asia – Calligraphy by Vicky

桜梅桃李 (ō-bai-tō-ri) “never compare yourself to others”

It’s blossom season again in Japan, so I’m sharing this blossom-related yo-ji-juku-go (Japanese 4-character idiom). It’s also one of my favourites. It is comprised of 4 beloved Japanese trees which blossom in spring. They are: 桜 = cherry (sakura) 梅 = apricot (ume) 桃 = peach (momo) 李 = plum (sumomo) Each of these treesContinueContinue reading “桜梅桃李 (ō-bai-tō-ri) “never compare yourself to others””

Four MORE ways in which Japan is really inconvenient for foreign travellers

It looks good, but it may get you refused entry from hot springs. Image by Steven Erixon, Unsplash. Whether it’s the obscenely punctual public transport systems, the super-efficient customer service, the health system that really works, or the ubiquitous convenience stores, Japan is rightfully famous for taking convenience to a whole other level. Unfortunately, nowhereContinueContinue reading “Four MORE ways in which Japan is really inconvenient for foreign travellers”