Yearly Archive 2015

ByBert Wishart
Nov 25, 2015

Getting to know you: Sakae, Nagoya

SakaeSakae is essentially Nagoya’s city center in everything but name and is one of the busiest parts of town. It is famous for its vibrancy, drawing people from all over the region on weekends. By day the area is a coruscating hub of people shopping in the various department stores while at night the area hums with the energy of an active dance club scene, pumping out everything from hip hop to trance to techno and even Korean pop.

There are plenty of things to see and do in Sakae, particularly when it comes to eating, drinking and being merry. Below are some of our favorites and recommendations.

Izakaya – Isonami Saisan (磯波水産)

Tuna steakThere are so many great eateries in the Sakae area it is hard to choose just one, but whenever I am hungry – particularly hankering for seafood – I head to Isonami Saisan. This 24-hour izakaya may look a little rough around the edges, but when it comes to grilling seafood at your table, this place can’t be beaten. The clientele is a great mix of families, friends on nights out, and even wedding after-parties. There is an English menu and if you don’t know where to start, I can definitely recommend the garlic tuna tail steak, the half-shelled crab ‘kani miso’ and the whole tuna jaw.

Expat bar – The Curragh (カーラ)

CurraghIf you are looking for expat bars, alongside Fushimi, Sakae is probably the place in Nagoya to go. The most popular is probably British bar The Hub Pub which gets particularly raucous on the weekends. However, if you are looking for something that actually resembles a proper pub with the atmosphere to match, The Curragh is it. Owner Teri-san is as welcoming a host as you could wish to find, and while their fish and chips is the best I have found in Japan, there is also a great mix of beers: from Brew Dog craft beers to Guinness and even Magners’ Irish Cider on draft.

Department Store – Loft (株式会社ロフト)

loftSome of the Department stores in Sakae have become Japanese institutions. Matsuzakaya, established in the area in 1611, is one of the oldest department stores in Japan, and Mitsukoushi isn’t much younger. However for products for the home with a modern and westernized leaning – from furniture to bedspreads, from cutlery to costumes – then Loft is perfect. It can be pretty pricey in there, but you can mostly be assured of the quality as well as the inform fashion sensibilities. Think Ikea without the flat packing, Allen keys, and dispose-ability.

A spot of culture – Aichi Arts Center (愛知芸術文化センタ)

ArtNagoya is chock full of art galleries and cultural centers, but the biggest and perhaps best is the Aichi Arts Center. Located behind the Oasis 21 park and shopping complex, twelve stories above ground and five stories below ground, it houses an art museum, rental gallery, art theaters, the Aichi Prefectural Arts Promotion Service, and the Art Library.

On the 10th floor, you can find the Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art which homes in its permanent collection the works of Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Gustav Klimt, and Paul Klee. They also have Japanese artists such as Yuichi Takahashi, Ryuzaburo Umehara, and Sotaro Yasui, along with masterpieces of Japanese-style paintings by Taikan Yokoyama and Shunso Hishida.

International cusine – Sapucaí Restaurante Brasileiro

SapucaiIt’s really difficult to pick out just one international dining experience. Both The Red Rock and Outback Steakhouse offer great Australian grub. A recent discovery of mine is Higashi Sakura Pakuchi, a wonderful Thai restaurant that has a relatively authentic ‘street food’ feel as well as an excellent Tom Yum Goong, but for a really interesting dinner, check out Brazilian restaurant Sapucai.

Not only can owner Didi dance up a storm (and gentlemen, keep an eye on your ladies, for Didi may look like a kindly old gent, but he’s smoother than sanded silk) but he can also whip up a feast. I’d recommend going for the buffet where you can eat as much as you like as waiters deliver flame-grilled chicken, pork, sausages, and beef to your table carved directly from swords. Seriously tasty meat.

Events – Hisaya Odori Park (久屋大通公園)

OktoberfestIf you are ever stuck for something to do in Sakae, it’s highly recommended that you head over to Hisaya Odori Koen because there is nearly always something going on. In these chain of parks from Central Park to Angel Park that includes the Nagoya TV Tower, there are often music festivals of free performances, with either high school kids putting on their own shows or huge national events such as Nippon Domannaka Matsuri.

There are frequent farmers markets selling organic goods and craft fairs with handmade products. The most southerly section of the park towards the Matsuzakaya and Parco department stores is the venue for some of Nagoya’s biggest international events such as the Thai Festival, the Vietnamese festival and Octoberfest. Until February 14 2015 it hosts the Akari Night illuminations.

