2026

July

• Lunch—German style? Japan, Otaru

  Okay, so hear me out. Yes, we found a German brew pub and yes, we ate lunch there. It might seem questionable to eat German food in Japan, a country known for its delicious, umami-rich cuisine. How...

• Otaru Canal Japan

  The canal was beautiful It had lovely copper railings that had aged to a gorgeous patina. I couldn’t help wondering if that material would have lasted in our area; not because of the weather, altho...

• Otaru day trip Japan, Otaru, Hokkaido

  We spent a lovely day in Otaru, a small seaside port town about an hour’s train ride from Sapporo. The train carriages weren’t that crowded, but Casey and I still didn’t get a seat. Fortunately, th...

• Otaru: Seafood-landia Japan, Otaru

  Otaru, being right on the water, is known for its seafood. Casey, being Casey, wanted lots of it. As we headed to the shopping area, Casey spotted a BBQ place that advertised grill-it-yourself seaf...

• Strollin’ in Otaru Japan, Otaru, Hokkaido

  We headed down to the canal and Sakaimachi-hondori Street, the main tourist shopping area. It was a warm, sunny day but the breeze kept things cool enough. We found interesting sights along the way...

• You’re twistin’ my melon, man Japan, Otaru

  Don’t touch the fruit, especially the melons. We’ve noticed this each time we’ve come to Japan, starting in 2018 when Anna was still a child and actually did touch the fruit. The stall lady was not...