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Articles by Donny Kimball
The Nemophila of Toneri Park
Last Updated: May 10, 2025 Backyard Tourism Vol. 16 Let’s be frank. When it comes to springtime flowers in Japan, the cherry blossoms steal all of the limelight. Widely considered to be iconic of the country’s very year, millions of tourists flock to Japan to see these pink pretties. However, they are not the only spectacle of spring to enjoy in Japan.
Kitakami Tenshochi Park
Last Updated: May 4, 2025 A Top Cherry Blossom Festival Every year, I travel north to Tohoku to chase the peak bloom of the cherry blossoms. You see, unlike in Tokyo, where the petals are all long gone by the middle of April, Japan’s northern reaches bloom a lot later due to the latitudinal difference with its capital city. Thus, if you’re willing to head north into the countryside of Tohoku, you can enjoy some truly amazing sights for cherry blossom viewing from late April to early May.
Hirosaki Castle Park
Last Updated: Apr 27, 2025 Japan’s Best Cherry Blossom Festival Over the years, I’ve mentioned Hirosaki Castle Park on this blog a number of times now in other articles about the cherry blossoms, but I’ve never gotten around to featuring it. So, it’s high time that I get around to fixing that oversight and finally write about what is arguably the best place in all of Japan for cherry blossoms during spring.
Hanamiyama Park
Last Updated: Apr 20, 2025 Fukushima City’s Top Cherry Blossom Spot When it comes to cherry blossoms, Fukushima Prefecture is truly a fantastic place. Home to trees like the famed Miharu Takizakura, you’re truly spoiled for choice when it comes to springtime blossoms in Fukushima. That all said, while there are a number of locations that could potentially claim the title of best cherry blossom spot, few locations in the prefecture can hold a candle to Hanamiyama Park.
Motoara River Cherry Blossom Avenue
Last Updated: Apr 13, 2025 A Saitama Secret Spot In recent years, I’ve been on something of a crusade to promote some of Japan’s lesser-known cherry blossom spots. You see, now that the pandemic is well behind us, places like Yoyogi Park and Chidorigafuchi are so painfully packed with both locals and tourists that it’s nearly impossible to enjoy them.
Cherry Blossoms in Chiba Prefecture
Member-only story Last Updated: Apr 5, 2025 Cherry Blossoms in Chiba Prefecture Donny Kimball · Follow 7 min read · -- This story was originally published on donnykimball.com and has been syndicated here on Medium. Right now, it’s cherry blossom season in Japan, and it honestly feels like the entire world is here to soak in spring’s natural beauty. As someone who can’t stand crowds, though, the swarms of international visitors that descend on the country this time of year are kind of a buzzkill.
Keen on Kumagaya
Member-only story Last Updated: Mar 30, 2025 A City of Traditional Japanese Fans Donny Kimball · Follow 10 min read · -- This story was originally published on donnykimball.com and has been syndicated here on Medium I originally visited the city of Kumagaya in Saitama Prefecture as part of a five-day tour in the lead-up to the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Arranged by the powers that be, the objective of this FAM trip was to promote nearby attractions that would be relevant to the sporting event.
Sakura Jingu
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2025 Tokyo’s Early Blooming Cherry Blossoms Donny Kimball · Follow 5 min read · -- This story was originally published on donnykimball.comand has been syndicated here on Medium. As most overseas tourists are already aware, the peak bloom for Japan’s cherry blossoms typically falls in late March or early April for places like Tokyo. However, this timeframe applies primarily to the Somei Yoshino variety of cherry blossoms.
Time for Tsuyama City
Member-only story Last Updated: Mar 8, 2025 Okayama’s Forgotten Castle Town Donny Kimball · Follow 13 min read · -- This story was originally published on donnykimball.comand has been syndicated here on Medium. These days, more and more, overseas visitors to Japan are starting to realize that Okayama Prefecture is actually one of the easiest additions to any standard itinerary that includes Hiroshima.
A Different Side of Yokohama
Last Updated: Feb 23, 2025 Some Hidden Gems in the City Donny Kimball · Follow 13 min read · -- This story was originally published on donnykimball.comand has been syndicated here on Medium. While it’s true that Yokohama is indeed getting a bit more popular than it used to be, in many ways, the city is still something of a hidden gem.