Mark Guthrie


Main photo: flickr.com “Sakae, Nagoya” by yeowatzup (CC BY-SA 2.0) -Modified

Photo: http://www.the-curragh-irishpub.com/

Photo: http://japanvisitor.blogspot.jp/2008/09/loft.html>

Photo: flickr.com “Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art” by Yuya Tamai (CC BY-SA 2.0) -Modified

Photo: http://tabelog.com/en/aichi/A2301/A230103/23036905/?rvwid=3943094

Photo: flickr.com “Nagoya OKTOBER-FEST, Hisaya-Odori Park, Sakae, Nagoya” by kinpi3 (CC BY-SA 2.0) -Modified

ByRay Proper
Nov 23, 2015

Japanese Cooking Classes with Toyota International Association

tea_ceremony_chanoyuDid you know that high quality green tea is produced in Toyota City?

Learn all about Japanese green tea, from the health benefits to the brewing techniques, from Mr. Yoshitaka Noba, one of the highest ranked tea connoisseurs in Aichi, and the owner of a local tea producer, Koukaen.

You can experience grinding the tea leaves in a traditional way using the stone grinder, learn how to make a bowl of matcha, make matcha icecream and more! Enjoy Japanese green tea using all of your five senses!

  • When: Sunday, November 29th 2015, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
  • Where: Cooking room , Gender Equality Promotion Center, 2F Toyota Industry and Culture Center
  • Participants: Foreign residents and their Japanese friends who live in and around Toyota City – Maximum number of participants accepted: 20 (adults and children over 6 years old* Children under 6 are not admitted.)
  • Contents: ① Short talk on health benefits and brewing techniques of green tea ②Experience grinding the tea leaves with a stone grinder ③Making and tasting a bowl of matcha. ④Tasting different types of Japanese tea. ⑤Tasting rice balls with green tea leaves ⑥Making and tasting of matcha ice cream.
  • Guest speaker and instructor: Mr. Yoshitaka Noba, Tea producer/ connoisseur (Tea Assessment Technique Level 6)
  • Fee: 500 yen (includes ingredients, same fee for all participants)
  • Application: Starts from November 19th 10:00 a.m.

English Information for Friends EIFF

Presented by English Information For Friends (E-IFF), an group of volunteers associated with the Toyota International Association of Toyota city.

They hold many events each year, mostly cooking classes, designed to introduce foreign residents of Japan to the joys of Japanese Cooking!


Points to Note

  • Foreign residents who live in and around Toyota City (and their Japanese friends or family are invited to attend.  Make sure your friends are signed up too!
  • Maximum number of participants accepted: 20 adults (10 year-old and older) *Not available for children under 6.
  • Recipes and explanation are available in English and Japanese.
  • Bring your own apron and dish cloth.

To participate contact

Location

Toyota Sangyo Bunka Center (often in Cooking room, 2F)
(5 minutes walk from Meitetsu Toyota-shi Station)
豊田産業文化センター小坂本町1-25, Toyota, Aichi, Japan 444-2527

Photo By Adriano “Ro_and_Kama” it.wikipedia [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

ByBert Wishart
Nov 17, 2015

JR Kanto Area Pass and Tokyo Wide Pass

 

Shinkansen One of the great things about living in Japan is its frankly amazing public transport system. It is easy to forget that other countries cannot compete in this department, and become blasé and accustomed to it – I recently found myself impatiently tapping my foot at a two-minute late subway train, but then you see something new that makes you realize how great it is. Today I found out about the Kanto Area Pass.

What is the Kanto Area Pass?

For those of you who do not know, the Kanto Area Pass is a discounted ‘norihōdai’ (unlimited ride) pass for Tokyo and the surrounding Kanto area. It is marketed predominantly towards non-Japanese; however, it is not restricted to tourists, meaning that those of us who reside here can get in on the act. Valid for three days, unlike the Seishun 18 Kippu pass that is restricted to local trains, the Kanto Area Pass is good for unlimited rides using reserved seats* on ordinary cars on Shinkansen Bullet Trains, limited express and other trains (although this does not include the Tokaido Shinkansen) for a mere 8,300 JPY for adults or 4,200 JPY for children.

Now, I am sure that you will agree that this is an excellent deal. Unfortunately, there is a downside as the Kanto Area Pass is only available until December 19 2015, when it will undertake something of a change.

Tokyo Wide Pass

Like Superman going into a telephone box and coming out as, well still Superman, but in a slightly more expensive cape, on December 19 the Kanto Area Pass will transform into the Tokyo Wide Pass. With the Tokyo Wide Pass you havb pretty much the same deal – unlimited train travel on most JR rail lines in the Kanto area, but with a couple of minor tweaks. On the down side, at 10,000 JPY for adults and 5,000 JPY for kids, it is a little bit more expensive. However, its reach is extended to include the Tokyo Waterfront Area as well as the Gala Yuzawa, making it ideal for weekend skiing trips.

Where can you go?

