Greencaviar Travel

🚅 From Yokohama to the Samurai Spirit of Northern Japan My recent journey through northern Japan took me from the bustling port city of Yokohama to the tranquil, history-soaked landscapes of Akita and Toyama—with a powerful stop in Kakunodate, Japan’s famous Samurai village. Each destination revealed a different layer of Japan’s spirit, from modern vitality to centuries-old tradition. Strolling Through Yokohama Despite the sweltering summer heat, I was determined to walk the city and soak in its character—and I’m glad I did. Yokohama offers a lot for a traveler willing to brave the sun. I started with a peaceful escape to Yamashita Park, a green space that stretches along the harbor. The breeze off the water helped offset the rising temperatures, and the views of the bay dotted with ships made for a calming pause in the middle of the city. From there, I wandered into Yokohama’s Chinatown—one of the largest in the world. The streets were alive with colorful signs, steam rising from d...

One of the special joys of Japan is “Sakura” or Cherry Blossom season which begins around the end of March and lasts for approximately two weeks.  So, we traveled to Japan on March 14 for this reason.  When we arrived in Tokyo and Yokohama, the cherry trees were not in bloom yet. There's a window of about a month between March and April when the flowers will start to bloom. Sakura are traditionally planted in shrines and temples, and castle grounds. So, we took excursions to places said to be the top viewing spots like Himeji Castle and Fuji Five Lakes.  We spotted a few plum blossoms of dark pink color at Himeji Castle and Gardens, but the cherry trees were not in bloom yet.    Our guide to Himeji Castle and Fujisan reminded us not to worry if we had not spotted Sakura during our first week in Japan. It’s hard to miss Sakura because it makes the headline news in Japan before any bad economic and political news.  Sakura is very important to the Ja...