

Countryside Eats - Cedar-Wrapped Mackerel Sushi
A while ago, I got the chance to meet local sushi chef, Chef Masakazu Hatadan, a brilliant guy whom I think is definitely one of the...


Countryside Eats - Soba Noodles
One of the joys of living in the countryside is being close to farms and fresh produce. Kyobuan, a small restaurant serving soba and...


Lumberjack Championships
We recently held the Keihoku Lumberjack Championships in September which was an absolute blast. Lumberjacks or kikori (in Japanese) had...


Trekking Among Giant Cedars
Going on a hike among the giant cedars of more than 700-800 years old, you can't imagine how gigantic they are. We may be just 2 hours...


Walking Around Miyama Village
I’ve done many trips to Miyama village, and love the reaction of my guests when they first catch a glimpse of Miyama Village. It’s...


Drinking with the Locals at Syu’s Bar
Every Friday, my colleagues and I like to grab a drink at Syu’s Bar, located in the Sushiyone ryokan. Besides having a charming female...


Living in a Traditional Thatched House
You see a lot of thatched houses in Keihoku, it's called Kayabuki in Japanese and is a classical style of architecture in the...


Meeting Kyoto's Forestry Artisans
When you walk in forests of Keihoku, you might bump into a forestry artisan who cuts branches of cedars or cypress to let them grow...


Your Personal Waterfall in the Japanese Countryside
The Takimata waterfall has two hiking routes, one that has you hopping across a river stream, and another that has you trekking through...


Woodcraft Artists in the Kyoto Countryside
One of my friends is local woodcraftsman in Keihoku, who specialises in making small wooden carving of musical instruments. He is also a...