The Shopping Underground: Depachika in Hiroshima
Jan 28, 2019 By Matt Mangham
One of the best reasons to visit a department store here is to ride the elevator down to the basement, where a food lover’s wonderland lies waiting. ‘Depachika’ combines the first two syllables of "department store" with the Japanese word for "basement." Though they’ve evolved over the decades, depachika have...[ Click to read more ]
Healthy Meals for Dieters in Kansai
Jan 25, 2019 By Justin Hanus
The New Year is traditionally a time when people decide to put their culinary over-indulgences behind them and start a healthy diet. Thankfully for expats living in Japan, the country scores pretty well when it comes to health and nutrition in food and meals so anyone already eating plenty of...[ Click to read more ]
Japan Brewer’s Cup: The Tournament of Suds 2019
Dec 26, 2018 By Jason Gatewood
Please read the following in the voice of one of those monster truck TV spots from back in the day: Thirty-five of the best craft brewers from all over Japan, plus one each from Taiwan and the Czech Republic, and six craft beer importers are thrown in for good measure....[ Click to read more ]
What’s the Deal with Sampuru?
Dec 20, 2018 By Justin Hanus
If you’ve spent any time in Japan, you will have seen the tantalizing array of food in the restaurant windows. This is sampuru, which means a sample, and it’s replica food. Sampuru has existed for almost a century, over which time it has evolved to become an art form. The...[ Click to read more ]
Vegan Food in Kobe
Dec 17, 2018 By Justin Hanus
With the new year comes new year’s resolutions. Whether your goal is to become vegan (or vegetarian) or you’re looking to reduce meat in your diet, you’ll need to find new places to eat and purchase food. The great thing about Kobe is that the city has vegan options for...[ Click to read more ]
Food of Hiroshima
Dec 03, 2018 By Bert Wishart
Most cities in Japan can boast exquisite and marvelous food, and many of them are rightly vaunted for it. Hiroshima, for all its international fame, is not one of them, and this is somewhat unfair in our opinion. Hiroshima cuisine is diverse and exciting and, most importantly, it is delicious....[ Click to read more ]
Mexican Food in Nagoya
Dec 02, 2018 By Ray Proper
Nagoya has a reasonable number of options available if you are looking for Mexican food. In order of preference, you can enjoy some pretty great Mexican eating at Los Tacos, Desperados, Los Novios, and Jerry's Uno. Some people consider Bar Mexigan in Sakae a Mexican restaurant, but I can assure...[ Click to read more ]
Let’s Tour – Sendai: What to eat
Nov 30, 2018 By Jason Gatewood
No review of any part of Japan would be complete without talking about its contributions to the gastronomic scene, and Sendai has definitely done its part, and there are TONS of places to check out local delectables. Beef Tongue Ask any Japanese person anywhere what food Sendai is famous for,...[ Click to read more ]
Do You Know Nags? Nagoya’s Hidden Gems – Part 2
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 ]
Enkai Etiquette; Office Party Do’s and Don’ts
Nov 27, 2018 By Bert Wishart
Starting work in a new office can be pretty stressful. Each office can have its own particular rules and culture, and this is particularly true when in a new country. While some things remain the same, there can be vast differences between the way things were back home to how...[ Click to read more ]
