Discovering Kibune: A Tranquil Retreat in Kyoto, Japan

A Scenic Journey to Kibune Nestled in the mountains just north of Kyoto, Kibune offers a peaceful escape from the bustling city. To reach this charming village, we embarked on a scenic journey. From Kawaramachi Station, we took a train to Demachiyanagi Station. From there, a bus ride took us to Kibuneguchi Station, the gateway… Read more »

Glitch Coffee Osaka: A Specialty Coffee Connoisseur’s Dream

Love specialty coffee? This video takes you inside Glitch Coffee Osaka, a haven for serious coffee lovers in Osaka, Japan. Here’s what awaits: Prime Location: Easily accessible from Osaka Station via Dojima Chika Center (Exit C93), right next to the Conrad Osaka Hotel. Exquisite Coffee: Immerse yourself in a world of over 20 different varieties… Read more »

Earfun Air Pro 3: Budget-Friendly Wireless Earbuds with a Bass Boost

From Budget Buds to Immersive Audio: My Journey to the Earfun Air Pro 3 My journey began, like many others, with a pair of bargain-basement, $30 bud-style earphones. These little guys let all the ambient noise flood in, so while I could hear my music faintly, it disappeared entirely in loud situations. These earbuds simply… Read more »

coffee beans spilling out of white cup

Decaf Triumphs at US Brewers Cup: Is This the End of Caffeinated Coffee’s Reign?

In a seismic shift for the coffee world, the 2024 US Brewers Cup witnessed a decaf coffee take the crown. Weihong Zhang, wielding a decaffeinated Colombian Typica, brewed a cup that wowed the judges, shattering the perception of decaf as a flavorless afterthought. This isn’t a mere blip – it’s a tremor that could trigger… Read more »

Recycling Nespresso Pods Thumbnail

Recycling Nespresso Coffee Pods

Coffee pods are a simple and fast way to get consistent, quality coffee in an instant. However, there are common issues against coffee pod machines. To reuse coffee pods with my own fresh coffee beans, I need to pay attention to the grind size and dose. Grinding the coffee too coarse will result in water… Read more »

Yokohama Chinatown, Classic Neg Film Simulation

Street Photography with the Classic Neg Film Simulation in Yokohama Chinatown, Japan This is a street photography series using the Fujifilm Film Simulation “Classic Neg” shot in Yokohama Chinatown, Japan. Classic Neg Classic Neg is a film simulation mode developed by Fujifilm that aims to replicate the look of classic color negative film. Classic Neg… Read more »

KansaiGlicoman

Kansai in Kodachrome – Street Photography in Japan

New Japan Street Photography Series A new photo series inspired by Fujifilm Film Simulations. This time I’m capturing street photography in the Kansai region (around Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe) of Japan using the Kodachrome film simulation, so the theme is “Kansai in Kodachrome”. When I switched to a Fujifilm camera, I decided on a challenge to… Read more »

fujifilm X100V

Fujifilm X100V vs X-E4

Fujifilm X100V and X-E4 Head to Head The Fujifilm X100V and Fujifilm X-E4 are both digital cameras with similar features. They have identical image quality because they share the same 26.1MP X-Trans BSI CMOS 4 sensorX and X-Processor 4 Image Processor. However, there are some key differences between the two cameras. The X100V has a… Read more »

Filter/Immersion Coffee Method – with a Generic Drip Machine

This is my favourite coffee brew method. It gives me consistently better results than V60 Pour Over or French Press. It’s a mix of both of those brewing methods; Filter (Percolation) and Immersion. There are specific coffee brewers made for this, but you can achieve a similar brew with a generic drip coffee machine using… Read more »

fireworks

Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival 2022 Video

Introducing a Namtastic Video in Osaka, Japan – The Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival was held for the first time in 3 years on August 27, 2022.   The 20km Fireworks Video Challenge This is a video of the finale taken from 20km away in Hyogo Prefecture. From the viewing area I was at, people were… Read more »