There are plenty of fantastic places you can get to with either pass:

  • Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort is just 75 minutes from tokyo, and the station is right at the bottom of the mountain. (From December 19)
  • There is more skiing at Nasu Kogen, as well as it being a popular retreat in summer.
  • As well as skiing there are plenty of onsen hot springs in Gunma, including the famous Kusatsu Onsen.
  • Another mountainous area, Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture is home to many upmarket resorts and ‘ryokan’.
  • Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture is another beautiful old onsen town.
  • The Izu Peninsula is home to one of Japan’s most beautiful coastal regions. Though perhaps the beach is something better left for the summer.

and many more…

Details

  • Price: Kanto Area Pass – 8,300 JPY for adults or 4,200 JPY for children; Tokyo Wide Pass – 10,000/5,000 JPY
  • Valid: Kanto Area Pass – Until December 19 2015; Tokyo Wide Pass – From December 19 2015; Both valid for three consecutive days.
  • Reserved seating: *Those wishing to reserve seats on Shinkansen journeys must take their tickets to the booking office where seats can be reserved for no extra charge.
  • For more info: Kanto Area Pass and Tokyo Wide Pass
  • Lines valid on:

Screen Shot 2015-11-13 at 12.17.56

-The entire Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit Rinkai Line is available on the Tokyo Wide Pass only

-The service from Echigo-Yuzawa Station to GALA Yuzawa Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen is available only on the Tokyo Wide Pass between Saturday, December 19, 2015, and Sunday, May 8, 2016.


Train travel in Japan

For information on other discount train travel in Japan see our guide here.

You can use Hyperdia.com to check train timetables. Click here for our guide on how to use the Hyperdia website.

Mark Guthrie

Photo by Nanashinodensyaku (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Map: www.jreast.co.jp

ByBert Wishart
Nov 17, 2015

Japan Monkey Park, Inuyama

Monkey CoupleThere are many great draws to the historic city of Inuyama in northern Aichi Prefecture, but none are perhaps so eclectic as the Japan Monkey Park. Set upon a luscious hillside overlooking the Kiso River, the Japan Monkey Park is a combined amusement park and zoological garden created to celebrate and preserve, that’s right, you guessed it, monkeys!

Japan Monkey Center

LemurThe Japan Monkey Center is a zoological garden dedicated to primates from all over the world. It holds around 1,000 primates from 100 species within its 250,000m² grounds. Thanks to this vast expansive space, the animals can live in a relatively free environment in enclosures that broadly reflect their natural habitats.

There is also a visitor and educational center at which you and your family can learn about how the monkeys live before going on to see the various enclosures of Gibbon Inland, Spider Monkey Inland, Squirrel Monkey Inland as well as troop of Japanese Yaku valley Monkeys. Be warned that some of the monkeys are given quite a lot of freedom and that there is a ‘drop zone’ over which some primates such as the spider monkeys traverse a specially created wooden bridge. A lot of fun to watch, but there are inherent dangers within!

Japan Monkey Park

Monkey ParkAfter watching the jungle VIPs going about their daily life, it could be time for you and your own little monkeys to start monkeying about, which is where the Japan Monkey Park amusement park comes in. Here there are over 35 attractions and rides for your to enjoy.

Most of the attractions are catered towards younger children such as tea cup rides and rides emblazoned with Anpanman and Thomas The Tank Engine, however there are attractions for older children (and those of us who are still kids heart) such as the roller coaster, the Ferris wheel and the Canyon Splash. In the summer months the pool is particularly popular (i.e. crowded), and all year round there are plenty of shops and restaurants to choose from.

Japan Monkey Park Details

  • When: Open weekdays 10:00 – 17:00, weekends & holidays 09:30 – 17:00. School summer holidays open 09:30 – 18:00. Hours vary by season, so see website for confirmation.
  • How much: Park admission: Adults 1600 JPY, children (aged 2+) 800 JPY; Single rides cost between 200 and 500 Yen. Day passes are available for Adults 3900 JPY, elementary school students 3200 JPY, children (aged 2 and below elementary school age) 2400 JPY.
  • Website:  www.japan-monkeypark.jp  and www.j-monkey.jp (both Japanese)


Other Things to do in Inuyama

Inuyama isn’t just about monkeys, and there is plenty to see in this historical city.

  • Inuyama Castle is considered to be the oldest in Japan and is only one of four castles in the country to be deemed as national treasures. Check out the JIS info on Inuyama Castle (amongst other castles in Aichi) here.
  • Cormorant fishing, or ‘ukai’, is a tradition that has been held in Inuyama going back some 1300 years. See the JIS info on ukai in Inuyama here.
  • Inuyama Festival is one of the most vibrant and eclectic in Aichi and is a great place to see 17th century Karakuri robots. Read JIS’s info on Inuyama Matsuri here.
  • Inuyama, and the Kiso river is one of the best spots for seeing the cherry blossoms of ‘hanami‘ in spring, and also for seeing the red and golden leaves of ‘koyo‘ in fall. Find JIS info on Inuyama hanami here, and koyo here.

