Arigato Travel Weblog
Japan’s (not so) Mini-Craze
There is a (not so) “Mini-Craze” sweeping Japan and youtube. Find out more on our blog.
Read More
Interview with Chef, Marybeth Boller
Today, we’re really excited to introduce you to Marybeth Boller, an amazing female chef in Japan with a world class background in Cooking seasonal, delicious dishes!
Read More
Making Miso A Farmstay Experience
Arigato Japan Tour-Guide Jordan and wife Satomi had the chance to stay at Minshuku Kuyama (a traditional Japanese Home-Stay) and learn how to make Miso with an expert!
Read More
Ramen in Culture
Ramen is enjoyed at any time of day and at any time of year. So is it really so surprising to learn how highly regarded it is? This quintessential Japanese experience is more than just a food, which is why it is so lovingly represented and so voraciously slurped up in all its forms, from the bowl, to the screen, to the page, and even in its own action figures!?!
Read More
Travel Safety for Women in Japan
For all travelers and especially women, Japan is a safe country and consistently ranks as one of the countries with the lowest crime rate, world wide. We hear from many of our guests that Japan felt like one of the safest countries they’ve traveled to. People often fall sleep on the train, children in elementary school age take the subway by themselves… It’s not difficult to see that local people value public safety and order.
Read More
The Secrets to Japanese Longevity: A Food Guide
In Japan, it’s not rare to see a street attendant working past retirement, or a kind 80-year-old woman still running her family soba restaurant. It’s a widely known fact that this country has some of the oldest people in the world, falling only behind Hong Kong in life expectancy. Why is this? Could it be the fantastic healthcare system, the high regard that seniors receive, or the fact that many of them remain active, getting up at 6 AM for their daily exercises? Of course these are all contributing factors, but we are missing a pretty important one: food.
Read More
A Taste of Okinawa to Bring Home
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…
Read More
Hanami, the Fleetingness of Beauty in a Year of Crisis
Memories of fleeting beauty and friendship. All the more important to think about wonderful past experiences and look forward to future chances when this difficult time is behind us. MEMORIES: We laughed and shared stories, talking for hours and hours under the soft rain of sakura petals. It was like a scene straight out of a fairy tale, and a smile comes across my face whenever I recall it….
Read More
Hiroshima, Hidden Gem of the Sake World
The town of Saijo in Hiroshima is home to eight Sake breweries and is where much of the sought-after soft water is sourced along with other locally produced ingredients. The winter weather experienced in Saijo also makes it an ideal site for Sake brewing…
Read More
Sugamo, The Local Food and Culture Adventure For Everyone
My experience taking Arigato Japan’s Food, Culture and Calligraphy Tour in Sugamo felt like a breath of fresh air. After living in Tokyo for almost five years, it is always fun to get to know places that still have that local feeling. Read more about our Sugamo Foodie adventures…
Read More