Ski and Onsen, Weekend Trip to Kusatsu Onsen in March
Do you like to go skiing and to an onsen? In March, it’s getting warm in Tokyo. Spring comes, and people change their clothes from heavy outerwear to lighter jackets. …
Food
Japanese Foods
Two Sakura Mochi Named After Temples
Sakura-mochi is a popular Japanese sweet that can be considered a symbol of spring. It is sold in various shops including traditional Japanese confectionery stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores. “Sakura” …
Nakatsu (中津) is the Place to Be Now
Osaka has been pressing forward in light of EXPO 2025. The construction of various venues is progressing rapidly, and some train lines are under construction for easier access to many …
How to Enjoy Tokyo Station
Total area of this station is about 182,000 square meters. 460,000 people use it per day on average, and around 4,000 trains run per day. The most famous station in …
Ozoni: A mochi soup bowl filled with family history and local Japanese culture.
Ozoni is a mochi soup eaten on New Year’s Day in Japan. Japanese New Year’s events and food originated in Shintoism, and various customs were born from the idea of …
Step Back in Time to the Showa Era in Nakazaki-Cho (中崎町)
I’ll be introducing a unique area called Nakazaki-Cho which retains its downtown atmosphere. It’s located only one stop away from the bustling city of Umeda, or fifteen minutes on foot. …
Spaghetti Napolitan, a Japanese Pasta Dish
Spaghetti Napolitan is a type of pasta dish which has been a signature item on the menu of “Kissaten,” old Japanese style cafes for a long time. Many people in …
A Guide to Alcohol for Foreigners in Japan
You might know it already, but you can buy alcohol anywhere in Japan. Most Japanese people don’t know that this is unusual all over the world. When we travel abroad, we …
The birth of “Anpan,” a sweet bun with red bean paste
Generally speaking, “anpan” is a small bun filled with red bean paste which has been quite popular as a sweets amongst Japanese people. “An” means the filling inside the bread, …
How to Enjoy Japanese Izakaya!
What is Izakaya (居酒屋)? How does it differ from Western pubs and bars? According to Wikipedia, they are Japanese-style pubs and bars. Compared to Western bars, Izakaya offers a wider …