As a husband, I always like to help my wife carry a heavy bag up the stairs when I can. But our trips cover more than a few train rides, negotiating busy train station and a variety of transportation methods. Most people try to avoid feats of strength on vacation so we use takkyubin and...Read More
Obon is a Buddhist ritual held from Aug 13 to 16. Salaried workers will take a week-off because most of the companies are closed during the Obon season. We believe during this period the spirits of our ancestors return so we go to the graveyard and clean family graves before then. This belief is based on the...Read More
This months number is 266. That is number of Japanese restaurants per person in Japan. This is the highest rate anywhere in the world. The country with the second highest number of restaurants in the world is America with 547 restaurants per person. 34 – The number of Michelin 3 star ranked restaurants in Japan....Read More
Explore the world of digital artwork in a 10,000 square meter interactive digital art museum. The experience is different than any other museum you’ve been to before! The digital art collective teamLab now has a permanent home at the Mori Building Digital Art Museum. Announced as the world’s first digital art museum in June...Read More
The imperial system in Japan can be traced back almost 2,000 years and is very different from any other king-and-queen system anywhere else in the world. The first-born son of the current emperor is always the next-in-line to the throne. Among the many duties of the emperor, the most important is to set an example...Read More
Nothing beats Tokyo for bright lights and exciting nightlife. But when it comes to natural beauty in Japan, it’s hard to top Tohoku. Located in the north of Japan’s main island of Honshu, the Tohoku region is made up of six prefectures: Aomori, Akita, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata. It is well known for its...Read More
Upon arriving at a restaurant, guests are greeted with a friendly Irasshaimase (Welcome!) and will then be led to a table. Once the guests are seated they are given a wet towel to wipe their hands in preparation for the meal. In Western culture it is perfectly normal to rub wooden chopsticks together to scrape...Read More
After our 15 day Best of Japan tour, my then three-year-old had experienced more culture than she ever had before in her life. Temples, shrines, castles, trying new foods, riding on bullet trains and hearing everyone around her speak a foreign language. We decided to end our trip in Japan with something familiar and kid-oriented....Read More
Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan, is known for its natural beauty. Full of beautiful onsens, massive volcanoes, magnificent waterfalls, and untouched wilderness, Hokkaido is home to some of the most breathtaking views in all of Japan. One of these unique places that is not to be missed is Farm Tomita. Known for its vast...Read More
Hanami, literally means “flower viewing,” is the traditional spring enjoyment and appreciation of cherry blossoms. There is nothing so typically Japanese as sitting under the blooming sakura trees in a park or on a river bank. It is also popular to make a special trip to a famous viewing area, or to attend a hanami festival. Scenic...Read More
