Dogs do it, ducks do it, even little kids do it, let’s do it, let’s nature walk! If like me, you are trying to resist the temptation to shop, Todoroki Valley is a great healthy alternative activity (at least an hour or half a day if you like to linger) on a relatively easy-to-tread one-kilometer nature…
Category: Nature
Secret Tea House in Omotesando, Tokyo
When you cross the threshold behind the flower shop facade, you cross over to the secret world of the Aoyama Flower Market Tea House. These await you…. The outdoors indoors… a short yummy menu (handsome Frenchman not included) using vegetables, herbs, and flowers… beauty on the walls, tables, and food… The beautiful ambience is almost…
Yay Sakura, Yaezakura at Hama-rikyu Gardens
The multi-layered late-blooming variety of cherry blossom at Hamarikyu Garden is stronger and comes in a vibrant pink! Yay for late bloomers! If you are one, may the Yaezakura encourage you in this growing stage to be patient as you wait for your perfect time to bloom! 🌸😍🌸 7 Fun Facts About the Hama-rikyu Gardens:…
Hokkaido Historical Village Winter (Kaitaku No Mura)
Hokkaidō Kaitaku no Mura is one of the best places to visit near Sapporo where you can get a feel of old Japan, Meiji and Taisho periods through a beautiful nature walk. I first visited here last summer with glorious flowers embellishing the path and a trolley train traversing the main road. I still feel…
Snowmobile Snowcapade, Furano Hokkaido
Snowmobile Tips: *Dress appropriately. They say there is no such thing as “too cold weather,” only “wrong clothing.” *Right handle = accelerate . *Left handle = brakes *Stay 100 meters away from other snowmobilers *Oops, did I say turn on the engine? Patrice and I on the snowmobile. I overcame my fear of driving it…
Snowshoeing at White Koala, Furano Hokkaido
Benefits of Snowshoeing: Nature Therapy Fitness Forest bathing Detox 2 things made Snowshoeing easier on my 2nd try: 1-Choose a snowshoe not too big 2-Use walking sticks (with snow basket) Biru-san, our snow forest guide, said: *use waterproof winter jacket & pants *waterproof winter boots only *mind the Left and Right snowshoe. *put boot far…
Shirakawa-go and Gokayama: How To Day Trip from Osaka
A winter trip to Shirakawa-go is like traveling inside a snow-globe. Designated in 1995 as UNESCO World Heritage Site in Japan, the historic villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama are known for their traditional farmhouses in the architectural style of gasshō-zukuri (合掌造り), meaning “praying hands” referring to the likeness of the steep thatched roof shape to Buddhist monks…
Winter Gear Packing List for a Tropical Girl at Shirakawa-go
Since I’m sensitive to cold even in tropical Manila and want to avoid headaches from wobbly temperature changes, it was a puzzle to prepare for a winter trip. If you opened this post, you’re probably in the same pickle… so just for you, I’m sharing my list on what worked for me in Shirakawa-go winter wonderland….
Kenroku-en Gardens, Kanazawa, Japan
Considered one of The Three Great Gardens of Japan, Kenroku-en (meaning “having six factors”) was thus named for having the six attributes that comprise the perfect garden landscape: antiquity, artifice, magnificent views, spaciousness, tranquility, and waterways. The spectrum of flowering trees allows the garden to be beautiful throughout all four seasons. In the spring, plum…
Feed the Birds: George C. Reifel Sanctuary
Situated next to Westham Island’s flat marshlands and farms, the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Delta, British Columbia provides food and rest for millions of migrating birds. Originally, the farms and fishing communities in this area along the Fraser River were safeguarded with dikes. Other areas in further islands were not reinforced with dikes…
BUTTERFLY IN THE SPRING 