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    Nippombashi Street Festa Cosplay Event 2017

    Nippombashi Street Festa Cosplay Event 2017 One of Japan’s largest Cosplay events The Nippombashi Street Festa is one of the biggest cosplay events in Japan. It’s an excellent opportunity for portrait and street photography. I decided to join the Kansai Photographers Meetup Group for a portrait and street photography mission at Nippombashi Street Festa 2017… Read more »

  • UCC Coffee Museum – Kobe, Japan

    UCC Coffee Museum Learn the History of Coffee with Tasting included I heard about the UCC Coffee Museum through a blog post. It sounded like a good hands-on opportunity to further my knowledge in coffee production and tasting. I presumed there would be a cafe there too, but I was pleasantly surprised at the quality… Read more »

  • Brooklyn Roasting Company – Namba

    Brooklyn Roasting Company – Namba Brooklyn comes to Minami On a visit to Brooklyn Roasting Company in Kitahama, I noticed a blackboard at the front of the store advertising a new shop, Brooklyn Roasting Company – Namba. I thought it would be exciting to check out a new branch, so I set out during the… Read more »

  • Namtastic Gourmet and Cafes

    Namtastic Gourmet and Cafes In addition to Namtastic’s Top5 Specialty Coffee Cafes in Osaka, here you can find an introduction to cafes, coffee and gourmet culture in Japan. Namtastic’s Top5 Specialty Coffee Cafes in Osaka Takamura Wine and Coffee Roasters (Higobashi) Brooklyn Roasting Company Brooklyn Roasting Company Kitahama South Swell (Hommachi) Brooklyn Roasting Company Namba… Read more »

  • Takamura Wine & Coffee Roasters

    Takamura Wine & Coffee Roasters Cafe If you’re looking for a very spacious, quiet cafe with excellent quality coffee and you’re not concerned about walking 10 minutes from the nearest subway station, Takamura Wine & Coffee Roasters is a top recommendation. You can find Takamura Wine & Coffee Roasters located in Nishi-ku Osaka, to the… Read more »

  • Cherry Blossoms in Osaka

    Cherry Blossoms at Osaka Castle It’s that time of the year again in Japan. Locals turn out in droves to enjoy Hanami – picnics under the cherry blossoms. This year I headed to the grounds of Osaka Castle with the Kansai Photographer’s Meetup group. I also met up with some friends for a Wine Picnic… Read more »

  • Light Trails – Long Exposure Photography in Osaka

    Light Trails – Long Exposure Photography in Umeda, Osaka I asked for some advice in taking long exposure photos of light trails in the Kansai Photographers Meetup Group, and the advice I got was to visit a bridge or overpass. The first place I thought of was the very large overpass in between the train… Read more »

  • tunes for tohoku

    Tunes For Tohoku @ Avalon Pub

    Tunes For Tohoku Live Acoustic Performance @ Avalon Pub – Huawei Nexus 6P vs SONY RX100 M3 Tunes For Tohoku is an awesome band raising money for orphans in the Tohoku Region of Japan that was devastated after the earthquake on March 11, 2011. All of their profits go to charities to help the orphans. I had… Read more »

  • SONY RX100 M3 Digital Camera Review

    SONY RX100 M3 Digital Camera Review Table of Contents: 1) SONY RX100 M3 Digital Camera Review – Buying Decision 2) SONY RX100 M3 Digital Camera Review – for Street Photography 3) SONY RX100 M3 Digital Camera Review – for Portrait Photography 4) SONY RX100 M3 Digital Camera Review – for Long Exposure Photography 5) SONY RX100… Read more »

  • SONY A6300 Review – The Improvements and Disappointments

    SONY A6300 Review – This is an initial review of SONY’s new flagship APS-C sensor A6300 Mirrorless Interchangable Lens Digital Camera SONY A6300 Review – On February 3, 2016, SONY officially announced the latest version of its flagship APS-C sensor mirrorless camera, the SONY A6300. This camera is the successor to the A6000 which was… Read more »