Sometimes, you just want to get out of Tokyo for a few hours. Less than 1 hour away, people often overlook the exciting and beautifully rural Ibaraki prefecture. A place that can bring out all kinds of joy to an eager traveller.

I knew absolutely nothing about Kyudou, but before I realized it, I had grabbed a friend and we signed up for classes within weeks.

For those out there who are interested in trying the elegant and meditative Japanese martial art of kyudou (Japanese archery), let me break down the approximate cost.

Keirin racing was invented in 1948 as a way to gamble and I was surprised at how extremely traditional the races remained.

Bowling in Japanese is boringu (ボウリング), which can be easily confused with “boring”（ボーリング). I had never bowled before, but many people like spending their evenings bowling, so it must not be that boring. I had to try it out!

What do you think of when I say “Osaka?” Chances are kickboxing and tom yum soup aren’t exactly high on your agenda. But these were just 2 of the many features on show at the annual Osaka Thai Festival last week.

The Japanese love hanging out at the gym as much as most other countries. You can find them quite easily in Japan and some are open 24 hours a day. The gymnasiums are truly enjoyable in multiple ways with only slight differences.

Sumo is a very different affair. With an elite number of wrestlers, Sumo has long been a closed sport, accepting only limited foreign entrants and has minimal outside interference. Traditionally, the only opportunity to see this ancient sport in action is at a 'Grand Tournament'. However, these grand tournaments are held only once every two months, alternating between the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo and another venue elsewhere in Japan.