 

Mark Guthrie

Photo: flickr.com "Couple" by masaru minoya (CC BY-SA 2.0) -Modified
Photo: flickr.com "20080628-009 Monkey Park" by Foto Captor (CC BY-SA 2.0) -Modified
Photo: flickr.com "P1050579" by Yusuke Kawasaki (CC BY-SA 2.0) -Modified
ByJustin Hanus
Nov 17, 2015

How to Experience Kobe Without a Yen in Your Pocket

Ikuta Shrine

The cosmopolitan port city of Kobe is one of Japan’s biggest and busiest. Tucked into a nook between the Rokko mountain range and Osaka Bay, it is also one of Japan’s prettiest metropolitan areas. While two of its best known attractions, succulent Kobe beef and the hot springs of Arima Onsen will cost many yen to indulge, many of the natural, historical and cultural charms of the city can be experienced for free.

The Nunobiki Falls

The Rokko Mountains reach their loftiest peak at 931 metres. Hiking trails lead to several of the summits where panoramic views of the Kansai region spread out below. Very near the city, just a ten-minute walk from Shin-Kobe Station, reside the Nunobiki Falls, a quartet of hydro-spectaculars that form as the Ikuta River spills out of the mountains. The Ontaki, which twists 43 metres down an open rock face, is a particular favorite with photographers and nature lovers.

Nada Sake District

Thanks to an abundance of high-quality Kansai-region rice and easy distribution through the port of Kobe, the city’s Nada District has evolved into Japan’s top rice wine-producing region. Sake breweries proliferate here and many offer free tours and tastings. Several maintain sake museums with exhibits, tools and machinery that explain the history and production of Japan’s signature libation. The Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum caters to foreign visitors with English pamphlets and videos.

More Information

Kobe City Hall/Higashiyuenchi Park

Kobe has many breathtaking viewpoints scattered across the city but most, such as the Kobe Port Tower, charge admission. Not so at Kobe City Hall where the observation deck on the 24th floor is free and open every night until 10:00 p.m. for gazing at the surrounding mountains, the seaside and cityscape from the 30-story tower.

More information

Next door to City Hall is Higashiyuenchi Park that began life as a foreigners’ settlement. Every year the park plays host to the Luminarie Festival that remembers the Great Hanshin earthquake that devastated Kobe in 1995 and claimed 6,000 lives. The lights go on for two weeks in December and the displays, attended by millions, are free. Also in the park is Flower Road, a thoroughfare immersed in blooms and botanical sculptures; Japan’s first flower clock also grows here.

Nofukuji Temple and Hyōgo Daibutsu

Legend has it that this temple is where Tendai Buddhism first took root in Japan after arriving from China in 805. The original temple is long gone and the current main hall dates only to 1953, with a reconstruction after the earthquake in 1997. The big attraction these days – literally – is Hyōgo Daibutsu, which claims to be the third largest Buddha statue in Japan. The first statue here was built in 1891 but was melted down for armaments in World War II. The current model, 18 metres high from street level, was raised in 1991.

More information

Ikuta Shrine

This small Shinto temple in the center of the city traces its origins back 1,800 years to the reign of Empress Jingu. According to early Japanese history writings the emperor assigned forty families from the settlement that grew up around the temple to look after its maintenance. They were known as kanbe, which in the Japanese language begat…Kobe. Today the shrine is a serene sanctuary from the bustling everyday life outside its walls.

More Information

By KENPEI (Own work) [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
ByRay Proper
Nov 08, 2015

Disconnect Your Car Battery Before Long Trips

Car photoThe expat lifestyle in Japan often means long durations of time spent abroad, and away from your vehicle. Before you go we wanted to remind you of a few things to keep in mind before leaving your vehicle parked for any length of time.

Keeping in mind that navigation and other electronics systems available in modern cars can drain batteries dead after as little as 1 week  left idle, so the most important of these is to disconnect your car’s battery in order to prevent it from going dead and stranding you at the airport, or at home before your morning commute back to work.

This is especially important as battery damage is most often the responsibility of the person driving the car, rather than the leasing company or dealer’s responsibility, which makes returning to a dead battery not only inconvenient, but potentially very expensive.

Besides disconnecting your battery, here are some other things to keep in mind before leaving your car for an extended period:

  • Do not to leave any items in the cabin that are visible to a passerby if your car is parked outside, for either short or long periods of time parked.
  • Help reduce extreme cabin temperatures by purchasing a sunshade for your windshield.

If you need some help disconnecting your battery you can take a look at Lease Japan’s handy guide.  It has some simple instructions that could save you from the headache of a dead battery later!

