Night bus from Hiroshima to Tokyo

Recently I took the night bus from Hiroshima to Tokyo. The night bus is probably the cheapest way to travel long distances in

Blue Mountain Coffee now available at 7-Eleven in Japan

For a limited time, customers of 7-Eleven convenience stores in Japan can drink Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. The special Blu

JET Video Contest

The administrators of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program are holding another video contest. The aim is to highlight the v

Jamaipanese goes to Graduate School

I recently started a new chapter in my life after wrapping up a very memorable number of years living on a remote island in Ja

Lost and Found in Japan – wallet edition

Japan is legendary when it comes to the probability of a lost item being returned. Lost and Found in Japan is its own subgenre

The end of the rural island era is coming

I was supposed to only be here for 2 or 3 years but the universe had other plans. My pre-launch blog post shared how happy I w

New Japanese Banknotes with high-security features

New Japanese Banknotes with high-security features are set to enter circulation beginning in April 2024. The new notes incorpo

The Shinkansen: A symbol of innovation and efficiency

Japan’s shinkansen, or bullet train, is a marvel of modern transportation technology. First introduced in 1964, the shin

I passed the JLPT N4

I have some good news! I passed the Japanese Language proficiency test N4! Passing the JLPT N5 greatly boosted my confidence a

Kinkakuji – Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion revisited

When I visited Kinkakuji in Kyoto for the first time 11 years ago, I said it was what the Eiffel Tower was to Paris or the Sta

2022 Year in Review

I used to make “Happy New Year” posts but for whatever reason stopped. After web-surfing into Jeff’s 2021 year-in-review

The MOST addictive substance in Japan

No, it’s not alcohol, or drugs (I think). It’s a kind of liquid, a beverage that melts your stresses away and refuels

Capsule hotels in Japan – cheap, no frills accommodation

Capsule hotels in Japan are awesome. They are a kind of overnight accommodation that feature rows of sleeping capsules stacked

Cycling in rural Japan – Nishinoshima

It’s been a while since I made one of these adventures in nature. I went to a rural island nearby to enjoy cycling in Ja

Marvel’s Avengers STATION

Marvel’s Avengers STATION is an amazing interactive exhibition. The premise is that you are being “recruited” as an Aven

Imabari Castle – Amazing Castle in Ehime Japan

Japan has a lot of castles; remnants of a time when having a castle meant you controlled the surrounding lands. Imabari Castle

Virtual Akihabara Station opening soon

Akihabara station is one of the most popular stations in Tokyo. The surrounding areas are always buzzing with events and other

Nanzoin Temple and the Reclining Buddha

Fukuoka Japan is home to Nanzoin a large Buddhist temple complex with a rich history. The highlight of Nanzoin is the reclinin

Japan Scene 13: Nanban? Barbarian Chicken!

My friends are either annoyed or amused when listening to my many stories of me mixing up similar-sounding words/phrases in Ja

Goshuin Book – Shrine, Temple and Castle stamp collection

My “honourable stamp/seal book” or Goshuincho (御朱印帳) has been sitting gathering dust for a while now long to get m

NPR Documentary – Living While Black, In Japan

Living While Black, in Japan has its own challenges, but they don’t include fearing for your life. That’s how I wo

My Short Film debut as a reincarnated Japanese Emperor

Late last year I was invited to be part of a short film project. It was about Japanese Emperor Gotoba, who was exiled to Oki I

JLPT N4 failed – Yes, I do need a teacher…

More than two years since passing the JLPT N5 and realizing that the 3rd time wasn’t a charm, I… failed the JLPT N

Video: Goodbye Spring, Hello Summer

For a few weekends in late May to mid-June, I grabbed my DJI Pocket 2 and Fujifilm Instax SQ6 for some therapeutic walks to en