Christmas in Kumamoto
Nov 29, 2022 By Justin Hanus
There are many ways expats feeling homesick for Christmas can get into the festive spirit in Kumamoto. Although Christmas is not an official holiday in Japan, Kumamoto is one of many cities in the country that acknowledges the festival with events and light displays. Christmas in Japan Japan is not...[ Click to read more ]
Wine Tasting in Kumamoto
By Justin Hanus
There are several wineries across Kyushu, including a couple in Kumamoto. Visiting one is a great way to learn more about the wine from the region. Even more importantly, you’ll be able to sample various products before you decide which to buy. The Wineries The best-known winery in Kumamoto is...[ Click to read more ]
Figure it Out! Exploring Nagoya’s Anime Figure Cafes
Oct 25, 2022 By Bert Wishart
While many people come to Japan due to their deep-seated interest in Japanese culture, I arrived here with absolutely zero knowledge of what was happening around me, popular culture-wise. I couldn’t tell Pokémon from Doraemon, AKB from Arashi, or Pet Cafes from Maid Cafes. I had such little understanding of...[ Click to read more ]
Who Are the Figures of the Statues Near Kumamoto Castle?
By Justin Hanus
On the Tsuboi River, next to Kumamoto Castle, is Takahashi Park, named for the former mayor of Kumamoto. Although it's only a small park, it's significant because of its memorial to five heroes of the 19th-century Meiji Restoration. The park also features a statue of Kato Kiyomasa and the bust...[ Click to read more ]
The Highlights of Dotonbori in Osaka
By Justin Hanus
Named for the canal it runs alongside, Dotonbori is one of the most famous streets in Osaka. Located in the Namba district in the Chuo ward, it is particularly popular with visitors to Osaka for its shopping, street food, and nightlife. As an indication of what to expect, you should...[ Click to read more ]
What’s So Special About Kuma Shochu?
By Justin Hanus
Shochu is a distilled liquor mainly produced in areas where the climate is too warm to make sake. Although records are scarce (particularly primary sources), people have been drinking shochu since the Sengoku Period, which lasted from 1467 to 1590 — the earliest written reference dates back to 1559. One...[ Click to read more ]
The History of Japan’s Majestic Fall Colors
By Bert Wishart
Japan's most popular season for tourists is undoubtedly spring. When the cherry blossoms bloom, people from inside Japan and worldwide gather in popular, beautiful spots to bask in the traditional scenes of pinks, reds, and whites that form many of our preconceptions of Japan's natural state. However, what is less...[ Click to read more ]
Hidden Attractions in Hiroshima
Oct 24, 2022 By Justin Hanus
Hiroshima has grown in popularity as a tourist destination in recent years, with Japanese and overseas nationals flocking to see attractions such as Hiroshima Castle, Peace Memorial Park, and Itsukushima Shrine. Although the prefecture is still best known for the horrors it experienced during World War II, there is much...[ Click to read more ]
Castles, Shoguns and Family Fun on a Day Trip to Okazaki
Sep 30, 2022 By Bert Wishart
While the goings on in Aichi Prefecture are regularly dominated by the capital, long before the construction of Nagoya Castle, Okazaki was one of the great seats of regional power. Today, just a brief 30-minute train journey from Nagoya, Okazaki is not only a region steeped in remarkable history, but...[ Click to read more ]
Yōkai, the Weird World of Japanese Spooks and Spectres
Sep 29, 2022 By Bert Wishart
Halloween is all about spooky stuff, right? There are various bone-chilling tales coming out of medieval Europe for its origins - the dead returning, devils punishing Irishmen, ghosts, spooks, and witches. But the west isn't the only place with these traditions. Japan too has plenty of things that go bump...[ Click to read more ]
