The Bamboo Traveler
Exploring the history and culture of the world's most fascinating places Free Japan Travel GuideWelcome to the Bamboo Traveler
Welcome to The Bamboo Traveler, a travel blog dedicated to helping you dig deeply into the history, heritage, and culture of a place. Whether it’s through the pages of your passport or the pages of a book, I’ll help you travel the world and uncover the history, culture, food, architecture, and natural beauty of some of the world’s most fascinating places.
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Shirakawa-go Itinerary: Enter a Japanese Fairy Tale (2023)
Shirakawa-go makes the perfect day trip from Takayama or the perfect day trip from Kanazawa. It also makes a great stopover when traveling from Takayama to Kanazawa or from Kanazawa to Takayama. Here is my suggested Shirakawa-go itinerary for 1 day. I've also included information on how you can stay overnight in Shirakawa-go. Can't physically travel to Japan right now? Check out my list of 30 of the best books on Japan that you can read from the comfort and safety of your home.BONUS: I've created a FREE PDF version of my Japan itinerary guide. It includes detailed...
Panamanian Food: 32 Dishes & Drinks to Try in Panama (2023)
Are you planning a trip to Panama? Wondering what to eat while visiting the country? In this guide, I’ll share with you the most popular and traditional foods of Panama. Hopefully, these ideas will help you know what to order in restaurants. I’ve tried everything on...
Top 30 Things to Do in Boquete, Panama (2023)
Planning a trip to Panama and wondering where to go and what to see? In this travel guide, I’ll share with you all the great things to do in Boquete and Chiriqui province. This list is PERFECT for the curious and intrepid travelers who love culture, history, food,...
Is a Japan Rail Pass Worth It in 2023?
"Is a Japan Rail Pass worth it?" This might be the most important question you are asking yourself right now as you prepare for your trip to Japan in 2023. In this post, I'm going to show you whether a Japan Rail Pass is worth it. Using the itinerary from my first...
How to Find the PERFECT Place to Stay in Tokyo (Even on a Budget)
Struggling with figuring out where to stay in Tokyo? I totally get it. There are so many neighborhoods to choose from, and each has its pros and cons. Ginza is central but expensive. Asakusa is cheap but far away. There seems to be no place that checks all the boxes....
Kamikochi Hiking: The Perfect Day Trip from Takayama (2023)
Looking for an easy and active day trip from Takayama? Want to get out in nature and do some hiking while in Japan? Hiking at Kamikochi is ideal for both inexperienced or physically challenged hikers like me and expert hikers. There’s a wonderful and easy hike with...
A Singapore Itinerary That You’ll Never Forget (2023)
How many days should I spend in Singapore? That was the biggest question I had when planning my first trip to this beautiful city-state. Most blogs suggest an itinerary of 2 or 3 days. However, after a day in Singapore, I realized 3 was not going to be enough. There...
Explore Recent Book Challenge Posts

34 Books on Ukraine: Fiction & Nonfiction
“In many ways, the current conflict is an old-fashioned imperial war conducted by Russian elites who see themselves as heirs and continuators of the great-power expansionist traditions of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. On Ukraine’s part it is first and foremost a war of independence, a desperate attempt on behalf of a new nation that emerged from the ruins of the Soviet collapse to defend its right to existence.” The Russo-Ukrainian War by Serhii Plokhy (May 2023) Looking for some books on Ukraine? Are you as fascinated by what is happening in this country as...
48 Must-Read Books on Hong Kong
"This is what I fear the most: The skyscrapers remain intact, the countryside hikes still beautiful, and our harbor rippling with night lights; you can still go to work and tweet dumb shit and outwardly you can’t tell that anything is wrong, but the only ones left are...
13 Books on Singapore That’ll Give You Serious Wanderlust
Travel to Singapore from the comfort of your armchair with these 12 books on Singapore.
21 Books on Sri Lanka That’ll Spark Your Wanderlust
Looking for a book or two about Sri Lanka? Planning a trip to the country and want to know something about it before you go? Or just want to know more about its history? Here is a list of 21 books on Sri Lanka. I have read all of them. Some, I absolutely adored....