Dog Trip to Shodoshima: Twenty-Four Eyes Movie Village and a Step Back in Time
I Had No Idea a Movie Village Could Feel This Good June 6, 2024 — clear skies, warm air, and we’re on Shodoshima island in Kagawa Prefecture. When I was...
Best Places to Walk Your Dog
Dog-Friendly Day Trip to Shodoshima Olive Park: Scenic Views, Olive Groves, and the Best Drink I’ve Had All Year
First Stop After the Ferry June 6th, sunny skies. The kind of warm, breezy day you don’t expect during Japan’s rainy season. My wife, our French Bulldog Elmo, and I...
Dog-Friendly Ferry to Shodoshima Island at Takamatsu Port, Kagawa
A Clear Morning at the Port — Best Way to Start a Trip We arrived at Takamatsu Port ferry terminal a little early on the morning we were heading to...
Scenic Drive Stop at Gujo Observatory, Ehime: Where My Dog Actually Stared at the View
A Quick Detour on the Way to Shodoshima We were on our way to Shodoshima — a small island in the Seto Inland Sea — and stopped for the night...
A Surprise Find on the Way to Shodoshima: Dog-Friendly Iris Garden Walk at Ikeda Pond Park in Niihama
On a cloudy day in early June, Elmo and I made an unexpected stop at Ikeda Pond Park’s iris garden in Niihama, Ehime Prefecture, during our road trip to Shodoshima...
Dog-Friendly Dolphin Watching on the Shimanami Kaido: A Day Trip to Dolphin Farm Shimanami
We’d been meaning to check out Dolphin Farm Shimanami for ages, and when we caught a break in the rainy season in early June, my wife and I finally made...
A Dog-Friendly Drive to Kitsuki’s Hachiman Nada Shrine: Mystical Torii Gate Rising from the Sea
It was a cloudy Saturday at the end of May when my wife and I decided to take our French Bulldog Elmo on a drive to Hachiman Nada Shrine and...
Onga River Riverbed: Captivated by Carp Streamers in the Sky! Fun at the Ultimate Photo Spot with My Dog
On this day, I had been out on a drive to Shimonoseki since the morning with my family and our dog, Elmo. On the way back, we stopped at a...
Hinoyama Observatory | A Stunning Scenic Stroll with My Dog: The Ultimate Vantage Point Overlooking Shimonoseki
Whenever I’m driving near the Kanmon Straits, the sign for “Hinoyama” always catches my eye. I’d always thought, “I know there’s an observatory up there,” but for one reason or...
Narubuchi Dam: The Best of Both Worlds with Scenic Walks and Water Play! A Waterfront Spot Defined by Its Massive Wall
On a recent holiday, my wife and I were discussing where to take Elmo. She was scrolling through her phone and said, “How about this place? It looks nice,” pointing...
Inunaki Dam: A Journey of Silence and Adventure with My Dog
This time, I visited a place that almost anyone living in Fukuoka has heard of at least once: Inunaki Dam in Miyawaka City. To be honest, I was a bit...
Higotai Park: A Grand Panorama Beyond the Mist—A Quiet Meadow Stroll with My Dog
It was drizzling that day, and for a moment, I hesitated. “Should we really go…?” I wondered. But since we had come all the way to Ubuyama Village and Elmo...
Ikeyama Water Source: A Refreshing, Mystical Escape in Search of Pristine Water with My Dog
On a recent drive through Aso, I happened to spot a sign for “Ikeyama Water Source” (Ikeyama Suigen) in Ubuyama Village, Kumamoto Prefecture. With a casual “Let’s check it out”...
Aso Shrine! A Dog-Friendly Stroll Awed by the Giant Shimenawa and the Historic Romon
I recently visited Aso Shrine in Aso City, Kumamoto! It was a brilliantly clear day. While the piercing blue Aso sky is spectacular, the sunlight was honestly quite strong, making...
Shiroyama Rest House (Aso Tenku Terrace) | Stunning Views of the Five Peaks of Aso with My Dog!
The Yamanami Highway runs right through the heart of Aso’s grand nature. Driving this road with my family and my dog, Elmo, is one of our favorite things to do,...
Playing in the Water at Noike Park! A Spring Garden Overflowing with Refreshing Negative Ions
Taketa City in Oita Prefecture is known as the “City of Water,” a place where pure springs bubble up from every corner. While driving through Taketa with Elmo, we stopped...
A Scenic Drive and Stroll: Cruising the Yamanami Highway with My Dog
If you’re looking to enjoy a drive in Kyushu, this is the one place you absolutely cannot miss. Today, I’m sharing a “drive-and-stroll” report from the Yamanami Highway—one of Japan’s...
SIOIRI: Breathtaking Blue Skies and Endless Ocean Views!
I’d like to share a wonderful spot in Wakamatsu-ku, Kitakyushu City, that I visited with Elmo during a weekend drive. It all started when my wife found it on Google...
Staring in Awe for 10 Minutes on the Floating Bridge! A Waterside Stroll at Seita no Mori Park with My Dog
I recently visited Seita no Mori Park in Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture. It’s a massive natural park built to wrap around the sprawling Seita Reservoir. You know those days when...
Walking the 1.2km Cherry Blossom Path at Mizuki Ruins with My Dog
This spring trip started when my wife was browsing Google Maps and asked, “Hey, doesn’t this place look amazing for cherry blossoms?” To be honest, my initial reaction was a...
Beppu Ropeway: The Fog-Cloaked Cherry Blossoms Were Beyond My Wildest Dreams!
Next, Elmo and I headed to “Beppu Ropeway” in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture. This famous tourist spot features one of the largest gondolas in Kyushu—carrying up to 101 passengers—and whisks...
Walking on a Cherry Blossom Carpet with My Dog at Nagayu Onsen Shidare-zakura no Sato
Located in the Nagayu Onsen area of Taketa City, Oita Prefecture, “Nagayu Onsen Shidare-zakura no Sato” (The Weeping Cherry Village) is an irresistible spot for flower lovers, where an entire...
Full Sprints at Wind and Star Plaza! The Ultimate Grassy Haven for Active Dogs
I recently took my dog, Elmo, to “Kaze to Hoshi no Hiroba” (Wind and Star Plaza) on Mt. Eboshi in Sasebo, Nagasaki. The drive involves winding your way up the...
Yumiharidake Observatory: Watching Sunsets and Summer Contrails with My Dog on Our Favorite Walk
Whenever I drive toward Sasebo, I have a little ritual: I almost always stop by the Yumiharidake Observatory with Elmo. While it’s not quite every single time, I find myself...
A Dog-Friendly Stroll at Sasebo Seaside Park: Walking with a View of Naval Vessels
From early morning, I felt the sea calling to me. So, my dog Elmo and I headed out on a drive to Sasebo City, Nagasaki. Our destination: Sasebo Seaside Park,...
Yakuoji Mizube Park — A Calm, Crowd-Free 1 km Dog Walk
Yakuoji Mizube Park is a waterfront park in Yakuoji, Koga City, Fukuoka, where you can walk a full loop around Kawachi Pond. It’s close to my place, and before I...