JR East Pass (Nagano, Niigata Area)
Last Updated: Jan 7, 2024 Explore Central Japan Donny Kimball · Follow 13 min read · -- This story was originally published on donnykimball.comand has been syndicated here on Medium. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know by now that the vaunted Japan Rail Pass, which provides unlimited rides on all JR trains, saw a significant price increase in 2023. What’s more, many of the regional offerings from JR’s various branches also saw price hikes, though not to the same extent.
Yunishigawa Onsen
Last Updated: Dec 8, 2024 Tochigi’s Hidden Village with Hot Springs Donny Kimball · Follow 10 min read · -- This story was originally published on donnykimball.comand has been syndicated here on Medium. Since Japan became one of the hottest travel destinations in the world, the collection of shrines and temples in the Nikko area has skyrocketed in popularity.
Wakayama Nachi Premier
Last Updated: Dec 1, 2024 20 Years of UENSCO World Heritage Donny Kimball · Follow 8 min read · -- This story was originally published on donnykimball.comand has been syndicated here on Medium. It’s no secret that I really, really, REALLY love the southern tip of Wakayama Prefecture’s Kii Peninsula. Home to a trinity of sacred shrines known as the Kumano Sanzan, this part of Japan is steeped in ancient history.
Worthy of the Sun
Last Updated: Nov 21, 2024 The Evolution of My Commitment to Japan Donny Kimball · Follow 8 min read · -- This story was originally published on donnykimball.comand has been syndicated here on Medium. “The only way out is through…” — Jordan B. Peterson “Hold up, has it really already been almost a year?” I thought to myself as I looked down at the calendar, bewildered. Seemingly in the blink of an eye, it was almost November 21st again, meaning I’d officially be one year older.
Fukushima’s Nihonmatsu Domain
Last Updated: Nov 10, 2024 An Unknown Section of Tohoku Donny Kimball · Follow 13 min read · -- This story was originally published on donnykimball.comand has been syndicated here on Medium. Recently, I had the chance to visit Nihonmatsu in Fukushima Prefecture as part of a government initiative to encourage more tourists heading to Tohoku to stop by along the way. Truth be told, until this opportunity came up, even I didn’t know much about this part of Fukushima.
Come to Kameoka
Last Updated: Oct 13, 2024 A Former Kyoto Castle Town Near Arashiyama Donny Kimball · Follow 11 min read · -- This story was originally published on donnykimball.comand has been syndicated here on Medium. These days, popular spots in Kyoto, such as Arashiyama and Kiyomizu-dera, have succumbed so badly to overtourism that they’re hardly recognizable anymore.
Northern Akita
Last Updated: Sep 29, 2024 Home of the the Matagi & the Akita Inu Donny Kimball · Follow 13 min read · -- This story was originally published on donnykimball.comand has been syndicated here on Medium. When I originally published my in-depth primer on Akita Prefecture, I thought I had covered it all. Alas, as is always the case with Japan, no endeavor to thoroughly introduce a place is ever fully complete. In my foolishness, I had left out the prefecture’s northernmost extremes.
Motonosumi Inari Shrine
If you’ve spent any time on social media, you’ve likely seen plenty of pictures of Motonosumi Inari Shrine. Located along the coast of the Sea of Japan in Yamaguchi Prefecture, this Shinto sanctuary is one of the most photogenic spots in all of Japan. Thanks to the influence of Instagram, the 123 torii gates of Motonosumi Inari Shrine have become something of a pilgrimage site for content-hungry creators looking for their next shot.
Kagoshima's Kirishima Jingu
I'll be straight with you, Kagoshima Prefecture is pretty cool. Comprising all of southern Kyushu, this part of Japan is blessed both with a rich history and beautiful nature. Though these days, Kagoshima is most well known for the role that it played in the downfall of the Tokugawa shogunate, the region has roots that date back far further than just the Edo period (1603-1868).
Tokyo's Ono Terusaki Shrine
Last Updated: Jul 28, 2024 This story was originally published on donnykimball.comand has been syndicated here on Medium. One summer, we were having our regular Baemeshi (a media company I set up with Kyodo PR, my former employer) for the month of July with the now-chairman when he mentioned that he had just recently made a pilgrimage to Tokyo's Ono Terusaki Shrine. Intrigued, I asked him what made this rather unknown spot worth his ever so precious time.
Kyushu's Kuma Valley
Last Updated: Jul 21, 2024 The Historic Castle Town of Hitoyoshi Welcome back to another installment of getting far off the beaten path. In this issue, we'll be exploring a hidden gem in Kyushu known as the Kuma Valley. This area essentially maps to the confines of Hitoyoshi City (or more commonly, Hitoyoshi-Kuma to distinguish it from other locales with the same name). This part of Kumamoto Prefecture has a long and storied legacy.
The Shio-no-Michi
Last Updated: Jul 14, 2024 On Iwate's Shorthorn Bovine & Salt Road It was late February, and we were taking refuge from the cold at a ski lodge up in the Appi Highlands of Iwate. Outside, soft, powdery snow fluttered down tenderly from the heavens above. The journey that led us here is a story in itself, but somehow, we found ourselves gathered around an open fire encircled by an iron grill. Our host, the butcher Fugane-san, expertly prepared some of the finest beef we had ever tasted.
Miyazaki City
Last Updated: Jul 7, 2024 Udo Jingu, Aoshima & Miyazaki Shrine Recently, I was down in Hitoyoshi City in Kumamoto's Kuma Valley for a creator gig. Not wanting to waste an opportunity to explore more of Kyushu, I decided to extend my time in the area and cross Miyazaki Prefecture off my "to visit" list. You see, at least as of this writing, I have still not completed all 47 prefectures.
Mt. Omine & Ominesan-ji
By Donny Kimball Last Updated: Jun 23, 2024 Back to Nature, Back to Myself This story was originally published on donnykimball.comand has been syndicated here on Medium. Let me preface this article by saying that this one is going to be quite different from my usual area guides. While I will certainly be detailing the significance of Mt. Omine and its ancient temple complex of Ominesan-ji throughout, this piece is also going to get quite... personal. If you just want to...
Akita's Unsho-ji
By Donny Kimball Last Updated: Jun 2, 2024 One of the Best Hydrangea Spots in Japan This story was originally published on donnykimball.comand has been syndicated here on Medium. Just as is the case with the cherry blossoms, Japan has a lot of amazing locations for the hydrangea season. Over the years, I've been to many of the popular spots like Kamakura's Meigetsu-in, but few places can compare with the magic of Unsho-ji. Located up in Akita Prefecture on the Oga Peninsula...
Musashi's Miyamoto
By Donny Kimball Last Updated: May 26, 2024 The Birthplace of this Iconic Legend This story was originally published on donnykimball.comand has been syndicated here on Medium. Ever since first reading the Japanese historical novelist Yoshikawa Eiji's book Musashi, I've had a bit of an obsession with Japan's most notorious swordsman. Known to history as Miyamoto Musashi, this famed fencer from the early days of the Edo period (1603-1868) originally hails from an extremely...
Kyoto's Magical Miyama
By Donny Kimball Last Updated: May 19, 2024 Kayabuki-no-Sato & So Much More This story was originally published on donnykimball.comand has been syndicated here on Medium. Unless you've been hiding under a rock lately, you've probably already heard that Japan has a bit of an overtourism problem. As you might imagine, the issue is especially prevalent in the big cities, with Kyoto in particular bearing much of the brunt of the demand. While the historical locations and...
Kyoto's Magical Miyama
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock lately, you’ve probably already heard that Japan has a bit of an overtourism problem. As you might imagine, the issue is especially prevalent in the big cities, with Kyoto in particular bearing much of the brunt of the demand. While the historical locations and traditions of Japan’s ancient capital are indeed alluring, the crowds make it unbearable, even for first-time visitors to Kyoto.
The Awareness Problem
By Donny Kimball Last Updated: May 12, 2024 On Combating Overtourism in Japan This story was originally published on donnykimball.comand has been syndicated here on Medium. Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you've likely heard about Japan's ongoing struggles with overtourism. Spurred on by favorable exchange rates and an ever-growing popularity, Japan is being besieged by legions of international visitors. While these tourism yennies are indeed a great boon for the...
The Awareness Problem
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ve likely heard about Japan’s ongoing struggles with overtourism. Spurred on by favorable exchange rates and an ever-growing popularity, Japan is being besieged by legions of international visitors. While these tourism yennies are indeed a great boon for the economy, it’s not without its downsides. More and more, Japan’s mainstays like Kyoto are becoming so crowded that they’ve lost any and all remaining appeal.
The Townscape of Mitarai
By Donny Kimball Last updated: May 5, 2024 A Historic Preservation Area This story was originally published on donnykimball.comand has been syndicated here on Medium. For the past year, I've been working with the Setouchi DMO to help promote the region internationally via the press and on social media. Over the many moons that we've collaborated together, I've learned a great deal about this amazing part of Japan. Looking back at my original feature on Setouchi, I am...
Kumano Hiroshima
Last Updated: Apr 28, 2024 Kumano Hiroshima The Calligraphy Brush Capital of Japan This story was originally published on donnykimball.com and has been syndicated here on Medium. Today, I’d like to talk to you about Kumano — no, not that Kumano in Wakayama. Instead, this time, we’re going to look at the sleepy town of Kumano in Hiroshima Prefecture. Likely, most of you have never heard of this hamlet before. Heck, I only recently learned about Hiroshima’s Kumano last year when…
Kumano Hiroshima | The Calligraphy Brush Capital of Japan
Today, I’d like to talk to you about Kumano — no, not that Kumano in Wakayama. Instead, this time, we’re going to look at the sleepy town of Kumano in Hiroshima Prefecture. Likely, most of you have never heard of this hamlet before. Heck, I only recently learned about Hiroshima’s Kumano last year when I started working with the Setouchi DMO to promote the region overseas. Despite its obscurity, Kumano is internationally famous for its fude brushes.
Going Beyond Hiroshima and Kobe
Thanks to iconic destinations like Hiroshima, Kobe and now Naoshima, Japan’s Setouchi region is no stranger to international travelers. Made up of the prefectures that touch the Seto Inland Sea, Setouchi is both on the well-worn path for tourism and home to many hidden gems. With Japan welcoming 25.06 million visitors in 2023, overtourism is becoming a real problem. Luckily, adding something else that is a little less crowded is simple in Setouchi.
Come to Kojima
Last Updated: Mar 31, 2024 Enjoy Jeans, Bridges & Cherry Blossoms More and more, the prefecture of Okayama is starting to pop up on the radars of international visitors to Japan. Conveniently located on the way to Hiroshima, it seems many more people are getting wise to why one might want to visit this famously sunny part of the country. Rife with some truly wonderful attractions, Okayama is the perfect addition to any itinerary.
Okayama's Saijo Inari | One of Japan's Top Inari Shrines | Medium
Last Updated: Mar 24, 2024 One of Japan’s Top Inari Shrines For the longest time, I thought that I was cursed by Okayama Prefecture. After all, I had good reason for this belief. Until recently, every single time that I visited the prefecture, Okayama somehow found some way to almost kill me. On my first stint in this part of Japan, it rained so hard that I thought I would need to evacuate. Then on my second, I was flung from my bicycle while cycling in the highlands of Hiruzen Kogen.
Minimalist Travel in Japan
Last Updated: Mar 20, 2024 My Insanely Light Packing Tips “Where is your luggage, Donny?” the guide from JTB asked as I exited the airport with nothing in tow. I sighed, knowing that this one was going to need some serious explaining. You see, I had just landed at Kansai International Airport for a six-day trip across most of the region, and all I had with me was a mere backpack. Of course, the query wasn’t one I hadn’t heard before.
Why Visit Kosan-ji
Last Updated: Feb 18, 2024 A Famed Allure on the Shimanami Kaido Last year, while escorting a few journalists from the UK as part of my ongoing work with the Setouchi DMO, I had the chance to finally visit the impressive Kosan-ji temple complex. Located along the Shimanami Kaido on the island of Ikuchijima, Kosan-ji is actually a relatively new location having only been completed in the 1960s after 30 years of constant construction.
Come to Kawazu
Last Updated: Feb 18, 2024 Enjoy Japan’s Cherry Blossoms in February If you pay attention to Instagram at all, chances are you’ve already seen shots of the annual Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival floating around online. Generally running from mid-February to early March, this celebration is a herald of what comes later in spring.
Japan Long Stays
Last Updated: Feb 14, 2024 Where to Lodge in Tokyo for Three Months Recently, I’ve been doing a lot of work with a brand called Weave Living as my digital marketer and online media buyer alter ego. The company provides hassle-free accommodations to expats as well as Japanese individuals who don’t want to go through all of the rigmarole of renting an apartment the normal way. Fully furnished, these premium units strike the perfect balance between convenience and price.
The JR East Pass (Tohoku Area)
Last Updated: Feb 4, 2024 Five Days in Northern Japan At the beginning of January 2024, I embarked on an epic, five-day-long adventure across much of northern Japan. While the primary goal was to produce three reels to promote the JR East Pass (Tohoku Area), I also wanted to see for myself just how much travel I could pack into a mere 120 hours.
The JR East Pass (Tohoku Area) | Five Days in Northern Japan
At the beginning of January 2024, I embarked on an epic, five-day-long adventure across much of northern Japan. While the primary goal was to produce three reels to promote the JR East Pass (Tohoku Area), I also wanted to see for myself just how much travel I could pack into a mere 120 hours. While it’s true that the regional rail passes did not go up in price as much as the vaunted Japan Rail Pass, many, including the JR East Pass (Tohoku Area), still did see a minor hike.
Wakayama Foodies
Despite being just around 40 minutes to the south of Kansai International Airport, too few foreign tourists ever make it down to Wakayama City. Truth be told, until recently, even I was among the ranks of those who had yet to visit. Despite being the capital city of the prefecture, those who come to Wakayama often only do so for the likes of Koyasan and the Kumano Kodo.
Miyagi Zao Fox Village
If you spend any time at all browsing Instagram for wintertime Japan travel content, you’ve likely come across the Zao Fox Village during a doom scroll. Located in Shiroishi City on the Miyagi side of Mt. Zao, this gem up in the mountains is home to hundreds of Japanese foxes as well as a few other critters like goats to boot. Unlike with a traditional zoo, the foxes roam freely within the main enclosure.
Miyagi Zao Fox Village
If you spend any time at all browsing Instagram for wintertime Japan travel content, you’ve likely come across the Zao Fox Village during a doom scroll. Located in Shiroishi City on the Miyagi side of Mt. Zao, this gem up in the mountains is home to hundreds of Japanese foxes as well as a few other critters like goats to boot. Unlike with a traditional zoo, the foxes roam freely within the main enclosure.
Suooshima, the Hawaii of Setouchi
Welcome back to another installment of Backyard Tourism. If this is your first time reading one of these articles, know that the goal of this ongoing series is to take places that no one knows about and show how storytelling and good marketing can bring them to life. Like every other Backyard Tourism article, my goal is not to say that you should definitely visit these obscure locales.
Tamatsukuri Onsen
In terms of inbound tourism, Shimane is already a prefecture well off the beaten path. Though it does attract some international visitors thanks to the presence of the venerable Izumo Taisha, Shimane’s charms are worlds away from the overcrowded streets of Kyoto. Essentially requiring a flight to access, the prefecture’s location on the far side of western Honshu ensures that only those looking for deep cultural experiences ever make it out to the region.
Tamatsukuri Onsen
In terms of inbound tourism, Shimane is already a prefecture well off the beaten path. Though it does attract some international visitors thanks to the presence of the venerable Izumo Taisha, Shimane’s charms are worlds away from the overcrowded streets of Kyoto. Essentially requiring a flight to access, the prefecture’s location on the far side of western Honshu ensures that only those looking for deep cultural experiences ever make it out to the region.
Visit Wakayama City
These days, Wakayama Prefecture really needs no introduction. Ever since the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range were lauded with their UNESCO World Heritage status in 2004, tourists have been flocking to the likes of Mt. Koya (Koyasan) and the Kumano Kodo. In fact, these days, overseas guests represent more than half of the number of occupants staying at the shukubo pilgrim lodgings on Mt. Koya.
Visit Komatsu City
When I started producing content many years ago, Kanazawa, the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture, was still largely unknown to inbound tourists. While die-hard fans of Japan were likely aware, few first-timers had any real notion that such a place even existed. Alas, things have changed a lot in the past few years. Brought about by the surge in tourism that Japan saw up until the coronavirus pandemic, the “Mini Kyoto of the Hokuriku Area” is now just as overcrowded as its namesake.
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