Amateur Traveler Travel Blog

5 days ago | amateurtraveler.com | Chris Christensen

Japan’s rural inns offer far more than a bed for the night—they’re an immersion into the heart of Japanese hospitality, culture, and cuisine. On a recent walking tour through the Kunisaki Peninsula with Walk Japan, I stayed in three different onsen inns (or ryokan), and each one revealed a different facet of what makes this type of lodging so rewarding. First, let’s define some terms.

6 days ago | amateurtraveler.com | Chris Christensen

The people of Japan are polite, but what they consider polite and what you might consider polite at home are likely different. Here are some things to know about etiquette that may help you avoid embarrassment in Japan. Table of contents: () Visiting a Shrine EtiquetteThe entrance to a Shinto Shrine will typically be marked with an orange or red Tori gate. Don’t walk through the center of the gate. That is believed to be reserved for the local deity.

6 days ago | amateurtraveler.com | Chris Christensen

In this solo episode of Amateur Traveler, I share the story of my recent walking trip through the Kunisaki Peninsula and Yufuin in Kyushu, Japan, with Walk Japan. This immersive journey took me past massive stone Buddhas, forest trails, rural villages, sacred shrines, and into steamy onsens — all while uncovering centuries of Japanese history and culture.

1 week ago | amateurtraveler.com | Chris Christensen

categories: asia travel tags: article, japan, kyushu This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more at my affiliate disclosure page. When most travelers think of Japan, they picture the dazzle of Tokyo, the temples of Kyoto, or perhaps the tragic legacy of Hiroshima.

1 week ago | amateurtraveler.com | Chris Christensen

Hear about travel to Auckland, New Zealand, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from Jonty Travels about a city that he called home for a decade. Why should you go to Auckland? Jonty says, “Many people go to New Zealand, but spend almost no time in Auckland. It’s a bit like a little sister or brother to Sydney in Australia, but with some unique New Zealand characteristics. There are over 50 extinct volcanoes. It’s between two natural harbors.