.

2026.06.24

Kabuki

A Tabletop Journey: Suzukake (June 2026)

Still wrapped in the afterglow of kabuki, I headed to Suzukake, a long-established wagashi shop beside the Hakataza, for a quiet solo bowl of anmitsu topped with vanilla ice cream.

2026.06.22

Solo Gourmet

A Tabletop Journey: Hakata Ikkousha (June 2026)

The finale of the trip was ramen, of course: a light shio-tonkotsu ramen with a seasoned egg at Hakata Ikkousha in Fukuoka Airport's Ramen Runway.

2026.06.22

Solo Gourmet

Castle Hopping: Kumamoto Castle (June 2026, Day 1)

A castle keep brought back to life, and stone walls still lying in ruins. A solo day at Kumamoto Castle as it is right now, mid-recovery.

2026.06.14

Castle Hopping

Castle Hopping: Imabari Castle (June 2026)

I'd planned on Matsuyama Castle, but Tōdō Takatora lured me to Imabari Castle instead. Fish in a seawater moat, a faithfully reconstructed armory turret, and even Osaka Castle from the plane home.

2026.06.01

Castle Hopping

Castle Hopping: Imabari Castle Route Map (June 2026)

A companion piece tracing, in photos, the exact route I walked at Imabari Castle, from the Kurogane-gomon to the main bailey, the Bugu-yagura, and a full loop around the seawater moat.

2026.06.01

Castle Walk Route

Castle Hopping: Uwajima Castle (May 2026)

One of Japan's 12 surviving original keeps, and the first castle Tōdō Takatora built for himself. Battling 31°C heat with sour dried plums, I marveled at the castle's oldest stone walls and its compact keep.

2026.05.31

Castle Hopping