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Actually Pretty Popular! images

Actually Pretty Popular!

Although I wouldn't list American football down as one of the most popular sports in Japan, it is popular to some extent. There is not real professional American football league. There are two leagues, the university league and the businessmen's league. The champion university team competes with th…(185 words)

AustinA image

AustinA

Enjoy the Enoden train ride for a step back into Japanese History images

Enjoy the Enoden train ride for a step back into Japanese History

The best way, I feel, to enjoy the Enoden is also the most expensive way - get out at every stop and explore the area. Every stop on the curved route from Fujisawa to Kamakura has little local areas just waiting to be discovered.You can easily make a full day of it, and I highly suggest that you…(101 words)

jdlawrence image

jdlawrence

How about Do-shi Village Camping sites? images

How about Do-shi Village Camping sites?

There are several good camp spots I can recommend to you, which are located in the direction to West from the central part of Tokyo, or at the western edge of Kanto Plain as I live in the western part in Tokyo prefecture. One place you should definitely try, if you have not, is Do-shi Village Campi…(164 words)

Masa image

Masa

Come and visit "Mihamaen" in Makuhari, Chiba!!! images

Come and visit "Mihamaen" in Makuhari, Chiba!!!

Mihamaen is located in the Makuhari Kaihin Park, 10 minute walk from Kaihin Makuhari Station of JR Keiyo Line. The place is a stroll-round garden with a pond, where you see the beauty of the nature with its changing scenery as you walk around. There is a tea room right in the middle of the garden. …(94 words)

Hatha Yoga Lover image

Hatha Yoga Lover

Many are made of wax images

Many are made of wax

Many of the food displays are made of wax using an artistic technique and coloring to create the appearance of real food. They dip the hot wax in water to produce a variety of shapes.Some of the food on display is made of plastic but from what I've seen, wax food-making is a real art.(63 words)

Kenji image

Kenji

Kappabashi Street for plastic food sample images

Kappabashi Street for plastic food sample

Kappabashi Street (かっぱ橋道具街, Kappabashi Dōgugai) is a shopping street between Ueno and Asakusa, which is lined with several dozens of stores selling everything needed by restaurant operators, with the exception of fresh food. You will find specialized stores for dishes, pots, pans, cookin…(72 words)

JennyS image

JennyS

Tokyo-Ga images

Tokyo-Ga

As the others have mentioned, Kappabashi is the mecca for plastic pickings. For more background info, I recommend watching the 1985 film Tokyo-Ga by Wim Wenders. It's fascinating and wonderful documentary on Tokyo and includes a tour of one of the replica food factories. FYI, he also tours a …(108 words)

Emmie image

Emmie

Beach Adventure Time images

Beach Adventure Time

Tokyo is relatively close to the beach, and there are a decent amount of beach parties and festivals. Many of the beach areas around the Shonan area attract huge amounts of young people who go and party, and occasionally there will be sponsored events by sports, music, or promotion agencies, making…(84 words)

KurtisW image

KurtisW

Classic and Compact, the Iwasaki-tei images

Classic and Compact, the Iwasaki-tei

The Iwasaki-tei garden is a very small yet classic garden located on the outskirts of the quite busy Ueno park area, which has a wealth of museums, plant life, and a zoo.Here is a great walk through of this antiquated garden, with some more information on how to get there.http://aroundtokyo…(56 words)

KurtisW image

KurtisW

Take a risk and emerge yourself in the fine Japanese Art of Ikebana images

Take a risk and emerge yourself in the fine Japanese Art of Ikebana

Okay, well, I have never studied Ikebana (Japanese style flower arrangement) but I love the style and I admire all the work of art I see all around (even in local train stations done by loyal and dedicated Ikebana artists each week). I believe Japan is confident enough in the art and the style it o…(152 words)

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From Luxurious Shops to Majestic Gardens: Tokyo Midtown images

From Luxurious Shops to Majestic Gardens: Tokyo Midtown

There is almost too much to see at Tokyo Midtown to write it all down here. One of the best things about the area are the floor guides who wear beautiful uniforms that change with the season and can help you in several different languages. There are many different shops that feature excellent Japan…(182 words)

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Nissan World Headquarters in Minato Mirai, Japan great place for Tech-Savvy people images

Nissan World Headquarters in Minato Mirai, Japan great place for Tech-Savvy people

If you want to see cutting edge green cars of the future getting ready for mass production, the Nissan World Corporate Headquarters in Minato Mirai is a great place to visit. The Showroom is state of the art and you can take a look at the history of Nissan and how the cars have evolved over the yea…(103 words)

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Making one's departure images

Making one's departure

Okuribito isn't exactly a Jidaigeki film, but since many samurai are sent to their great reward in the big castle in the sky Okuribito can be remotely related. In any case, it's an excellent film and if you haven't seen it you should. Watching it will give you a better understanding of the Japanese…(144 words)

Joe Peters image

Joe Peters

Hama Rikyu images

Hama Rikyu

I also recommend Hama Rikyu garden near Shiodome. It is an oasis in the middle of central Tokyo. There is one view that shows a very traditional Japanese garden (Hama Rikyu) with the tall buildings of Shiodome as the backdrop.I have written about Hama Rikyu here:http://www.alifelessnormal.co/…(54 words)

Jase image

Jase

Beer me up! images

Beer me up!

