Spring Pickings – Strawberry Picking Around Tokyo
Jan 24, 2022 By Michael Stigall
Japan has a beautiful relationship with fruit. While it tends to be a little expensive (at least to the eyes of foreigners used to supermarkets crammed with the stuff for next to nothing), fruit is revered in status: apples are grown to extraordinary sizes and prized for their taste, mangoes...[ Click to read more ]
Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum
By Michael Stigall
Whether all you only know about ramen is instant, cup-o-noodles, or are a true aficionado who can tell the difference between shoyu and tonkotsu based ramen by smell, perhaps you’ll agree: Ramen is so good, it should be in a museum. Well, you’re in luck — there is a ramen...[ Click to read more ]
Calling 119 for Emergency Assistance in Japan
Jan 20, 2022 By Ray Proper
Dial 119 for the fire department or medical services Dial 110 for police 119 in Japan is a direct-dial-free emergency number that connects the caller to fire and emergency medical services from any phone. Unlike emergency number services in many other countries, the 119 system in Japan only connects to...[ Click to read more ]
Furusato Matsuri Tokyo 2022
Dec 25, 2021 By Jason Gatewood
Like food? Silly question, right, of course you like food! If you are looking for the opportunity to sample dishes from all over Japan but don’t have the time on your hands to be bouncing through all 47 prefectures and regions to seek out each individual plate (Or like me,...[ Click to read more ]
Hatsumode in Tokyo – Shrines to Visit for New Years
Dec 24, 2021 By Bert Wishart
In Japan, celebrating New Year is all about 'firsts.' Perhaps the most important 'first' is the first trip to a shrine, a tradition called hatsumode. While this visit can happen at any time, usually over the first three days of the year, the most dramatic time will be at midnight...[ Click to read more ]
Holiday Dining Options in Tokyo 2021
Nov 28, 2021 By Jason Gatewood
Tokyo IS good food. In my opinion, the food in Tokyo is the best part of Tokyo! You can get pretty much anything in Tokyo at any time, and Christmas Dinner is no exception. Whether you are searching for traditional holiday fare or something a bit more trendy, there are...[ Click to read more ]
American Style BBQ Restaurants in Tokyo
Nov 23, 2021 By Ray Proper
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 ]
Travel to a Relaxing Hot Spring Resort… Without the Travel!
Nov 14, 2021 By Jason Gatewood
It's no secret that Japan is one of the most seismically active places on Earth. But this is also a good thing when you consider one of the country's most valuable assets: the onsen, which is Japanese for hot spring. You can find hot springs all over Japan, and indeed...[ Click to read more ]
Dream Yosacoy Festival 2021
Oct 19, 2021 By Jason Gatewood
Yosakoi dancing started in Kochi in Shikoku around 1954 as a way to celebrate postwar reconstruction, building spirit, and teamwork. Blending traditional Japanese dance and costume motif with modern music, thumping chants, contemporary fashion, hairstyles, it’s known throughout Japan as one of the most energetic sights to behold at any...[ Click to read more ]
Let’s Tour: Kamakura
By Jason Gatewood
Despite being one of the most densely populated parts of the world, containing the capital city and Japan's most significant urban area, Greater Tokyo is historically newer than many places in the country. It wasn't until the 1600s during the Edo Period that the area, then called Edo, became important;...[ Click to read more ]
