Japan

Canned Minke whale curry, jingisukan (grilled mutton-style) curry, and crab curry discovered at a roadside stop in Shiga-ken, Japan, highlight the unexpected and delightful food finds that make shopping in Japan a constant adventure.

A trip to Tokyo and Chiba for the Japan Turf Show and a friend’s wedding included memorable food discoveries: a unique hamburger steak spaghetti near Fukuda Denshi Arena and what the author describes as possibly the best onigiri ever — an oyster rice ball from Tokyo Station’s GranSta.

A traveler visiting Japan for work made a side trip to the 17th-century Toshogu shrine at Nikko, where they discovered the original carved depiction of the three wise monkeys (sanzaru) — the source of the “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” saying — while noting the shrine’s giant Cryptomeria trees evoked memories of Oregon despite the rainy weather.

A traveler passing through Narita Airport on a layover between Bangkok and Honolulu captured a photograph of a 777 from the upper deck of a 747 while flying past Nagoya, en route to speak at a Hawaii seminar before attending the Masters tournament.

A traveler shares their spring skiing experience at Sugadaira in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, during the vernal equinox holiday, highlighting the region’s dramatic Japanese Alps scenery, nine of Japan’s twelve highest peaks, and a return flight that offered aerial views of Mt. Fuji and Osaka Bay.

A golf turf writer announces the completion of a 12-month column on greenkeeping fundamentals for Japanese publication ゴルフ場セミナー and introduces an upcoming year-long series covering turfgrass science research stories and their practical applications for golf course maintenance in Japan.

Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, stands out for its world-class skiing at resorts like Niseko and Furano, exceptional food culture ranging from fresh seafood and dairy to local specialties like Jingisukan lamb and Obihiro buta-don, outstanding golf courses featuring cool-season grasses, the highly regarded New Chitose Airport, and a stunning natural environment teeming with wildlife including foxes and bears.

A firsthand travel account describes taking the Niseko Ski Express from Sapporo to the Niseko ski resort in Hokkaido, Japan, featuring coastal and mountain scenery, knee-deep powder skiing in near-whiteout conditions, and an outdoor onsen experience amid heavy snowfall.

A traveler departing from Haneda Airport on a Pokemon-themed 747 to Fukuoka describes the joy of flying on the novelty aircraft, while looking forward to a round of golf at Kyushu and attending the second round of the Japan Open golf tournament the following day.

Raw goat meat (yagi sashimi) and horse meat (uma) are traditional Okinawan delicacies with distinct flavors — the goat is notably chewy and strongly “goaty,” while horse is milder, both typically served with dipping sauce.