Have you skied in the Rocky Mountains and looking for some powder snow?A weekend trip up to Hokkaido is recommended. If your from Australia and looking for a place to hit the slopes I've heard there are places in Hokkaido that Aussies hang out.Don't have the time? Well people in the Shizu…(141 words)

Yuuki I image

Yuuki I

UFO madness images

UFO madness

You've seen the "crane games" the UFO catchers before I'm sure. As I remember when I was young at amusement parks and arcades and such, I would see stuffed animals and candy and try tirelessly to get what I wanted.Japan has taken the "UFO catcher" addiction to new heights with dedicated areas i…(202 words)

KurtisW image

KurtisW

Kagura, northern Honshuu images

Kagura, northern Honshuu

Last winter I went to a place called Kagura ski resort, located on Mt. Naeba. This area is in Niigata which is on the northern part of the main island in Japan; about a 3 hour drive from Tokyo. You can always take a bus in the early morning from Shinjuku on a snowboard day trip, but we took a car.…(140 words)

KurtisW image

KurtisW

New Year's Gift Giving images

New Year's Gift Giving

The New Year's season is a time for visiting family and friends in Japan, as it is in many of our home countries too. If visiting family members with small children, the children will often be given gifts of money (called "Otoshi-dama"). Otherwise, a nice box of sweets or rice crackers ("Osenbei")…(158 words)

Andrea Miyata image

Andrea Miyata

How to Add a Touch of Cuteness with Your Gift in Japan images

How to Add a Touch of Cuteness with Your Gift in Japan

During the Holidays or during your visit in Japan, you might want to give your host, hotel concierge, or new friend a little gift of appreciation. You might also be planning to take things back home from Japan to your Japanese friends overseas. Guess what? You want a hint on how to up your polite l…(235 words)

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Okagemairi in Japan 2014- Special Visit to Ise Jingu, the Grand Shrine images

Okagemairi in Japan 2014- Special Visit to Ise Jingu, the Grand Shrine

Ise Jingu, the Grand Shrine's main pavilions were newly rebuilt and its residing deities were transferred to the new shrines, which is called Sengu. The ceremony is held every 20 years in order to keep the spirit of "Tokowaka" which means "forever young or everlasting purity" and it has been done f…(124 words)

Hatha Yoga Lover image

Hatha Yoga Lover

Karuta ! images

Karuta !

Karuta is Japanese traditional playing cards and people enjoy Karuta during New Year’s holidays. The game uses two types of cards – Yomifuda and Efuda. When the reader reads out a poem on the yomifuda, players quickly search for matching efuda. Usually there is one reader and Karuta is played by mo…(79 words)

OKAKI-sun image

OKAKI-sun

There are many places where you can surf in Japan. images

There are many places where you can surf in Japan.

If you live in Tokyo and have interest in surfing or the surfing culture in Japan.Chiba, Shonan area is popular and has a unique culture with shops and cafes along the cost. When big swells come in Shonan area can get crowed by surfers coming from distant places.During the winter season the…(169 words)

Yuuki I image

Yuuki I

Music in Japan is not just about AKB images

Music in Japan is not just about AKB

Are you looking for some good music tracks to put in your IPOD?Well my mistake was relying on watching top ranking music shows on TV.Turn off your TV set and get out to some live music.There are many popular music festivals in Japan.Fuji Rock in Julyhttp://www.fujirockfestival.com/…(156 words)

Yuuki I image

Yuuki I

Spring for HANAMI (cherry blossom viewing) has come !! images

Spring for HANAMI (cherry blossom viewing) has come !!

In Japan, we have a custom of enjoying changes in nature which occurred as the seasons progresses such as hanami (cherry blossom viewing), Tsukimi (moon viewing) and Yukimi (snow viewing). Hanami is a kind of party to celebrate the upcoming spring and it will be seen throughout the country from aro…(621 words)

fujimorison image

fujimorison

Tennis in Tokyo for french, english and japanese speakers images

Tennis in Tokyo for french, english and japanese speakers

Do you like Tennis ???!!Do you want to learn tennis ??!! To train ??!Jinji Tennis can help you !!!Jinji Tennis will offer you his knowledge, his coaches, many different programs and a fantastic place to play your favorite sport !!So Join Us !!!!!!www.jinjitennisfra.comVous aim…(97 words)

jojosan image

jojosan

The power of onsen is truly amazing! images

The power of onsen is truly amazing!

