Finding Flexibility and Fluidity through Online Yoga
Dec 22, 2020 By Jason Gatewood
With 2020 having become "The Year Of Apart, Together", I’ve started a series on finding ways to keep your mental and physical well-being in check, even if you have to do it socially-distanced and online, preferably with local practitioners and groups around Greater Tokyo and the rest of Japan. Tom...[ Click to read more ]
A to Z of Japanese Musical Instruments
Nov 24, 2020 By Justin Hanus
Traditional Japanese music sounds quite different from Western music for a few reasons. For one thing, there’s less emphasis on melody and harmony. Music also has less rigid timing and tends to use a five or seven-tone scale. However, a major difference is the instruments. There are many Japanese musical...[ Click to read more ]
Winter Illumination in Hiroshima 2020
Nov 19, 2020 By Matt Mangham
Seasonal illuminations are a big deal in Japan. From the famous Kobe Luminarie, donated by the Italian government following the Great Hanshin Earthquake, to light festivals in Osaka, Sendai, Nagoya, and elsewhere, a chilly stroll through enchanting colored lights has become a prominent feature of winter in Japan. Hiroshima is...[ Click to read more ]
Hisaya Odori Park – Shopping and Dining in Style at Nagoya’s Latest Attraction
Oct 26, 2020 By Bert Wishart
A couple of years ago, there was some consternation amongst Nagoyans when the tall trees that lined Sakae's Hisaya Odori Park were chopped down one by one. The two-kilometer long park was an oasis of green in an otherwise concrete landscape, and with the area slated for redevelopment as a...[ Click to read more ]
Day Trips by Train in Kanto
Sep 29, 2020 By Jason Gatewood
When talking about trains in Japan, people either think of the Shinkansen high-speed rail lines linking Japan's major cities or the commuter lines in major cities, famous for their ease-of-use and convenience, if not for their sometimes crush load capacity. But there's also one more class of service that slots...[ Click to read more ]
Take Your Pick! – Fruit Picking in Hiroshima
Sep 28, 2020 By Bert Wishart
Japan has something of an obsessive penchant for fruit. More than a mere foodstuff, fruits are considered to be a thing of beauty, a prized possession, and in gift form a representation of the esteem in which one person holds for another. And in addition to all of that, it...[ Click to read more ]
Top Airbnb Online Experiences in Japan
Sep 24, 2020 By Justin Hanus
Whether you’re unable to get to Japan right now, you want a taster of Japanese culture before a trip, or you’re just looking for new adventures without leaving your home, Airbnb online experiences are a great option. As there’s such a wide variety to choose from, you’re sure to find...[ Click to read more ]
Visiting the Oldest Mosque in Japan: Kobe Mosque
By Justin Hanus
At only 85 years old, Kobe Masjid (masjid means mosque) is the oldest mosque in the country. Kobe was the obvious choice for a mosque, as the port city was a central trading hub in the early 20th century and had a large population of foreign residents originating from all...[ Click to read more ]
Shonan’s local cuisine is literally “a little fishy”
Aug 31, 2020 By Jason Gatewood
The Shonan area is synonymous with “laidback beach culture,” so it is safe to assume the local fare is geared towards enjoying time by the sea with friends and taking things a little slow. The local fare also represents the ocean; Sagami Bay is the reason Shonan exists, after all,...[ Click to read more ]
Let’s Tour: Shonan Beach Cities of Kanagawa
By Jason Gatewood
Located south and west of Yokohama, the Shonan region of Kanagawa Prefecture is known for beaches along Sagami Bay and a "laidback lifestyle" seen in other seaside places like Southern California, the Mediterranean Coast of Spain, and France. Before the 1880s, no one cared about the coastline and beaches other...[ Click to read more ]
