Japanese PM Shinzo Abe declared the State of Emergency on 7 April 2020. He started his speech with appreciation towards the citizen for their support to the nation. Whether Japan can survive without medical care breakdown or not is depends on the behavior of each of us. The declaration authorizes the governors in the seven prefectures (Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa, … Read More
The Best Day Trips From Tokyo
Are you coming to Japan and staying in Tokyo? Thanks to Japan’s convenient public transportation, you can easily make a number of great side trips if you’re using Tokyo as your home base. Get out of the city for a bit and get lost in the beauty of rural Japan – just for a day or two. Here are the … Read More
How to Keep Warm During Winter in JAPAN
Winter in Japan usually lasts from December until February, and can be pretty unforgiving if you’re not used to the cold. Temperatures average around 2ºC~10ºC (35°F~50°F) in city areas, and can get as low as -6°C (21°F) in country side and even colder in Hokkaido! If you’re visiting Japan during the winter months, you’ll definitely want to take care to … Read More
Kawaii: Japan’s Obsession With All Things Cute
Kawaii (かわいい) is one of the most commonly used words in the Japanese language. Translated as “cute” in English, it can be used to describe all things cute – people, babies, animals, clothing, decorations, stationary – you name it. When the kawaii trend originated, it was only popular with pre-teen girls. So why is it that today in Japan, it’s … Read More
Stereotypes About Japan That ARE True!
When you think about “Japan”, what stereotypes come to mind? There are loads of myths surrounding Japan – about the people, the culture, the trains, and even the food! Many of them are far from accurate, but several common stereotypes are actually spot-on! Read on to find out which stereotypes about Japan are true, and the facts that back them … Read More
Common Myths About Japan That AREN’T True
If you’re visiting Japan for the first time, there will certainly be some things that don’t match your expectations. You may be surprised to see some well-known stereotypes turn out to be completely false! Here’s a few common myths about Japan that actually aren’t true.
Top 10 Things to Do in Japan in November 2019
November in Japan is when the leaves reach their peak autumn beauty, and the first cold winds remind you that winter is not far away! November is full with a variety of autumn parades, an international carnival in Okinawa, and even a famous World Character Summit in Saitama! Here are the top 10 things to do in Japan in November … Read More
City Spotlight: Nara, Japan
Nara (奈良) is a city with a significant historical importance to Japan, and continues to serve as one of the most beloved tourist spots today. We take a look at how to get there, what to do, and even what it eat in this city spotlight on Nara City!
Osorezan (恐山): Japan’s “Fear Mountain”
Japan’s Mount Osorezan (恐山) in Aomori Prefecture is ranked along with Koyasan and Hieizan as one of the three most sacred places in the entire country. Today, it known as the site of Bodai-ji Temple, where female mediums called itako are said to be able to communicate with the deceased. Read on to learn all about Japan’s fascinating “fear mountain”.
A Game of Thrones: Japan’s Emperor System
Today there are more than 190 monarchs worldwide, but only Japan has an Emperor descended from an “uninterrupted bloodline” that dates back over 2,000 years. However, the elusive lives of the symbolic head of state and his family were mostly unknown to the public until 2003. We take a peak behind the curtain and see what it takes to sit … Read More