LJ Disconnect Battery Guide (pdf)

ByBert Wishart
Oct 20, 2015

Nagoya Meshi Expo

Nagoya Meshi copyIn Japan, the cuisine of a local region is something of which to be particularly – sometimes fiercely – proud, and Nagoya is no exception to this. Nagoya food (Nagoya Meshi) is hugely varied and diverse cuisine, encompassing the traditional ‘washoku’ as well as the more modern ‘yōshoku’. Whether it is the delicateness of chicken sashimi, the spice of Taiwan ramen, or the salty miso katsu, there is something in the Nagoyan menu to suit all palettes. It is perhaps this assuredness and pride in the city’s fare that was behind the idea of the Nagoya Meshi Expo.

What is the Nagoya Meshi Expo?

The Nagoya Meshi Expo is an annual celebration of the huge array of food for which the city is famed. Now in its fifth year, it has expanded to include up to 307 stores and restaurants all over Nagoya. The plan is that you can purchase discounted meal tickets either at one of the dozens of ticket centres or at a convenience store ticketing machine, which can be exchanged for some great food at participating stores. For example, one ticket can get you a meal set from Yamachan of tebasaki, kushi katsu and a highball; two ebi furai with a drink from Enshu Mikawaya or a yaki niku pizza and a soft drink from Napoli Pizza.

With tickets costing 1,240 JPY for two and a set of five for 3,000 JPY, it’s not too bad a deal. Then, should you particularly enjoy what you have eaten, and it is one of the 31 competing stores, you can show your love by voting online for it to be awarded with the much coveted prize of ‘Nagoya Meshi of the year’.

Why should you try the Nagoya Meshi Expo?

Whether you have been in the city for a short time or are here for the long haul, there is a good chance that there is something in Nagoya’s wide selection that you don’t know. In that way, it is a great opportunity to discover something new: a new restaurant perhaps, a different part of town, or even a new favourite dish. While you can’t possibly try them all (very few people can stomach 10 deals a day), there is still plenty of time to get out and try something.

Nagoya Meshi Expo details


Nagoya Cuisine

Below is a by-no-means complete list of the types of food for which Nagoya is famous, but merely a sample of our favourites.

Tebasaki – Perhaps Nagoya’s most famous food, these deep-fried chicken wings can be salty, spicy or lathered in sauce. Check out the JIS Guide to Tebasaki.

Nagoya Cochin sashimi – The Nagoyan Cochin chicken is held in particularly particularly high regard – think the Kobe beef of poultry. It’s so succulent and fresh that you can eat it raw.

Ebi Furai – Deep fried bread crumbed prawns. Some of them can be gigantic, up to 30cm. Check out the JIS Guide to Ebi Furai.

Hitsumabushi – Many parts of the country serve ‘unagi’, or eel, but Nagoya’s grilled eel is particularly special. Check out the JIS Guide to Hitsumabushi.

Miso katsu – While white miso is favoured throughout most of the country, Nagoyans are immensely proud of their red miso sauce. Slathering it on top of a fried cutlet, or dipping ‘kushi’ skewers into it is about as Nagoyan as you can get.

Taiwan ramen – Despite the name, this dish is as Nagoayn as Ichiro. And like the baseball superstar, it packs a big hit. This is a seriously spicy noodle dish.

Ankake pasta – Of course, spaghetti is an Italian thing. Mixing it with red weiner sausages, bright coloured vegetables and a spicy, sticky sauce is definately a Nagoya thing.

Doteni – Its English name of ‘offal stew’ does little service to this red miso stew that is perfect for warming cold bodies on chilly winter nights.

Ogura toast – This thickly sliced toast served with a sweet red bean paste is often found as part of the Nagoya cafe ‘Morning’ tradition, usually coming with coffee or tea.

Curry udon – Mixing Japanese curry sauce with udon noodles is such a straghtforwardly delicious idea that it seems crazy that Nagoyans had to even come up with it. But they did.

Misonikomi udon – Another udon dish peculiar to Nagoya the chicken, egg and onion of the soup is brought to life by the red bean miso, and is believed to have been an original of the warring era Takeda clan, becoming another spoils of war for the victorious Tokugawa Ieyasu.

 

Mark Guthrie

Photo: www.nagoyameshi-expo.com -Modified
By
Oct 16, 2015

Sightseeing in Kobe

Kobe_port_towerIf you find yourself in the Kansai region, the lovely port city of Kobe offers interesting history, colorful culture, architectural marvels, and delicious cuisine!  Here are a few sightseeing options in Kobe!

