8 Peaceful Picnic Spots in Tokyo
Cherry blossom season isn’t the only time to roll out your mat and prepare your basket with edible goodies! Whether it’s a sunny, breezy spring day, a hot summer afternoon, or a cool day in autumn,...
View ArticleTop Haunted House Attractions In and Around Tokyo
Are you into Japanese horror—stringy-haired ghost ladies, cursed dolls, spooky schools, and all? Then you might as well add “exploring a Japanese haunted house attraction” to your Japan to-do list....
View ArticleMatcha Cafes: Green Tea in Tokyo
Matcha, a particular kind of green tea that is characterized by fine powder, has become more popular around the world in the recent years. Before, the term hardly had any recall, but now, you can see...
View ArticleStart the Year Right with the Seven Lucky Gods Pilgrimage Around Tokyo
There are many different ways to invite luck into your life in the new year, but if you want to fill two (or more!) needs with one deed, why not try the Seven Lucky Gods Pilgrimage (also known as...
View ArticleKeeping Warm with Nabe: Hot Pot Restaurants in Tokyo
Aside from oden, nabe (hot pot) is another popular cold-weather dish in Japan. Nabe literally means “pot,” but it’s used as a generic term for soups or light stews cooked in an iron or clay pot. Made...
View ArticleOkonomiyaki: Osaka and Hiroshima-Style Soul Food in Tokyo
It’s hard to precisely and concisely describe okonomiyaki in English. The common translations of “Japanese pizza” or “Japanese pancake” just don’t do it justice. Literally translated to “grilled as you...
View ArticleCalligraphy Experience Workshops in Tokyo
The art of Japanese calligraphy is known as shodo, which literally translates to “the way of writing.” Although the practice originated in China (what with kanji characters being a Chinese import) and...
View ArticleWhich Maid Cafe Is For You?
Maid cafes are themed restaurants where waitresses dress as maids and address their customers as “master” and “mistress”. It may sound kinky, but there’s nothing kinky or sexual about these cafes....
View ArticleThe Know-Before-You-Go Guide to Tokyo DisneySea
Bringing in crowds since 2001, Tokyo DisneySea is the only Disney theme park of its kind in the world, with a focus on nautical adventures. Whether you try the thrill rides, watercraft, jumping...
View ArticleSakura R Us: Cherry Blossom-Themed Items in Japan
The weather’s getting warmer, which means that the much-awaited sakura (cherry blossom) season is drawing near—starting in late March! What with these tiny, beautiful pink blossoms being loved by...
View ArticleHow to Hanami, with a Twist: Unique Ways to Enjoy Cherry Blossom Season
If having a picnic in a park is too cliché for you, then viewing cherry blossoms in these unique spots might just be your thing. While hanami literally means flower viewing, this term is almost always...
View ArticleToshio Suzuki and Ghibli Exhibition: Feel The Powerful Magic of Words
Any talk about Studio Ghibli will bring to mind the legendary Hayao Miyazaki or Isao Takahata, but perhaps some fans may be less familiar with Toshio Suzuki. As the producer and former president,...
View ArticleTokyo Summer Sales
Every year, the closing of the rainy season marks the opening of Tokyo’s famous “end-of-summer” bargain sales—which, despite the name, happen before summer has even reached its peak. The Tokyo summer...
View ArticleWhat to Expect at a Japanese Summer Festival
Japan has festivals all year round, but July–September is peak celebration season. Our events section doesn’t even begin to cover all the summer festivals in Tokyo! The ones listed there are larger in...
View ArticleKoenji: Where Old-School Nostalgia and the Arts Converge
Note: The author joined a walking tour of Koenji organized by Suginami Ward. Less than 10 minutes away by train from Shinjuku, Koenji is known as a retro paradise and hipster haven, with live music...
View ArticleTravel Back in Time: Tokyo Rickshaw Experiences
There’s no shortage of transportation options in Tokyo. With a massive train network, buses, and taxis, all bases are covered. Plus, exploring Tokyo on foot or by bike is a fun way to combine...
View Article10+ Recommended Resources for Learning Japanese
Whether you want to learn Japanese without enrolling in a language school, or you want to supplement your Japanese lessons, there’s no shortage of learning resources—here are some of them. Affordable...
View ArticleTokyo Winter Sales: 2021-2022 Round-up
December and January are extremely busy months for most Japanese shops, as their winter sales attract lots of people looking to spend their year-end bonuses. The first three days after New Year are...
View ArticleWhere to Go for a Rental Kimono Experience in Tokyo
Keen to stroll around the streets of Tokyo in a kimono, and maybe take a lot of photos in the process? A nice kimono will go well with the cherry blossoms, or a temple or shrine in the background. You...
View ArticleCapsule Hotels: Minimalist, Budget-Friendly Accommodation
It’s past midnight, and you just missed the last train. A hotel is out of the question — much too pricey — but you definitely want more privacy than a tiny cubicle in a manga cafe. What’s a cheapo to...
View ArticleTop Tokyo Pop Culture Events
Japan is chock full of festivals, and we don’t just mean traditional ones with fireworks and Bon dances. If you like pop culture (be it anime, manga, games, cosplay, J-pop, or even Western fandoms),...
View ArticleThe Cheapo Guide to Yoyogi Park
Tokyo is full of parks, but Yoyogi Park is the true people’s park. Not only is it free, it’s lively and full of people — an excellent place to unwind after a busy week. At 54.1 hectares, Yoyogi Park is...
View ArticleGolden Week in Tokyo: Everything you need to know
Golden Week is one of the most popular times to travel in Japan. And while this may sound great for a second, what it actually means is crowds, sky-high prices for hotels, and even more crowds. Golden...
View ArticleOur Picks for the Best Tokyo Walking Tours
A walking tour in the land of high speed bullet trains? Hear us out: walking tours are a great way to get to know Tokyo — it’s local side, that is. And unlike bus tours, walking tours tend to be...
View ArticleFestival of Lights: Top 6 Firefly Nights Around Tokyo
While it’s not yet summer fireworks season, there are lights in the sky in Japan this time of year — fireflies. That’s right, June and July is mating season for these little glow bugs, which look like...
View ArticleAutumn Flowers in Tokyo: Chrysanthemums and More
When people think of autumn in Japan, they tend to think of leaves bursting into red. But there is more to the season than just the trees undressing; there is a wonderful variety of autumn flowers to...
View ArticleJapanese New Year: Traditions and Celebrations in Tokyo
In Japan, after December 25, it’s as if Christmas never happened. That’s because Christmas here is like Halloween — just another fun holiday without much traditional or religious significance....
View ArticleWhere to See Plum Blossoms in Tokyo: 2024 Edition
Cherry blossoms tend to steal the spotlight in Japan, but there’s another flower that’s also bright pink and breathtaking: the humble plum blossom. Blooming between late January and mid-February, plum...
View Article6 Spectacular Spring Flower Festivals Around Tokyo
While the cherry blossom may be Japan’s most famous spring flower, it is by no means the only one. In fact, you might find that you prefer the drapey purple plumes of fuji-no-hana (wisteria), or the...
View ArticleWhere To See Yaezakura: Late-Blooming Cherry Trees in Tokyo
One important thing to know about cherry blossoms is that there are several kinds. According to the official forecasts, cherry blossom season is quite short — from late March to early April. But that’s...
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