A Guide to Onsen and Super Sento in and around Tokyo
Sep 28, 2022 By Michael Stigall
The onsen is one thing that immediately comes to mind when one thinks of Japan, and it's no mystery why. In addition to appearing in most tourism-related media, they are excellent places to relax. With so much seismic activity, from small sento bathhouses to entire onsen towns, sento and onsen...[ Click to read more ]
Upgrade Your Suica to Mobile Suica
Aug 30, 2022 By Michael Stigall
There was a time when finding one’s way around Japan’s rail lines required extraordinary effort, determination, and a bit of luck. Literacy helped as well, but most newly arrived foreigners were out of luck in that regard. The most challenging part was getting the tickets, which required deciphering the maps,...[ Click to read more ]
Grab a Slice! Pizza in Tokyo
By Michael Stigall
Pizza in Japan comes in many novel and exciting forms. There is your standard pizza from the bakery of all places, with its typical toppings of mayo and corn. Then you have your Chinese-Italian fusion creation, which is the oddly-delicious pizzaman. Plus, there are all of those pizza-flavored snacks. Then...[ Click to read more ]
Where to Jog In Tokyo
Jul 25, 2022 By Michael Stigall
Summer in Japan is hot and humid, but it is also a great time to get in shape. There are plenty of ways you can do this. You could head to one of the city’s excellent public swimming pools, join a gym, or even climb mountains. But if going to...[ Click to read more ]
Museum of Yebisu Beer
By Michael Stigall
Yebisu Beer has a long and storied history beginning in 1887 when the Japan Beer Brewery Company cleared an area of farmland to build a brewery. At this new modern brewery, they would use German methods to create their new premium beer, Yebisu. In time the area came to be...[ Click to read more ]
The Snoopy Museum Tokyo
By Michael Stigall
Snoopy Museum Tokyo is an exciting addition to the museums of Tokyo. The Peanuts comic strip characters are popular in Japan but are collectively eclipsed by Snoopy, the dog, to the extent that most people probably couldn’t tell you who Charlie Brown is. Snoopy is, however, a serious draw, and...[ Click to read more ]
Where to See Kabuki in Tokyo
Jun 28, 2022 By Michael Stigall
When thinking of Japanese high arts such as ukiyo-e, haiku, and bonsai, Kabuki is probably one of the first things that come to mind. Kabuki, the classical Japanese dance theatre known for the stylization of its drama and the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers, is an art...[ Click to read more ]
Diving into the Many Pools of Tokyo
By Michael Stigall
As you may have already noticed, summers in Tokyo can be pretty sweltering. The heat brings with it many questions, such as how to deal with hot and sticky public transport, which new and improved sports drink will quench your eternal thirst, or how to drag yourself away from the...[ Click to read more ]
Beat the Heat at Tokyo’s Aquariums
By Michael Stigall
Now that the rainy season or “tsuyu” is nearly behind us, we can finally look forward to Summer. Perhaps, looking forward isn’t the most accurate expression as Tokyo Summers tend to be hot, very humid, and uncomfortable. Spending any amount of time outside can leave you sweaty and tired. Potential...[ Click to read more ]
Artisan Coffee Shops in Tokyo
May 24, 2022 By Michael Stigall
It seems hard to believe, but there was once a time when finding a good cup of coffee in Tokyo was a challenge or at the very least required a journey to an artisan shop invariably located on some far side of town. Nowadays, artisan coffee and the coffee scene...[ Click to read more ]