Anyone hungry for a taste of the rich historical culture that Japan has to offer will certainly enjoy a visit to the Ikuta Shrine. A short walk from Kobe-Sannomiya Station, the Ikuta Shrine is possibly one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan. It was founded in the 3rd Century by Empress Jingu, and is dedicated to the god Wakahirume. The Ikuta Shrine was a pivotal location during the Genpei War, and its history is retold in traditional Japanese Noh Theater. Performances of the plays, Ebira and Ikuta Atsumori, can be seen during the annual fall festival, Akimatsuri.

www.ikutajinja.or.jp
Google Map

Kobe Port Tower

Perhaps you’d rather take in your culture from a birds eye view. If that’s the case, then a stop at Kobe Port Tower ought to be in your plans. Built in 1963, this hyperboloidally shaped lattice marvel stands 108m over the port, allowing for stunning panoramic views of both the city and the sea. The Kobe Port Tower is located near the Kobe Maritimes Museum, and it’s only a short walk to the Hanshin Earthquake Memorial Park. At night the tower is lit in a rainbow of colors, truly a feast for the eyes.

www.kobe-meriken.or.jp
Google Map

Kobe’s Chinatown, Nankinmachi

Another unique destination worth adding to your sightseeing activities is Kobe’s renowned Chinatown. Kobe’s Chinatown, or Nankinmachi, was founded in 1868 at the beginning of the Meji Restoration, and is one of the first designated “foreign” neighborhoods in Japan following the end of the 200 year old isolationist foreign policy.

Nankinmachi is touted as the most colorful of the Chinatowns in Japan, boasting festive streets lined with interesting little shops, mahjong clubs, and delectably adventurous dining opportunities. If you can find the right street vendor, I recommend the deep fried scorpion on a stick; it tastes just like shrimp. But even if arachnids aren’t to your taste, the delicious varieties of steamed and fried dumplings, known as gyoza, are sure to satiate your appetite for the exotic.

www.nankinmachi.or.jp
Google Map

Nunobiki Park

When you’ve tired of the bright city lights and noisy, bustling crowds, or if you’re a connoisseur of nature’s flare for sublime aesthetics, then take the train to Shin-Kobe Station and make your way to Nunobiki Park. The interior of the park creates the illusion of having left the city for the tranquility of a quiet mountain grove.

Despite being located fairly close to downtown, visitors to Nunobiki Park report feeling like they are much farther away. But the tranquility of the park is just the beginning of this location’s charm. Tucked away in the corner of the park is the breathtaking Nunobiki Falls. Considered to be among Japan’s “divine” waterfalls, Nunobiki Falls is frequently a muse for Japanese poetry, and it is mentioned in the Tales of Ise.

www.kobeherb.com
Google Map

So, should you find yourself in the Kobe City area, know that your sightseeing opportunities are plentiful. Whether your looking for historic sites, modern culture, natural scenery, or exotic cuisine, Kobe has all you could desire and then some.

Photo: Kobe port tower11s3200" by 663highland. Licensed CC by 2.5 via Commons modified
ByBert Wishart
Oct 14, 2015

Japan’s Best Onsen Towns

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As temperatures around the country fall, now is the perfect time to indulge in the Japanese pastime of onsen. Best described as a hot spring bathing spa, onsen is a long held tradition in Japan and the near endless supply of geothermal springs is the one positive aspect of living in a nation of constantly shifting tectonic plates. Below are some of the most highly regarded onsen areas in the country.

Kurokawa Onsen, Kyushu

The island of Kyushu is known for being perhaps the best area for onsen, and Kurokawa Onsen is probably the pick of the bunch. Located around 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Mount Aso, it is a beautiful town that has retained its traditional charm and resisted the big money lure of the concrete and neon spa hotels you find elsewhere. Kurokawa Onsen is particularly well known for its ‘rotenburo’ (outside baths) next to rushing rivers, such as the Yamamizuki bath, considered one of the best riverside baths in Japan .

Beppu Onsen, Oita

Another Kyushu based onsen area, Beppu, in Oita prefecture, is one of the country’s best known, and produces eight different springs. One of the most remarkable things about the onsen in Beppu, aside from the fact that you can see the steam rising up all over the city, is the variety of bath types. Rather than just having hot water onsen, Beppu also boasts steam baths, hot mud baths and sand baths where bathers are buried in naturally heated sand. If you want to try out the latter, head to Takegawara Spa. It was constructed in 1879 and is perhaps Beppu’s most famous bathhouse. Though be warned, the building is partially surrounded by a red light district.

Kusatsu Onsen, Gunma

Located in the mountains of Gunma at 1200 metres (4,000 ft) above sea level, Kusatsu Onsen is probably Japan’s most popular spa, and has been listed in Japan’s Top 100 Onsen at number one for the last 12 years in a row. The high quality water, as much as 32,300 liters of it being discharged every year making it the greatest quantity in Japan, is said to cure all diseases bar love sickness. The unique bathing method of jikanyu (where bathers sit in 48 degree water for exactly three minutes) and yumomi (stirring the water with long planks for cooling the temperature of the water, also serving as an important pre-bathing exercise) are customs that have been passed down since the Edo period.

