Nagoya Agricultural Centre
Apr 16, 2019 By Mark Guthrie
With spring well and truly in full swing, and the weather improving day by day, now is a great time - before the rain and humidity of the summer arrives - to get outside with the kids and enjoy the great outdoors. But of course, you've already taken them to all...[ Click to read more ]
Yasuke: From Mozambique to Slave to Samurai
By Mark Guthrie
Whether it is on the subway, in a restaurant or just walking down the street, most foreigners in Japan know what it's like to be stared at and pointed out as different. There is generally nothing evil in it, and more often than not it is brought about by simple...[ Click to read more ]
Horsing Around at Tado Festival in Mie
By Mark Guthrie
Japan has so many strange, eccentric and exciting festivals every year that it is sometimes difficult to keep track. However, few festivals are exciting and dramatic as Ageuma-Shinji, held every year in Tado, Mie. Also known as Tado Festival, Ageuma-Shinji has been held in this sleepy little town since the Nanboku-chō...[ Click to read more ]
Kyoto International Manga Museum
Apr 15, 2019 By Justin Hanus
There’s no better place in the country for fans of manga than the Kyoto International Manga Museum. Visitors have the chance to browse a massive collection of manga that spans three floors, visit exhibitions, and read manga on the museum lawn (weather permitting). The building was formerly an elementary school,...[ Click to read more ]
Starting Your Own Business in Kobe
By Justin Hanus
With the 3rd strongest economy in the world, Japan is an excellent place to start up a business. There are over 3,000 foreign-owned businesses in Japan but, if you want to become an overseas entrepreneur, you need to get it right. Here's a short guide on what you need to...[ Click to read more ]
How to Spend Easter in Kobe
By Justin Hanus
Easter is not generally celebrated in Japan, but the growing community of western expats in the country means that provisions for the festival have increased in recent years. If you're keen to get into the festive spirit in Kobe, here are a few suggestions on where to go and what...[ Click to read more ]
Best Traditional Japanese Restaurants in Kansai
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 ]
7 Facts About Ninjas
By Justin Hanus
Everyone is familiar with ninjas. They feature heavily in pop culture both in Japan and in the rest of the world. However, few people know the truth about these warriors — or much of what they think they know is fiction. Learning the critical facts about ninjas is not only...[ Click to read more ]
Finding an English-speaking Personal Trainer
Mar 29, 2019 By Jason Gatewood
Personal fitness is something that takes dedication, and mental training more than the physical will to push weights or run miles down the road. Moving to another country and embedding oneself into a different culture is hard enough without sacrificing our physical health in the process. Some years ago, I...[ Click to read more ]
Mountain Biking in Japan
Mar 28, 2019 By Mark Guthrie
Being such a mountainous country, Japan is a fantastic place to go mountain biking. Right across the land, there are excellent spots at which you can hop on a bike and fly down a trail. Whether you are into downhill, dirt jumps, freeride or cross country; a beginner (like me)...[ Click to read more ]
