Popular Landmarks and Buildings in Kobe
Sep 27, 2024 By Justin Hanus
Kobe isn’t one of Japan’s most major cities – indeed, Osaka and Kyoto are more well-known in the Kansai region – but it is steeped in a fair amount of history and boasts a number of identifiable landmarks. Opened to foreign trade over 150 years ago, it’s a city with...[ Click to read more ]
Halloween in Tokyo 2024
By Michael Stigall
Halloween is probably one of the greatest examples I can think of when I reflect on how Japan has changed over the last decade or so as well was the friction generated by those changes. You see, once upon a time in Tokyo, celebrating Halloween meant dressing up in a costume...[ Click to read more ]
Tokyo Game Show 2024
By Michael Stigall
The Tokyo Game Show is an annual trade show for video game developers held at Makuhari Messe Convention Centerjust outside Tokyo. First held in 1996, the Tokyo Game Show is among the world’s biggest video game related conferences. It is well attended by big-name game developers to launch new products and display their latest innovations...[ Click to read more ]
Ice, Ice, Baby… The Best Ice Cream in Hiroshima
By Jade Brischke
You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream! The summer may have drawn to a close but it’s never a bad season for ice cream. Japan is fast becoming an ice cream hotspot to rival Italy thanks to the likes of its unique flavours such as matcha, black...[ Click to read more ]
Koyo, or Fall Colors in Nagoya
By Ray Proper
The Japanese are very conscious of the seasons changing around them, often celebrating little, or not so little, milestones between each to mark the transitions between their much-touted "4 distinct seasons." Long sleeve or short sleeve shirts, for example, are there one day but gone the next as the season...[ Click to read more ]
Halloween in Kansai
Sep 26, 2024 By Justin Hanus
Halloween has grown in popularity in Japan in the 21st century ever since Tokyo Disneyland hosted a big Halloween party in 2000. Nowadays, you can find themed events both big and small up and down the country. Halloween in Japan is a tad different from what you might expect in...[ Click to read more ]
Halloween in Hiroshima
By Justin Hanus
Halloween is one of the popular western celebrations that Japan has embraced in recent years, in part due to the increase in the country’s American expat population. As might be expected, Japan puts its own unique slant on proceedings. You won’t see trick or treaters out knocking on people’s doors...[ Click to read more ]
How to Experience Kansai Without a Yen in Your Pocket
By Justin Hanus
The Kansai region has many great attractions well-known across Japan. However, these often come at a price and you can soon rack up the yen if you want to make the most of things. Fortunately, there is also plenty of free and low-cost fun stuff that can be ideal if...[ Click to read more ]
A Wax a Day Keeps the Hair Away! Waxing in Hiroshima
By Jade Brischke
Western women (and some men) who are used to having easy access to beauty salons that specialize in waxing are often a tad fearful they won’t be able to find the same services here in Japan. Waxing, especially Brazilian, is still a relatively new concept in Japan. In a smaller...[ Click to read more ]
Halloween in Kumamoto
By Justin Hanus
Halloween isn’t as big a deal in Japan as it is in the U.S., meaning you won’t see places filled with jack-o-lanterns, witches’ broomsticks, or cobweb decorations. However, Halloween has become a thing over the past couple of decades. Japan began to embrace Halloween when Tokyo Disneyland hosted its first...[ Click to read more ]
