Are you a voluntary or involuntary corona virus shut-in, and tired of watching Gilligan’s Island reruns? How about a virtual tour of Japan through Japanese movies. Watching Japanese movies is a great way to learn more about Japan, its people and culture. Here are some of our suggestions. I have tried to provide a wide...Read More
Atami Onsen Overall Onsen Rating Atmosphere Atami Onsen (the literal translation of Atami is “warm ocean”) is located on the Pacific Ocean at the north-eastern edge of the Izu Peninsula about 100 km (70 miles) southwest of Tokyo. There is a Shinkansen station for the Tokaido Shinkansen that runs between Tokyo and western Japan...Read More
If you have never been to Japan, you may be surprised to know that there are more than 5.5 million vending machines all over the country, approximately one machine for every 40 people. Anyone can own one for an application fee of about 10 thousand yen (about $2000 USD) and if you choose the right...Read More
What is Katsuo Tataki? Katsuo (bonito or skipjack tuna in English) is a medium-sized fish related to tuna and mackerel. The meat of the Katsuo looks similar and has a similar texture to tuna meat. Katsuo is commonly used in Japanese cooking, but that is a subject for another blog. “Tataki” is a cooking method...Read More
New Year’s Day (shogatsu) is said to be the most important holiday for the Japanese. It begins at night on December 31st and goes until January 3rd. During this time, most businesses’ are closed and families come together for the festive period. In Japanese culture, the new year is a clean slate. As a result,...Read More
Christmas is celebrated not because of religious reasons but because of its festive mood. It is celebrated like Valentine’s Day and is the most romantic time of the year for couples. Young couples reserve dinner at high-end restaurants and exchange gifts on Christmas Eve while many others hold parties. Unlike in western countries, Christmas is...Read More
Although Takoyaki originated in Osaka during the 1930s, today it is popular all over Japan. They can even be found in supermarkets and convenience stores everywhere. But there is little doubt it is still most popular in Osaka. “Tako” is Japanese for octopus. And “Yaki” comes from “Yaku”, meaning to fry or grill. They are...Read More
Winter illuminations around Christmas and New Year have become extremely popular in cities across Japan. Illuminations are usually displayed between November and December, but some run longer, starting as early as October and running until Valentine’s Day or even into spring. Below are some of Japan’s crowd-pleasing seasonal illumination spots: (Pictures are from previous years)...Read More
I had the opportunity to visit and experience so many amazing places while on our Best of Japan tour a few years ago. Each place unique in its culture and how it has integrated modern or traditional culture, as well as its local specialties to create a unique atmosphere and experience. Miyajima Island, however, gave...Read More
The Japanese are known as some of the hardest working people in the world. Japan has very few natural resources. The best resources we have are human resources. Many office workers are willing to work overtime and work even during the weekends. Some of the small-sized companies were not able to allow their employees to take consecutive holidays...Read More
