The Tokyo International Film Festival

Oct 31, 2024 By William Farrow

It is no surprise that the country of legendary and lasting film directors like Akira Kurosawa, Ishiro Honda and Yasujiro Oz would have an international film festival. As of 2024, the Tokyo International Film Festival is on its 37th run and will be held from October 28th until November 6th....[ Click to read more ]

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The Tokyo Ramen Festa

By William Farrow

I will open this with a confession: This article was painful to write. Not in the sense of finding the prose to convey the message nor in the sense that the subject matter was utterly devoid of inspiration to help its transition to the written word, but rather...well...just look at...[ Click to read more ]

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Warm up with Japanese Curry in Hiroshima

Oct 28, 2024 By Jade Brischke

As the weather gets cooler, we’re all familiar with wanting something to make us nice and warm both inside and out. Clothing from places like Uniqlo cover the ‘outer’ (and the ‘under’, so to speak!) but the inside needs something in the form of food, and curry is the perfect...[ Click to read more ]

Best Bars in Kansai

Oct 25, 2024 By Justin Hanus

Fancy a tipple in Kansai? You can head to one of the region’s many bars. The more populated cities such as Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto have quite a buzzing nightlife where you can find a range of drinking establishments. From themed expat-friendly haunts such as traditional Irish or British pubs...[ Click to read more ]

The Kobe Dating Scene

By Justin Hanus

Are you a singleton in Kobe looking to find a suitable partner? Here’s what to expect plus a few tips on how to meet potential significant others and where to go to for a memorable first date. Japanese Dating Culture Dating in Kobe is influenced by the national dating culture...[ Click to read more ]

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Renting a Car in Hiroshima

By Justin Hanus

Want to explore Hiroshima by car? There are plenty of car hire options if you don’t want to go through the hassle of buying or importing a car after moving to the area. Hiroshima has some good public transport options but cars offer that added convenience. Renting means you can...[ Click to read more ]

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All About Yatsushiro Myoken Festival

By Justin Hanus

Dating back to roughly the 14th century, Yatsushiro Myoken is one of the oldest festivals in Japan. Spanning over two days, it takes places every year in Yatsushiro City in Kumamoto. This colorful event is filled with floats, dances, performances, and great food. History of the Festival Yatsushiro Myoken was...[ Click to read more ]

The Best Restaurants for International Food in Kumamoto

By Justin Hanus

Even though Japanese food is delicious, you may not want to eat it every single day. The good news is Kumamoto has a number of restaurants serving international cuisine from all over the world. Mampukutei If you fancy a steak, look no further than Mampukutei. Since this is a specialty...[ Click to read more ]

National Parks to Visit Near Kumamoto

Sep 30, 2024 By Justin Hanus

Just beyond the borders of the city, the prefecture of Kumamoto is filled with natural beauty. Explore the mountains and forests, with shrines scattered in between, by visiting some of the national parks. Aso-Kuju National Park Spanning Kumamoto and Oita prefectures is Aso-Kuju National Park. It is named for Mount...[ Click to read more ]

What Makes Kumamoto Sake So Special?

By Justin Hanus

Although sake is the most famous Japanese alcoholic beverage, in Kumamoto (and, in fact, on the entire island of Kyushu), shochu is more common. Nonetheless, Kumamoto has a strong sake culture and creates a drink that is unlike what you find elsewhere in the country. To understand why that is,...[ Click to read more ]