Hakodate is one of the main cities on Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. Situated on the south coast, it is a port city with a rich history and thriving contemporary life. I (Merge) visited for a couple of days in mid-October 2023 and had a chance to explore the sights. Hakodate was among the first Japanese […]
Category: Asia
Mother Nature vs. Miyako
Miyako, a small coastal city (population approx. 50,000) in northeast Japan’s Iwate Prefecture, was known mainly for its pristine shores and Japanese charm. That is until March 11, 2011. That day, at 14:46 local time, the Great East Japan earthquake (also called the Tohuku earthquake) struck 72 km offshore in the Pacific Ocean. It resulted […]
Yokohama CupNoodles museum — it’s a thing. Really.
In mid-October, I (Merge) had a ½-day in Yokohama, Japan as I waited to board the MS Westerdam that afternoon. Not one to let grass grow under my feet, I decided to visit the CupNoodles Museum. I mean, how could I pass it up? A 5-floor museum about the history of instant ramen noodles, a […]