Edamame This afternoon we were visiting the Zenpoji Temple, a beautifully maintained buddhist temple in the south of the Shonai plane, near the seaside town of Yunohama. As we were wandering amongst the pagodas and shrines, we started talking to one of the temples many monks, who offered us some local food to try. Because…

Chashumen, in Yamagata Passing through the town of Sakata, nestled in the shadow of Tohoku’s tallest volcano (Mount Chokai), I knew there was no way I’d be able to travel through the town without visiting my favourite ramen shop in the world. When I moved to Japan four years ago, fate placed me in a…