Winter Walks in Kobe
Dec 25, 2020 By Justin Hanus
What better way to shake off any winter lethargy or periods of over-eating than heading out for a refreshing walk for a few hours? With an abundance of glorious natural...[ Click to read more ]
A Blooming Great Valentine’s Day – Where, and How, to Buy Flowers in Nagoya
Jan 31, 2020 By Mark Guthrie
Continuing a tradition that goes back to the time that St Valentine wondered what to get Cupid as a thank you for all his hard work spreading the love*, for...[ Click to read more ]
Feasting on Fugu – Where to Eat Blowfish in Aichi
Jan 31, 2020 By Mark Guthrie
You've probably seen that classic episode of The Simpsons where Homer goes to a Japanese restaurant and eats fugu, a pufferfish equally famed for its sublime, delicate flavor, and that...[ Click to read more ]
Setsubun Festivals in Hiroshima – Out With the Bad, in With the Good!
Jan 31, 2020 By Hugh Cann
Each year, on the third of February, harried fathers across Japan put on paper demon masks and are pelted with roasted soybeans by their children, who cry “Oni wa soto,...[ Click to read more ]
Valentine’s Day in Hiroshima
Jan 31, 2020 By Hugh Cann
First, a brief introduction to the origin of Valentine's day. Valentine’s Day is celebrated in February as a month of romance. Its origin is a bit murky, but St. Valentine’s...[ Click to read more ]
Chocs Away! Where to Buy Valentine’s Chocolate in Nagoya
Jan 30, 2020 By Mark Guthrie
Valentine's Day is nearly upon us, and in Japan, that means just one thing: chocolate. Now, everyone knows that here in Japan, we do things a little differently, namely that...[ Click to read more ]
Valentine’s Traditions in Kansai
Jan 28, 2020 By Justin Hanus
We're into the new year and fast approaching that date in the calendar where love is in the air. It's Valentine's Day on the 14th of February, of course. This...[ Click to read more ]
Plum Blossom Viewing in Tokyo – The Top Umemi Spots!
Jan 27, 2020 By Mark Guthrie
While the cherry blossom is the flower that tends to dominate the imagination of Japanese botanic appreciation, it is perhaps the plum (ume) blossom that should be the more...[ Click to read more ]
Setsubun Festivals in Tokyo
Jan 25, 2020 By Jason Gatewood
So you survived oshogatsu (Japanese New Year's) and are looking forward to the end of March and the blooming of the cherry trees, but the reality is there are at...[ Click to read more ]
Setsubun Festivals in Nagoya “That Bean-Throwing Festival”
Jan 25, 2020 By Ray Proper
Setsubun, or "That Bean-Throwing Festival," celebrates the beginning of spring in Japan. Celebrated yearly on February 3 as part of the Spring Festival, its association with the Lunar New Year...[ Click to read more ]
