May is a fantastic time to visit Japan – it’s sunny but not too hot and there’s plenty of things to do. One of the major vacation periods in Japan occurs at the beginning of May – Golden Week, a culmination of a few national holidays. This year it’ll take place during April 28th and May 6th. It’s true that this means tourist locations such as Tokyo and Kyoto will be busier than usual, but it also means that there’s a lot of festivals and events!
Read MoreYou may have seen Japanese anime as a child and, like myself, have been mesmerized by the food that the characters ate. It seemed so otherworldly, a far cry from the lunch meat sandwiches my mum used to make me for school. The thing was – I had no clue what any of it was! I’d never seen them in real life before…
Read MoreOn the NIshiki market tour in Kyoto, we bragged about how and why the tofu here is so heavenly. We’re partially to blame for your tofu craving. So we’d like to bear the responsibility and show you how to enjoy tofu, full DIY, no guides required!
Read MoreKyoto is both the protector of Japan’s cultural heritage and the innovator of its future. This dual existence is exemplified in the tea beer at Kyoto Beer Lab, Cha Brewing LLC. Read on to find out more…
Read MoreYou can ring the new rugby ball shaped prayer bell and make your prayers for your team’s victory. You can write your prayers for your team’s success on a rugby ball shaped prayer tablet and hang it on the shrine’s wall. The tour will also include some north kyoto food specialities mame (bean) mochi from the Futaba store, one of the most popular in Kyoto, saba sushi ,the local sushi style, from a shop at the end of the 1000 year old Saba (mackerel)Trail…
Read MoreThe cherry blossoms are almost at peak bloom here in Tokyo. Their calming pink hue and delicately sweet scent is a contrasting backdrop to the frenzy that accompanies the preparations of students and job-seekers in Japan as they gear up for April and all it brings with it. Spring harkens new beginnings in the form of a new school year, a new fiscal year and a new wave of initiates beginning their careers in companies across Japan.
Read MoreSo you’re in Tokyo in April 2019 and you’re looking for food events? Do you like Ramen? Sake? Coffee? YES!!! Here are a few foodie events we recommend!
Read MoreLike a fine wine, high-quality tea depends on more than pretty packaging. The age of the leaves, their growing conditions, and even soil fertility all impact the final flavor. For us, how tea is grown and the way it’s processed is the secret for crafting a sweet, nutritious tea like no other.
Read MoreI was expecting Japan to be more exotic. It actually surprised me, that Japan was more “normal” than I expected it to be. The first thing I saw at the station when I got off, was a young Japanese man who was probably 200 cm of height. Therefore, I totally forgot all assumptions that I had about Japan…
Read MoreWhite Day??? What’s the history of this strange twin to everyone’s favorite Hallmark holiday you might ask? In the 1977, the CEO of a small confectionary company in Fukuoka called Ishimura Manseido was reading a magazine in his office for inspiration to revitalize sales…
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