Japan
Ninja kids in Kyoto! Learning ninja skills at the dojo
How much ‘ninja’ is too much? Surely there is no limit! We had already had a great time exploring the ‘ninja’ temple in Kanazawa, but now it was time to understand more about the art of being a ninja, and…
A sobering day trip to Hiroshima from Kyoto with children
Should we take the children with us to Hiroshima? We felt that learning about the effects of the atom bombs on the Japanese people first hand was important. Equally we concluded that Odessa, seven years old at the time, was…
Sneaking around the Myoryuji (Myōryū-ji) ‘ninja’* temple, Kanazawa
Ninjas, broadly speaking, were black clad spies who preferred to use stealth and guile to get the job done whilst avoiding a fight if they could. Samurai on the other hand were armoured warriors tooled up in all the gear…
Feeling like a samurai at Matsumoto Castle, the black crow castle
When we asked Rafe and Odessa what came to mind when they thought of Japan, sushi, ninjas, Pokémon and samurai were the quick answers. Matsumoto Castle, known as the Black Crow Castle due to its black exterior and wing like…
In the elusive shadow of Mount Fuji: A couple of days around Hakone with children
Less than an hour and a half by train southwest of Tokyo, the forested hills of Hakone felt like another world after the bustle of the big city. Hakone describes the area around the Hakone volcano and is one part…
Five views of Mount Fuji
Hi I am Rafe. You know, the nine year old with the terrible hairstyle. The silent one with the death stare! Anyway, lets get on with the post. One of the most famous and iconic and Japany things about Japan…
Spirited Away at the Ghibli Museum, Tokyo
There have been a few things which have been difficult to secure tickets for on this trip. A bus which left Ushuia at 3am and could only be booked in cash at a desk with unfathomable opening hours, the fantastic…
Sushi making class at Chagohan in Tokyo
When we conjured up images of Japan, sushi was one of the first things to come to mind. This was certainly true for Rafe and eating plenty was high on his wish list for this trip. A sushi making lesson…
Banging the Taiko drum in a class with Taiko-Lab, Tokyo
Taiko drums come in many different shapes and sizes and are embedded deeply in Japanese culture going right back as early as the 6th century. They have been used in warfare and are an important part of religious ceremonies in…
