When the weather heats up, many Japanese escape the humidity that envelopes the cities and head to the countryside. Being such a mountainous country, there are many great places to...[ Click to read more ]
Ever wonder what a polar bear does at night? Want to find out? This weekend is your last chance to take in the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Garden’s annual Night...[ Click to read more ]
Japan is a big place, but a large part of Japan sits with the "humid subtropical climate" zone, characterized by hot, humid summers and mild winters. These long hot and humid...[ Click to read more ]
Tanabata, also known as the 'Star Festival', is a popular summer event celebrated all over Japan. As the festival's name suggests (literally 'Evening of the Seventh'), it is held on...[ Click to read more ]
When I first arrived in Japan, I was somewhat disappointed by the perceived paucity of decent beer selections. It seemed that no matter where I went I could find nothing...[ Click to read more ]
The first time I tasted tapioca pearls in milk tea was as a teenager in the mid-1990’s while checking out a new trendy Asian fusion spot that was all the...[ Click to read more ]
One of the most exciting aspects of Japanese summers is the multitude of dazzling fireworks displays to enjoy. Originally, fireworks (花火, ‘Hanabi’) were thought to help ward off evil spirits,...[ Click to read more ]
Fireworks and summer festivals are arguably the best part of summertime in Japan, with days spent wearing yukata and jinbei traditional clothing while munching street food and nights spent outside...[ Click to read more ]
For Brits like myself, fireworks displays conjure up memories of cold winter nights, huddling round bonfires and oohing and ahhing as both your breath and extremities freeze. While this is...[ Click to read more ]
The summer has felt upon us for some time now, with the thermostat rising as quickly as the humidity, and although officially the season does not begin until June 22,...[ Click to read more ]