Hakone Onsen, Hakone

If you want an onsen with a view, you can do no worse than gazing out over Mount Fuji as you soak in your spa. It is perhaps more down to its stunning view and its close proximity to Tokyo that makes the spa town of Hakone so popular, but what a view it is! Of course not all spas in the area have the advantage of being in eyeshot of the nation’s most enduring symbol, but if you can find one – particularly during the time of the magical Diamond Fuji – there is possibly a no greater Japanese experience.

Noboribetsu Onsen, Hokkaido

Noboribetsu is considered to be the best onsen in the northern island of Hokkaido. Part of the Shikotsu-Toya National Park, there are nine different kinds of water including various minerals such as iron, salt and sulphur. The latter is considered to be particularly good for the skin, but doesn’t leave you smelling so fresh (as a suggestion: don’t plan a long train journey directly after a sulphur bath. Your fellow passengers will not appreciate it).

Okuhida Onsen, Gifu

This one comes with a personal recommendation. Set up in Gifu Prefecture’s Northern Japanese Alps, the spa valley of Okuhida is a beautiful little spot famed for its outdoor rotenburo baths. There are a variety of bathing types, both segregated and mixed (some prefectures do not allow mixed bathing, though Gifu is not one of them), with five water sources feeding the towns along the valley. The largest, and oldest, is Hirayu Onsen, and is said to have been discovered in the 1560s by Takeda Shingen’s troops as they crossed through the Okuhida region.

Dogo Onesen, Ehime

If you are looking for an onsen with artistic pedigree, Dogo Onsen is the one for you. Mentioned in Japan’s oldest history book, the Nihon Shoki, it also pops up in Shikibu’s he Tale of Genji, Soseki’s Botchan and is the model for the bathhouse in the Ghibli anime Spirited Away. The main onsen is the Dogo Onsen Honkan, a wooden structure, dating from 1894. The interior of the Honkan is a maze of traditional stairways and rooms and the old-fashioned baths are furnished with granite stone and marble walls. Beautiful and historical combined.

Gero Onsen, Gifu

Just one and a half hours from Nagoya, Gero is a lovely town that is worth the trip for onsen lovers and ranidaphiles alike. Due to the city’s name sounding like the Japanese sound for ‘ribbit’ (in Japan frogs say ‘gero gero’), there are homages to frogs everywhere, but that is not why most people come. In a dramatic setting amongst the mountains of Gifu and with waters that are said to be particularly good for relieving neuralgia, skin complaints and rheumatism, Gero is an onsen town so old that it was famed in the 10th century and mentioned as being one of Japan’s top three in a document from the Muromachi period. Depending on the time of year you can bathe riverside, and all around the city there are small foot baths (ashi-no-yu) for free use.

 

Super Sento Options


Onsen in Tokyo

Tokyo has plenty of places you can get to if you are unable to escape the city! Below are a list of the ‘super onsen’ in the Tokyo area. So if you can’t get away to one of the places above, any one of these are a perfectly adequate place to enjoy the onsen experience.

  1. Oedo Onsen Monogatari in Odaiba: Old Edo recreated for your bathing pleasure)
  2. Asakusa ROX Matsuri-yu in Asakusa:  Onsen bathing with a magestic view of the Tokyo Sky Tree
  3. Edo-yu in Ryogoku: Another Edo period spa offering bedrock baths, sauna and massage treatments
  4. La Qua near Tokyo Dome: Highly recommended spa treatments.
  5. Yudokoro in Kasai: Features the largest outdoor bath in Tokyo.

Onsen in Yokohama

Manyo Club Onsen in Yokohama’s Minato-Mirai district called 万葉倶楽部 Manyo Club in English is located a short 5 minute walk away from the Minato-Mirai line’s Minato-Mirai  Station.  The “super sento” carries all the amenities of a fine countryside hot springs hotel but with dramatic views of the Yokohama seaside.

Onsen in Nagoya

Canal Resort is in Nakagawa-ku, and is a super sento.  It probably would not be considered among the “best” of Japan, but its available and very nice!

Onsen in Kobe

Arima Onsen is a hot spring town within in Kobe with a 1,000 years of history behind.  Located away from the city center, on the other side of Mount Rokko, it enjoys a natural setting with a mountainous feel to it,, despite its proximity to Kobe and Osaka.

Onsen in Hiroshima

Yunoyama Hot Spring is s a traditional hot spring with over 1,000 years of history, it has even been designated an intangible Folk Cultural Asset of Japan.

Rules of Onsen

Like many aspects of Japanese culture there is etiquette to consider when visiting an onsen, and if you wish to impress your hosts it is best if you follow the rules. Before you head to the onsen, check out some of the how to’s, do’s and don’ts of the onsen experience.

