Japan

Okinawa Beer Garden

In Onna, on the island of Okinawa, I explored a former brewery called Okinawa Beer Garden. It is in a quiet area near the city, with red bricks and large spaces designed to serve beer and food. From the photos I took, you can still see the large sign on the façade and the interior […]

March 11, 2026
Western Village

Just a few kilometres separate the tranquil spirituality of Nikko’s Tōshōgū shrine from one of the most surreal places in modern Japan. This is Western Village, a former theme park opened in 1973. It is inspired by American and Italian Western films and the legendary Westworld starring Yul Brynner, where crazed robots rebel against visitors. […]

March 4, 2026
The kingdom of Daruma

Any ordinary hike turns into a discovery when our urban explorer instincts sniff out the site. I am with Simone, a veteran of the Stalker group since its inception. The sun is setting quickly, but we cannot leave this unknown behind. After convincing a reluctant Simone, we reach the back of the building and climb […]

February 19, 2026
The Ryokans of the Mountains

In the remote mountains of Japan, ancient hot spring ryokans still pulsate with miraculous waters but lie shrouded in the silence of degradation. My adventure companion, Xing Yue, and I discovered them by chance while searching for a place to camp in our tent, turning a fleeting glance into an urban exploration. The Chance Discovery […]

February 12, 2026
The club of lost desire

Once upon a time, for just ¥3,000, lust was accessible to anyone who crossed the threshold of this abandoned strip club in the heart of Japan. Today, amid its peeling walls and faded neon lights, only a psychedelic echo of the 1970s remains: a time capsule filled with retro relics, like the remains of a […]

February 7, 2026