Best Traditional Japanese Restaurants in Kansai

Apr 15, 2019 By Justin Hanus

Japan takes its food very seriously and Japanese cuisine is diverse as well as being among the healthiest in the world. For those in the Kansai region looking to indulge in some traditional Japanese cooking, there is no shortage of options – from sushi to teppanyaki to haute cuisine to...[ Click to read more ]

Ten Nagoya Suggestions for the Ten Days of Golden Week (Part Two)

Mar 28, 2019 By Bert Wishart

You may have noticed, that people are starting to get excited about Golden Week. Of course, people always get excited around Golden Week, when public holidays combine to make an extended block of time off, but this year it's even better! With Emperor Akihito abdicating this year, another holiday has been...[ Click to read more ]

Ten Nagoya Suggestions for the Ten Days of Golden Week (Part One)

By Bert Wishart

You may have noticed, that people are starting to get excited about Golden Week. Of course, people always get excited around Golden Week, when some public holidays combine to make an extended block of time off, but this year it's even better. With Emperor Akihito abdicating this year, another holiday...[ Click to read more ]

Great Bars in Kobe

Mar 22, 2019 By Justin Hanus

Kobe has a vibrant nightlife and bar scene that while perhaps not being as busy or diverse as nearby Osaka, keeps locals and visitors entertained. Within the city you can find everything from chilled pubs to late night jazz bars and local joints to international themed bars. So whether you're...[ Click to read more ]

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Why Visit the Instant Ramen Museum in Osaka

By Justin Hanus

It may seem like a strange concept to have an entire museum dedicated to instant ramen, but the Cup Noodles Museum is a must-see destination in Osaka. Much of your time in Japan will be spent exploring the different cuisine. The Cup Noodles Museum allows you to explore the culture...[ Click to read more ]

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Ankake Spaghetti, Nagoya’s Italian Treat

Feb 27, 2019 By Bert Wishart

From soba to ramen, udon to somen, hiyamugi to shirataki, Japanese cuisine is blessed with a wide variety of of noodle kinds. But if that wasn't enough, they had to take Italy's greatest export and make it their own in the form of ankake spaghetti. Like miso katsu, tebasaki and...[ Click to read more ]

Do You Know Nags? Nagoya’s Hidden Gems – Part 3

By Bert Wishart

Whether you have been here for a few weeks or know the city like the back of your hand, Nagoya is a city that is full of surprises. New restaurants and bars pop up all the time, and you can be strolling down a familiar street and suddenly notice a...[ Click to read more ]

The Wonderful World of Yakitori – Meat on a Stick Explained

Feb 25, 2019 By Bert Wishart

Japan is famous for its food, but for some reason, 'yakitori' is rarely talked about when we consider classic local cuisine. This is somewhat unfair, as grilled chicken (a pretty literal translation of yakitori) served on skewers いs pretty much ubiquitous at izakayas and yakitori-yas (yakitori restaurants), and goes perfectly...[ Click to read more ]

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Partying Nagoya Style: Meieki’s best Izakayas

By Bert Wishart

When it comes to going out for drinks, in Japan, they do things a little differently than back home. Whereas we would most likely head to a bar, the Japanese go to an izakaya. Most translation tools will tell you that an izakaya is like a tavern or a pub,...[ Click to read more ]

Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Tokyo

Feb 17, 2019 By Bert Wishart

  St. Patrick's Day, the commemoration of the death of the patron saint of Ireland, is celebrated in more countries around the world than any other national festival, and Japan, is of course, no different. As a day in which the abstinence restrictions of lent are temporarily lifted, it has, particularly in...[ Click to read more ]