Furusato Matsuri Tokyo 2022
Dec 25, 2021 By Jason Gatewood
Like food? Silly question, right, of course you like food! If you are looking for the opportunity to sample dishes from all over Japan but don’t have the time on your hands to be bouncing through all 47 prefectures and regions to seek out each individual plate (Or like me,...[ Click to read more ]
Hatsumode in Tokyo – Shrines to Visit for New Years
Dec 24, 2021 By Bert Wishart
In Japan, celebrating New Year is all about 'firsts.' Perhaps the most important 'first' is the first trip to a shrine, a tradition called hatsumode. While this visit can happen at any time, usually over the first three days of the year, the most dramatic time will be at midnight...[ Click to read more ]
Do You Know Nags? Nagoya’s Hidden Gems – Part 5
Oct 28, 2021 By Bert Wishart
Whether you're fresh in town or are a piece of the local furniture, Nagoya is a city that continuously throws up surprises. New restaurants, shops, and bars spring up all the time, and you can be wandering down an oft-trodden street and come across something that you've never come across...[ Click to read more ]
Koyo, or Fall Colors in Hiroshima
Oct 15, 2021 By Bert Wishart
The Japanese are proud of the four distinct seasons that Japan offers and is very conscious of changing the seasons around them. They often celebrate little, or not so little, milestones between each to mark the occasion. Long sleeve or short sleeve shirts, for example, are there one day but...[ Click to read more ]
Yokogawa: The Old Hiroshima Neighborhood
Jul 20, 2021 By Admin
Hiroshima is a very photogenic city and my favorite place to take my camera and just walk around here is Yokogawa. Yokogawa is in the in the western part of Hiroshima, just over the bridge from the Shin-Harushima area. The neighborhood is known for its arts scene and historic Showa...[ Click to read more ]
The Wacky World of Japanese Deathmatch Wrestling
Jun 29, 2021 By Bert Wishart
Back when I lived in the UK, one of my co-workers told me about how, in his free time, he was a member of a local pro-wrestling team. I was completely shocked. Not the fact that a grown man was into wrestling - though in my mind it was just...[ Click to read more ]
Buying Summer Yukata in Tokyo
Jun 20, 2021 By Bert Wishart
If you have ever been to a summer fireworks festival around Tokyo you may have noticed many people wearing traditional Japanese dress and wondered what was going on. Well, summer festivals are a time when Japanese and foreigners alike can wear yukata, a summer, and informal variant of the famous kimono. What is...[ Click to read more ]
Summer Events in Kobe 2021
May 26, 2021 By Justin Hanus
Kobe has a vibrant summer culture with many family-friendly activities and a few annual events and festivals that draw the crowds in. As with most other cities across the globe, things are slightly scaled back this year due to the impact of Covid-19. However, you can still find great events...[ Click to read more ]
Where to See Fireflies in Kansai
By Justin Hanus
Whereas many years ago, fireflies were everywhere in Kansai throughout the summer months, you now need to head to specific places to see them. Luckily, you do have a range of options, including festivals in urban areas like the gardens of hotels, restaurants, and shrines. However, these events tend to...[ Click to read more ]
Nagoya’s Magical Summer Fireflies
May 17, 2021 By Bert Wishart
With the rainy season and the humidity ramping up like an overly-confident Evil Knievel, June is perhaps one of the least favored months in Japan. However, with that said, this combination of conditions is precisely what is required for one of the more beautiful, natural sights: the glow of the...[ Click to read more ]
