Tokyo Fireworks Festival in 2024
May 31, 2024 By Michael Stigall
Fireworks and summer festivals are arguably the best part of summertime in Japan, with days spent wearing yukata and jinbei traditional clothing while munching street food and nights spent outside watching literally hours of explosions and enjoying the atmosphere of the festival, and the crowds. Summer festivals are a rare...[ Click to read more ]
How to Reach Kumamoto from Tokyo or Kansai
By Justin Hanus
Most visitors to Japan are aware of the top tourist destinations, such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and other places in Kansai. However, there are interesting spots to see all over the country, including some that are less frequented by tourists. Visiting these places often gives you a more authentic Japanese...[ Click to read more ]
Buying a Property in Kansai
By Justin Hanus
If you’re planning the big move to Japan, you may have your heart set on buying your own place rather than renting a home. Kansai has some great properties to buy in places like Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe. However, the Japanese home-buying process might be a bit different from what...[ Click to read more ]
Sites to See on a Trip Around Yatsushiro
By Justin Hanus
A great option for a day trip if you’re in Kumamoto is Yatsushiro. This is a top destination for learning more about history and culture in Japan. 1. Kirai Art Installment If you arrive at Shin-Yatsushiro Station, the first thing you’ll see will be the Kirai art installment. This modern...[ Click to read more ]
Hawaiian Food in Tokyo
By Michael Stigall
There are places one can go to in Japan where it will seem you’ve stepped through Doraemon’s Dokodemo Door and straight up landed in America’s 50th state, Hawaii. From hula dancing to learning to play the ukulele, Japan has been all-in on all things Hawaiian since the heady “Bubble Era”...[ Click to read more ]
Best Outdoor Swimming Locations in Kansai
May 29, 2024 By Justin Hanus
Whether it’s a day trip to the beach, a dip in a pretty lake or going for a wild swim in a river, making the most of the summer sun and immersing yourself in outdoor waters is one of the best ways to relax as well as enjoy the scenery...[ Click to read more ]
Where to Rent a Kimono or Yukata in Hiroshima
By Justin Hanus
Traditional Japanese garments are beautiful and quite unlike the clothing from anywhere else in the world. You may like to have the experience of wearing the national dress, such as to attend a cultural event or for a photo shoot. One option to wear is a kimono, which is what...[ Click to read more ]
The Hiroshima Dating Scene
By Justin Hanus
Hiroshima, like many cities in Japan, is a blend of traditional cultural norms and more modernized and westernized lifestyles. If you live in the city and are single, you can find plenty of opportunities to meet both local and foreign prospective partners. In addition, there is no shortage of things...[ Click to read more ]
Things to Do with Kids in Kumamoto
By Justin Hanus
If you’ve got kids, you’ll know how important it is to have an ongoing list of activities and places to go to entertain them at weekends or during school holidays. Kumamoto has a number of attractions designed for kids and plenty of places where the whole family can have fun....[ Click to read more ]
Tokyo’s Best American BBQ
By Michael Stigall
In the United States, BBQ is cooking meat for long periods at low temperatures with smoke from a wood fire. BBQ adds a distinctive smoky taste to the meat, and depending on the style in question, BBQ sauce. While BBQ traditions may not have originated in the United States, they...[ Click to read more ]
