Taketa city was once a thriving samurai town supporting nearby Oka Castle. When the fortunes of the castle faded at the end of the Edo era, so went the town. But the current residents of Taketa take great pride in their history and have maintained and restored dozens of historic buildings, repurposing them for modern…
Tag: kyushu
Japan’s Typhoon Season
Though officially typhoon season in the Pacific Ocean runs from about mid-May through October, most typhoons affecting Japan make landfall in August and September. The southern areas of Japan, particularly Okinawa, are usually the hardest hit by typhoon season, with several storms usually directly hitting the islands every year. The large southern island of Kyushu…
Ichiran Ramen
Ramen is the original Japanese fast food and the seating at Ichiran aims to keep it that way. Seating is set up like a voting booth; partitions on each side of you ensure your focus is only on the bowl in front of you. While Ichiran isn’t the best choice for enjoying a meal with…
Kinkai Ramen
A favorite from the day we arrived in Japan, Kinkai’s soup stock is flavored with flying fish and is a relatively healthy alternative to the rich tonkotsu (pork broth) soups that many people love. If a bowl of noodles and a boiled egg isn’t going to fill you up, try the Oyakodama, with crispy kaarage (fried…
365 JAPAN 