The Kyoto Gion Festival – Biggest Festival in Japan
Jun 08, 2016 By Bert Wishart
Summertime in Japan is all about festivals, or matsuri, and one of the most popular summer festivals is Kyoto’s Gion festival, known in Japanese as Gion Matsuri. In fact, running through the entirety of the month of July, it is not only one of Japan’s best known festivals, it is also perhaps the...[ Click to read more ]
The Great Japan Beer Festival Tokyo – Beer Fest 2017
May 11, 2016 By Bert Wishart
When I first arrived in Japan, I was somewhat disappointed by my perception of limited decent beer selections. It seemed that no matter where I went I could find nothing more on draft than the near identical brews of the ‘big 3’: Sapporo, Kirin and Asahi. While these can be refreshing and...[ Click to read more ]
Vietnam Festival and Vietnamese Restaurants in Tokyo
May 10, 2016 By Bert Wishart
Some years ago, as those with youth and a seeming abundance of time on their hands tend to do, I went backpacking around South East Asia. Whilst there I fell deeply in love with Vietnam. Its scenery was staggering, its people were on the whole cheerful, and the food... My...[ Click to read more ]
Special Extended Hours and Light-Up Events for May in Kyoto
Apr 22, 2016 By Justin Hanus
As if the incredible weather and the vibrant greens of springtime weren’t enough to get you out of the house, Kyoto’s May calendar is filled with exciting events and special openings to help you make the most of this iconic season. Although temperatures tend to hover at cool and comfortable...[ Click to read more ]
Brazillian Festival Nagoya
Apr 08, 2016 By Ray Proper
Brazilian Festival Nagoya is a little slice of Latin America in Hisayaodori Park, Sakae. You can enjoy a variety of Brazilian foods and products from the many vendors, as well as sports, music, and arts direct from Brazil. Come out and meet the Brazilian community and friends as you enjoy the sights, sounds,...[ Click to read more ]
Nagoya Vegan Gourmet Festival
Apr 06, 2016 By Admin
Among recent arrivals, vegetarians and vegans have it comparably rough in Japan. If there was ever a country set up to be difficult for those with "out of the ordinary" needs, this is it, and top that off with a double whammy of unfamiliar language and foods, then paired with a narrowing of options and...[ Click to read more ]
Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Hiroshima
Feb 22, 2016 By Justin Hanus
For many people around the world, the month of March means St. Patrick’s Day and all of the fun celebrations that come along with it. These days, it’s not just Western countries or predominantly Irish populations of people who join in the cultural festivities. Many parts of the East, including...[ Click to read more ]
Social Opportunities for Spouses in Nagoya
Feb 15, 2016 By
While relocating to another country often turns out to be a wonderful, life-changing experience, there are always traumatic obstacles and challenges standing in the way of gaining that experience. The good news is you do not have to overcome them all by yourself. Everyone who comes to Japan goes through...[ Click to read more ]
Lunar New Year in Kobe’s Chinatown
Jan 26, 2016 By Justin Hanus
As one of the three biggest Chinatowns in Japan, Kobe’s Nankinmachi Chinese New Year celebration is an experience you shouldn’t miss. The New Year Spring Festival, ‘Shunsetsu,’ has been held at Kobe Nankinmachi since 1987, and it is one of the port city’s liveliest events of the year. For around...[ Click to read more ]
Mihara Shinmei-ichi Daruma Festival in Hiroshima
By Justin Hanus
If you’ve spent some time in Japan, you’ve probably come across more than a few of those small, round, brightly colored dolls that sit on shelves and stare at you from one or two white eyes. A bit unsettling at first, these legless, armless, “daruma” dolls are quite charming when...[ Click to read more ]
