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Japan

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Kyoto's autumn leaves, snowy Sapporo and Otaru, Osaka street food, Nara's deer, old Tokyo and Miyagi's fox village, with notes on trains, costs and the best time to go.

JapanOld Tokyo in Summer: Asakusa’s Lantern Plant Market and a Walk Through YanakaOn my previous trips to Tokyo I spent most of my time in Shibuya and Shinjuku, staring up at screens…July 15, 2026JapanDeer, Cherry Blossoms and the Great Buddha: A Spring Day Trip to NaraI had seen the photos a hundred times: wild deer wandering under pink cherry trees, giant wooden temples, bowing deer…April 10, 2026JapanOtaru and Sapporo in Winter: Snowy Canals, Music Boxes and Soup CurryGrowing up in Vietnam, snow was something I only saw in films and Christmas cards. So when cheap winter flights…January 26, 2026JapanChasing Red Leaves in Kyoto: Tofukuji, Nanzenji, Eikando and ArashiyamaEvery year my social media fills up with photos of Kyoto temples drowning in red maple leaves, and every year…November 10, 2025JapanOsaka Street Food: What I Ate in Dotonbori and Kuromon MarketEveryone who has been to Japan told me the same thing before I left: Tokyo is for sightseeing, Osaka is…July 10, 2025JapanMust-Try Dishes When Traveling to Miyagi Prefecture, JapanHello there! Over the past few days, you’ve read plenty about Miyagi Prefecture and its capital, Sendai, on my blog.…February 14, 2025JapanThings You Need to Know Before Exploring Miyagi Prefecture, JapanHello friends! It’s such a joy to be writing this blog post on Bill Balo, especially because it’s about a…January 22, 2025JapanZao Kitsune Mura – The Unique Fox Village in Miyagi, JapanMy journey through Miyagi Prefecture just keeps getting more and more exciting. After leaving the capital city of Sendai, I…April 4, 2024JapanSendai Station – The Beating Heart of Miyagi’s Capital CityIn the previous post, I introduced you to Miyagi Prefecture — a place that may not be as flashy as…July 12, 2023
Ink drawing of Bill, the writer of Ink on the Map, seen from behind

Hi, I'm Bill

I live in Saigon and travel slowly around East and Southeast Asia, Australia and the US, writing down the practical bits: how to get there, what it costs and what is worth your time.

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