Things to do in Tokyo during Rainy Season
Apr 26, 2020 By Jason Gatewood
We’ve braved yet another cold winter, sat out under the pink trees during hanami season, and seen it warm up steadily with our minds starting to look towards the barbecues, beach trips, and bon ordori festivals of summer. But we have to get through three or so weeks of dreary,...[ Click to read more ]
Popular Hot Drinks in Kansai
Apr 20, 2020 By Justin Hanus
Socializing in Japan is done around drinks, both hot and cold. Hot beverages are enjoyed in both winter and summertime, brewed at home or in cafes. Here is a selection of what you can find in the Kansai region. Japanese tea Japan has an influential tea culture, and it is...[ Click to read more ]
The Foreign Houses of Kobe: Ijinkan Kitano-cho
By Justin Hanus
One of the most interesting parts of Kobe is Kitano-cho. It was in this district that the foreign merchants settled after the Port of Kobe opened to trade from abroad under the 1858 Treaty of Amity and Commerce. Today, set on the lower slopes of the Rokko mountain range, you...[ Click to read more ]
Into the Great Outdoors in Hiroshima City
Mar 27, 2020 By Hugh Cann
It’s all very well to have everyone self-isolate, and aside form short trips to the supermarket you really ought to get out a bit or turn into one of those subterranean dwelling creatures form that wonderful HG Wells story, the time machine. But I digress. Probably one of the...[ Click to read more ]
Watching TV Shows From Back Home *Legally*
By Jason Gatewood
Oh, what an excellent time to be alive as an expat in Japan! In the not-to-distant past, we were stuck mailing letters to our friends and family back home or going through the harrowing process of figuring how to get international calling to work on our Japanese cellphones… Or worse,...[ Click to read more ]
Things Kansai Gave to the World
Mar 25, 2020 By Justin Hanus
A former economic and cultural capital of Japan, Kansai played an important part in global innovation that continues today. Here is a selection of what has originated in Kansai. Sake Japan's most famous alcoholic beverage, sake is a fermented rice drink that has many different varieties and can be found...[ Click to read more ]
Who Were the Samurai?
By Justin Hanus
Everyone has heard of samurai, but a minority would be able to tell you who they were and what they did. The samurai has a long and interesting history in Japan. They were active from the 10th century until the 19th century and participated in all significant events of the...[ Click to read more ]
Teppanyaki in Hiroshima– Not Just a Fantastic Meal, it’s a Show!
Mar 04, 2020 By Hugh Cann
Nothing like a bit of sizzling seafood or beef to set the mouth-watering! Teppanyaki is a style of Japanese cuisine that typically uses a propane-heated, flat-surfaced iron skillet to cook the food in front of guests at restaurants. The word teppanyaki is an aggregate of the Japanese words “teppan,” the very...[ Click to read more ]
White Day in Hiroshima and Other Events in March
By Hugh Cann
Valentine’s Day is not all chocolates and roses for men; you have to pay the piper. Exactly one month later, on March 14, men who received a "honmei-choco," ('chocolate of love') or "giri-choco" ('obligation chocolate') on Valentine's Day are expected to return the favor by like-wise giving gifts. Traditionally, popular...[ Click to read more ]
Therapeutic Spa at Gamagori’s Thalgo Laguna
Feb 26, 2020 By Bert Wishart
Whether natural spring onsen or communal bathing sentos, Japan's penchant for soaking in the tub with friends and family is legendary, however, for those of us who have not necessarily grown up within that environment, we may feel reluctant to partake in these particularly Japanese pleasures. One hindrance could be...[ Click to read more ]
