Since making Okinawa my home in 2007, I have visited more than 20 islands within the archipelago.

The wind is shifting to the north, Okinawa is less humid and it’s looking like autumn-wintery weather has come to the sub-tropical island.

In the mountains near Shiroishi, a town three hours’ drive north of Tokyo, is Zao Fox Village, a place populated by the four-legged furry critters.

If you have ever fantasized about having a woodland princess moment straight out of a fairy tale, a visit to Nara Park in the south-central portion of Japan’s main island may be in order.

A small island off the coast of Japan’s Kanagawa prefecture, laden with historic shrines, expansive views and a landmark tower, makes for a great day trip at any time of year.

Opening a competitor aquarium on an island the size of Tokyo when the first is world renowned is a pretty bold move.

During World War II, the military installation that serves as the modern-day headquarters for U.S. Army Japan was Japan’s version of West Point.

A 1½-hour drive west of Yokota Air Base, home of U.S. Forces Japan in western Tokyo, is Nippara, the largest limestone cave in the region.

On a busy morning or a day where you feel drained of energy, have you ever joked about how you could just dive into a pool of coffee?

Scaling Mount Tanigawa, a 6,486-foot peak bordering Japan’s Gunma and Niigata prefectures, is a risky adventure in winter. More than 800 people have died from exposure, avalanches and falls attempting to climb the “Mountain of Death” since the 1930s, about four times as many as have perished on Mount Everest, according to local news reports.

As most people’s daily routines continue in a semi-isolated pandemic lifestyle, going on a virtual adventure around Japan via the internet has never been easier.

Mount Mitake, one of the many highlights of the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park, features a railway and hiking path that takes visitors on a journey through a tranquil forest, a charming small village and a shrine.

The name Nagano might bring to mind ski slopes, snowboarding and the 1998 Olympic Winter Games, but it’s just as well known for its snow monkeys and hot springs.

The coronavirus pandemic has hit Tokyo harder than any other Japanese city, with nearly 25,000 people testing positive since the illness first appeared in Japan early this year.

With Japan’s rainy season’s over and the temperature soaring into the 90s, it’s an ideal time for beach lovers to head for the seashore to soak up the sun.

Built on the theme of the exotic and luxurious adventures of a pirate, Caribbean Bay is a water park for everyone from the newest buccaneers to the saltiest captains to ever sail the open seas.

Hiding south of Tokyo, in the eastern part of Kanagawa prefecture near Yokosuka, Godzilla oversees millions of blooming flowers year-round.

Hidden in the forested mountains north of Mount Fuji, you’ll find a picturesque canyon loaded with waterfalls called Nishizawa Gorge.

We could all use a little serenity right now as the coronavirus pandemic drags on, and if you live and work at Yokota Air Base, the Buddha of Rokuya, or Rokuya Daibutsu, isn’t far from the home of U.S. Forces Japan.

Shuri Castle, often described as “Uchinanchu,” or Okinawa’s heart and soul, was ablaze on Oct. 31 and burned for more than 11 hours.

If the stress of being cooped up inside for weeks on end due to the coronavirus has got you down, Okinawa’s Yohena Hydrangea Garden in Motobu might be just what the doctor ordered.

If you’re stuck on base at the home of the 36th Wing on Guam, it’s worth a short jaunt to check out the tail section of a B-52E Stratofortress that was blown into the jungle during a super typhoon in 1976.

The mind that’s locked down by a stay-at-home coronavirus order may yet roam online.

Amid the bustle of Tokyo and in one of the main districts for tourism you will find Sensoji, the oldest Buddhist temple in the city.

With the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics just around the corner, get psyched up for the games with a trip to the newly opened Japan Olympic Museum.

The snowy beaches of the Miyako Islands are a change to the beige-orange sand on the main island of Okinawa, and the sun reflected off the powdery white sand contrasts sharply with the blue ocean to compose a beautiful scene.

South Korea’s Lotte World Tower in Seoul is a 750,000-ton marvel of a building that features an enormous shopping mall, aquarium, cinema, concert hall and so many restaurants it would be a daunting task to pick one.

Drop “Zen” into conversation, and thoughts of one hand clapping or a properly maintained motorcycle may come to mind.

In the hills of Chiba, near Sodegaura city east of Tokyo and across the bay, a theme park lights up for the winter.

About two hours northeast of Yokota Air Base, in a suburb of Tsukuba called Ushiku, the Ushiku Daibutsu, a bronze statue built in 1993 and nearly 38 stories tall, was once listed by Guinness World Records as the world’s tallest statue of Buddha.