Rae DeFrane | Arigato Travel

About rae-defrane

Rae is a Canadian writer who has worked as an ALT, writer and editor in Japan since 2019, bringing her passion for Japanese culture into her work.

A Taste of Okinawa to Bring Home

Posted On March 30, 2020 By Rae DeFrane

Okinawa, with its turquoise seas and white sand beaches, touches the heart of anyone who visits. Whether you’re strolling down Kokusai Dori or you’re dipping your feet in the seas of Ishigaki, you want to take a slice of the Okinawan lifestyle back to reality. While Kariyushi (Okinawan aloha shirts) and island made jewelry are lovely baubles, I have found that the best way to show those back home how wonderful a culture is, is to bring back a little taste of their local delicacies…

Top 5 Date Ideas in Tokyo for Valentine’s Day 2020

Posted On February 4, 2020 By Rae DeFrane

Top Tokyo Spots for Valentines 2020! Romantic and fun.

Sipping Among the Stars: Milky Way Cafe in Ikebukuro

Posted On January 20, 2020 By Rae DeFrane

Theme cafes and restaurants are a fun, surprising and must-try experience in Japan. When in Tokyo, head off the beaten path to MILKY WAY for a star-struck experience at this Zodiac inspired cafe in Ikebukuro…

Kipposhi: Rainbow Ramen in Shibuya

Posted On January 11, 2020 By Rae DeFrane

RAINBOW RAMEN? If you want to try something fun and colourful, and happen to be in the Shibuya area, I highly recommend giving this a try. This is not your typical ramen, and I think the novelty of this restaurant is worth a visit. Plus they have decent prices and it’ll add a splash of colour to any instagram feed!

Traveling in Tokyo During 2020 Olympics: Tips for Your Trip

Posted On November 20, 2019 By Rae DeFrane

You have your tickets. You booked your flights. You’ve reserved your accommodations. You’re finally going to Japan for the Olympics. You and the rest of the world. Tokyo is always an amazingly busy city that can be totally overwhelming, and you had better believe that it will be insane during such an exciting, global event.

Eating on the Road: Snack Attack in Japan

Posted On October 16, 2019 By Rae DeFrane

Traveling is always fun and exciting, but amongst the days of planes, trains and automobiles, one of the hardest parts of travel can be the simple act of finding your next meal. In this article, we’re going to explore some fun and easy options to chow-down on the go in the land of the rising sun.

Top 10 Tokyo Souvenirs to Bring for Your Friends Back Home

Posted On September 24, 2019 By Rae DeFrane

Tokyo is an amazing, busy, exciting and fun place to visit. Don’t forget to get your friends/family/significant other Something from your trip! Let’s go through the Top 10 suggestions I have after living in Tokyo for a year.

Okiniawa’s Centuries Old Pottery Alley

Posted On September 23, 2019 By Rae DeFrane

Shops are overflowing with hand-made treasures in a myriad of colours that encapsulate island life. Many of the pieces I saw were a blue that was reminiscent of the tropical seas of the region, and can only have taken inspiration from the surroundings.

Fake Food in Japan: The World’s Most Delicious Looking Plastic

Posted On September 7, 2019 By Rae DeFrane

If you have ever been to Japan, you might have seen plastic models of food in the windows of restaurants, displaying the edible counterparts that lay within. These are called ‘sampuru’ or ‘sample’ and have been part of the Japanese economy and food culture for nearly one hundred years…

Nanaya Aoyama Tokyo – Level Up Your Matcha

Posted On August 28, 2019 By Rae DeFrane

Searching for real matcha flavors? Nanaya is unassuming, so you can miss it if you are not keeping an eye out for the signs. The outside is decorated with a mural of rolling, scenic hills and a blue mountain (Aoyama means ‘blue mountain’) and a few wooden chairs are the shop’s only customer seating….

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Entries By rae-defrane