Ahhhhhh Japan. My first foreign home (and still my favorite country in the world). By 2008 I had built up so much PTO from my corporate career that I had to “use it or lose it” — so I moved to Tokyo for six months. Little did I know that this would be the catalyst for my nomadic lifestyle…
The HoliDaze began life as Shibuya Daze back in 2008 when I first moved to the Shibuya ward of Tokyo. After becoming nomadic I eventually got tired of the “What is Shibuya?” question and changed the name to HoliDaze in 2011. Anyway, my point is the Japan section is full of both new, interesting posts and old ramblings that are quite….raw. (Basically just a drunken journal so friends halfway around the world would know I was still alive, not anything that someone who does not know me in real life would ever want to read.)
If you’re a tourist looking to experience both the age-old and modern parts of Japanese culture, then there’s no better place to explore than Fukuoka. Being the closest major Japanese city to China and Korean, Fukuoka has become the center of economic trade between its neighbors and, most importantly, a goldmine for unique cultural exchanges … Read more
Osaka, Japan’s second largest city, is often compared to neighboring Kyoto, which seems to be more vibrant and bustling than itself. As a result, many travelers go straight to Kyoto or Tokyo and bypass Osaka altogether. This is a big mistake, and I believe that Osaka should be the first Japanese city you visit. Let’s … Read more
There is nothing more gratifying than a top notch toilet. And when it comes to fancy toilets it is fairly common knowledge that Japan leads the pack. Japanese toilets have features most Westerners have never dreamed of, including background noise to cover any sounds that the user may make, a warm cleansing spray, self-warming seat, … Read more
Do you love an ice cold bottle of beer or a glass of wine? No, I’m not going to tell you to stop! In fact I’m most likely the one urging you to have another glass. Just don’t drink the same thing on vacation that you would be at home — try something new! Like … Read more
Traveling alone can always be a challenge and a daunting experience — especially for solo female travelers. The sense of nervousness can be heightened when you are a female wandering around solo. While the world is a beautiful place, it can also be scary and you shouldn’t take security lightly as a female traveler. Nonetheless, … Read more
One of the best things about foreign travel is the knowledge that invariably comes with it. It provides the opportunity for each of us to learn more about the world and its’ many diverse cultures, as well as a little bit about ourselves. Another bonus is the chance to see which technology, trends, and practices … Read more
I am not someone who is on a quest to visit every country in the world, ticking them off a travel ‘to do’ list. I’m someone who is on a quest to explore as much of the world as I can, learn about and appreciate diverse cultures and meet and interact with different people. But … Read more
When asked to choose between beaches or mountains I invariably opt for higher altitude. Don’t get me wrong, beaches can be nice, but after seeing several hundred all around the world they are essentially all the same — sand and water. However all frozen mountaintops offer both a unique view and a different method of … Read more
This week’s FriFotos theme is ‘thanks,’ meant to coincide with Thanksgiving. Unfortunately since I am in southeast Asia and have no family, either here or anywhere else in the world, I do not celebrate this holiday anymore. I am however still thankful for lots in my life. The awesome job that I left behind to … Read more
Every country has hotels and hostels…what does Japan do differently? Just because Japan is constantly looking towards the future does not mean they have forgotten about the past. From traditional ryokan to modern capsule hotels and love hotels, Japanese lodging comes in several unique forms that I could not help but test out. The best … Read more
Translated as “Drunkards Alley” or “Alley Of The Drunkards,” Nonbei Yokocho is two parallel alleys in Shibuya, Tokyo full of miniature bars. Altogether there a grand total of around 50 mini bars here, although sometimes it has mistakenly been cited as having a hundred or more. Sure, the bars are small, but there is no … Read more
I’ll start in Japan I tried everything that was handed to me 99% good. Then I tried this octopus and I am not sure how it was prepared etc but that thing was nasty. It was hard and rubbery like chewing on a piece of tire. I tried to take one quick bite so I … Read more