Mark Guthrie

Photo: flickr.com “Kurokawa Onsen, Kyushu” by David McKelvey (CC BY-SA 2.0) -Modified

Photo: via flickr.com by anjuli_ayer  (CC BY-SA 2.0) -Modified

Photo: via flickr.com by Christian Kaden  (CC BY-SA 2.0) -Modified

Photo: via flickr.com by Takanori Ishikawa  (CC BY-SA 2.0) -Modified

ByBert Wishart
Oct 14, 2015

Yokohama Day Trip – Five Fun Things for the Family

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Despite being the second largest city in Japan, the port city of Yokohama sometimes gets dismissed as a satellite town to the ever sprawling metropolis of Tokyo. And while it is true that the capital’s close proximity can cast something of a pretty big shadow, and that by comparison it has something of a ‘charming town’ vibe, Yokohama has plenty of wonderful things to see and do. With this in mind, being just a 30 minute train journey from Tokyo Station, it makes it the perfect location for a family daytrip.

Hakkeijima Sea Paradise

A manmade island built at the tip of Yokohama Bay, you can spend an entire day at Hakkejima Sea Paradise. Admission to the island itself is free, so you can wander the grounds, have a picnic in the park and take long, leisurely strolls at no cost. However, there is a good chance that you won’t want to miss out on the action. For a start there is the three-story high aquaruim that, with more than 100,000 creatures, is Japan’s largest collection of sealife. Then there are the amusements including Japan’s first surf coaster that swings out over the water and Blue Fall, a 107m vertical drop ride. For the peckish and those wanting to pick up souvenirs there are plenty of restaurants and stores in which to wander.

Minato Mirai 21

Created where Yokohama Exotic Showcase was held in 1989, Minato Mirai is another area packed to the rafters with things to see and do. One of the standout attractions is the Cup Noodle museum that features a restaurant selling noodles from around the world, and two workshops in which you can design your own original cup noodle, or the particuilarly child-friendly Chicken Ramen factory where kids can make their own ramen.

West of JR Sakuragicho Station, you can find Nogeyama Park and Nogeyama Zoo with about 1,500 animals of 90 species. Younger children will enjoy Anpanman Land and KID-O-KID Borneland, an educational  indoor play facility where children and parents can learn as they play. For the older child, it’s well worth checking out the Nippon Maru and Yokohama Port Museum and the Mitsubishi Minatomirai Industrial Museum exhibiting all sorts of technological marvels including rocket engines, futuristic fork lifts and a deep sea submersible research vessel.

Yokohama Redbrick Warehouse

After all of that child’s play, you will probably be just about ready for a bit of lunch and retail therapy, which brings us nicely to Yokohama Redbrick Warehouse. Built between 1899 and 1905, the bonded warehouses were part of the Meiji era harbour construction that, as part of Japan’s modern port, welcomed the world for the first time. Today they act as a large dining and shopping complex and exhibition center for all manner of cultural events. There is also a large grassy area upon which to lounge on sunny days. 

Yamashita Park

If the kids aren’t tired out from the theme parks, then you can take them down to Yamashita Park. Famed for its views of Yokohama port, this seaside park – Japan’s first – is a 700m stretch of greenery in which people of all ages come for recreation. Alongside the park is the gigantic ocean liner-cum-maritime museum Hikawa Maru that ran theYokohama-Vancouver/Seattle line from 1930 housing all manner of VIPs from Charlie Chaplin to the Imperial family. Next to the Hikawa Maru is Yokohama Marine Tower that, with a 100m high 360 degree panoramic viewing deck, is ideal for watching night fall over the city.

Yokohama’s Chinatown

Yokohama’s Chinatown is not only the largest in Japan but also in Asia, and there are roughly 250 Chinese-owned/themed shops and restaurants throughout the district, the highest concentration of which are centered on a 300 square metre area. While it is a great place to visit at any time of the day, it is in the evening when things in ‘Yokohama Chukagai’ really livens up.

There are all manner of stores selling bric-a-brac and Chinese cultural items, but it is the food that is the biggest drawer. With dozens of restaurants, mostly offering discount set courses it is a great place to eat. If you don’t want a full meal there are plenty of stalls and standing restaurants, including one claiming to be the purveyors of the world’s best nikuman: a bold claim. Chinese New Year is a particularly lively time to visit.

Mark Guthrie


Main photo by Flickr.com “sealab 2009” by Clint (CC BY-SA 2.0) -Modified

Dolphin Photo by Patrik Jones [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Minato Mirai Image by Kakidai (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Red Brick Building Image by FoxyStranger Kawasaki [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Yamashita Park image by ootahara (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

Chinatown image by そらみみ (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons