Yokohama's history, compared to other cities in Japan, is rather recent. It was one of the ports opened in 1877, and since has expanded to become Japan's second largest city. In this lesson we'll explore some of the history of Yokohama, and some places in the city worth a visit.

Did you ever want to just get away from it all? And have a nice lunch in the bargain? Well, I may have the place for you.

Kamakura is often referred to as the Kyoto of Eastern Japan, and for good reason. Its historic temples are stunning examples of architecture introduced from Song Dynasty China with Zen Buddhism's influence. Kamakura was once the administrative capital of Japan. And so it has the history, sure, but that is not all it has to offer. I've visited Kamakura numerous times over the years, so it was about time I wrote something about this interesting city south of Tokyo.

The Bristol, Pennsylvania historic district has a variety of archetectural styles and historic buildings, many of which are in private hands and are therefore not open for public viewing. But thanks to the Grundy family, a beautifully preserved house in Bristol is open for tours, and this Victorian gem is a must see.  Have a look...

My wife's cousin Jun composed the music for an opera, and we were invited to attend - in Sapporo! A blend of Japanese history and original music greeted us with this new opera. And while we were in Sapporo, we took a quick tour of the city.

Kawagoe is an historic Japanese city in Saitama Prefecture, nicknamed "Little Edo" for its well-preserved Edo-period buildings, featuring Kurazukuri warehouses, old merchant streets, and ancient temples. It's an easy day trip from Tokyo that allows you to experience some of old Edo Japan. We recently went once for lunch, and then I did a solo encore to check it out some more. 

If you're visiting Kawagoe you'll probably want to stop somewhere for lunch. Here are a couple of restaurants that I have tried recently that might work for you. One is a traditional Japanese sushi restaurant, and the other is a burger joint. Yes, quite a contrast! Bon appétit.

If you're in Japan during the fall months, it's always a nice idea to plan an outing outside Tokyo to see the fall colors. We made a plan to do just that, and tacked on a trip to Matsumoto to see the famous castle. Well, plans change when life gets in the way, but in our case not so much!

Introducing Greg Thomas, an old friend of mine from our time at Kaiser Permanente. He was working out of rosy Pasadena, while I was in various locations in the Bay Area. Greg retired a little earlier than I did, and did what some only talk about. Moving out of the US is not a trivial decision, but Greg took the plunge and did it, and most importantly, is happy he did.

As with David and Jeremy previously, I asked Greg if he would be interested in telling his story about how he decided to move to Costa Rica, and what is it like living there.  He’s included a some interesting and beautiful images of life in the small town he lives in. Enjoy!  --Charlie

Mt. Takao is another place off the beaten path that you can visit while you are in the Tokyo area. It has its share of visitors but is still not a hotbed of tourism, at least not yet. It's a nice alternative to the crowds at Hakone.