Sep 9, 2012

We live in the big city, and sometimes we fantasize about owning a summer home in Karuizawa 軽井沢. I wrote about this beautiful place before, and over the years of visiting this part of Japan there is still plenty to write about and many things to love. This summer we visited the northern (北 “kita”) area above Karuizawa, aptly called...

Aug 21, 2011

For those of us that travel on business, an affordable, clean, well-lighted hotel is a must find. In Japan, my favorite economy hotel chain is the Toyoko Inn group. Unfortunately, they cannot be found on every train station. I plan to start off a series of reviews on affordable hotels around the country that are a haven for business travelers on a...

Aug 16, 2011

Do you remember the last time you went on a tropical island holiday? Lying on the beach or lounging by the pool all day? In the heat island that is Tokyo I sometimes find myself recalling the wonderfully relaxing times we had at the Ayana Resort and Spa in Bali. The hotel has several pools and a pretty little beach. Here are some tips on making the most of...

Jul 5, 2011

Formerly the Ritz Carlton Bali, five-star AYANA Resort & Spa re-branded itself under new management in 2009. I thought that it would be a good experience to stay at a freshly relaunched hotel that chose a well-known Japanese graphic designer, Hiromura Masaaki, to create its resplendent new logo. We stayed at a Resort View Room, a beautiful 48 sqm (517sqf)...

Jun 1, 2011

When we arrived at the Jimbaran village that is home to the sprawling 5-star resort that was formerly The Ritz-Carlton in Bali, we were driven for more than a mile through plenty of greenery. The hotel itself finally came into view after a few minutes of driving, and we were greeted by a smiling staff ready with plumeria leis and the sound of live gamelan music....

Apr 1, 2011

Traumerei Hotel, obviously named after Schumann’s famous piano piece, is a resort hotel located in Hakuba, Nagano Prefecture. It is a short drive from Karuizawa, that famed summer resort area of Japan. We arrived there in the middle of summer but it rained and rained that day (and the next). Fortunately, the wonderful dinner and relaxing bath made it all...