We have recently come to understand the effects of hydrogen sulfide, or "sulfur". Just by sniffing it, the swelling associated with rheumatism can be lessened. Also, we know the effects it can have on the brain, and it is possible that it has a preventative effect in regard to dementia.It a…(117 words)

Eddie image

Eddie

Want to Disco Down in Tokyo? images

Want to Disco Down in Tokyo?

I try to keep everyone up to date with new events and various concerts going on around Tokyo. You can learn more about various activities by tuning into my weekly podcast here. http://www.japantoday.com/category/podcast/view/kamasami-kong-interviews-lionel-richieIn this edition of the Kong Sh…(173 words)

Kong image

Kong

Chiaki Kohara images

Chiaki Kohara

Chiaki Kohara is an artist from Osaka. Born in 1986, she is still young enough to have the vibrant quality of a J-Pop idol. And her art has the lively quality of anime.But look underneath the surface of her colorful characters and one gets the sense that there is much more to her art than at …(358 words)

mikekato image

mikekato

InterFM: "Funk 'n' Stuff" with DJ Marvin live from Tokyo & Nagoya images

InterFM: "Funk 'n' Stuff" with DJ Marvin live from Tokyo & Nagoya

A message to all the funk-a-teers of the world. From Motown to To-Town now to yo town via Interfm; I wanna say “hello” and “how do ya do” to all the folks out there • keeping it real • living ya life day by day • trying to stay above ground • keeping ya noses above the water • making and creating p…(259 words)

DjMarvin image

DjMarvin

For next year Mother's Day or GW or Whatever.... images

For next year Mother's Day or GW or Whatever....

I know I have posted about "Cruise lunch" before, but I just took my mother and sister on Mother's day to one and once again (this time the ship is bigger than the last one) it was a blast. My mother loved it and I am sure you will love it, too.These cruise lunch or dinner can be used for many…(135 words)

KIH image

KIH

An Exciting Evening of Baseball at Yokohama Stadium in Japan images

An Exciting Evening of Baseball at Yokohama Stadium in Japan

With the commencement of the interleague baseball season, I got to go and watch the Softbank Hawks from the Pacific league challenge the Yokohama DeNA Baystars at their home stadium in Yokohama last week. While I’ve seen baseball games at many of the stadiums in Japan, I find a unique friendly char…(354 words)

GenS image

GenS

Many concerts and events happening all the time in Japan images

Many concerts and events happening all the time in Japan

I have had a long and happy relationship with Japan as I cover so many artists visiting for amazing events here in the Land of the Rising Sun.I interview various people on my podcast at Japan Today and invite you to tune in to find out about special events and interesting opportunities to explo…(195 words)

Kong image

Kong

Best Way to Enjoy the FIFA World Cup in Japan images

Best Way to Enjoy the FIFA World Cup in Japan

Are you a soccer fanatic, bummed out that you won't be in Brazil to witness the excitement of the 2014 FIFA World Cup? Don't worry, even if you're here in Japan, on the opposite side of the globe, there are ways to thoroughly enjoy the world cup. You must go to one of the multiple Public Viewing ev…(290 words)

GenS image

GenS

Yoshidamachi-ju Beer Garden Block Party images

Yoshidamachi-ju Beer Garden Block Party

I mentioned one of Yokohama's summer highlights in my last post: Yokohama Fireworks Show: Sparkling Twilight 2014http://www.deepjapan.org/a/3287Here's another - BEER GARDEN BLOCK PARTY!What started off as an attempt to bring Yoshidamachi's old-school neighborhood businesses together h…(153 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer image

Former Deep Japan Writer

Summer in Shinjuku Chuo Park images

Summer in Shinjuku Chuo Park

Want a place to entertain your kids in the midsummer in Tokyo for free?Well, look no further than Shinjuku Chuo Park The paddling pool じゃぶじゃぶ池 is fantastic. It is fairly big.It seems that the water of these paddling pools are drained on a daily basis, so in theory, the water should…(116 words)

Steve image

Steve

Yakatabune Harbor in Tokyo - One of the most convenient and comprehensive "harbors" in Tokyo images

Yakatabune Harbor in Tokyo - One of the most convenient and comprehensive "harbors" in Tokyo

Firework, Cherry Blossom, just Lunch or Dinner, etc.... Yakatabune is very attractive play spot (?) nowadays.Tokyo is, more than you may imagine, harbor city and water front city as well (like Manhattan) and Yakatabune harbor is conveniently located near Shinagawa (the first stop - 5 min. - of…(213 words)

KIH image

KIH

PLAY BALL! Baseball in Japan images

PLAY BALL! Baseball in Japan

Certain things go with Japan in summer: fireworks, matsuri (festivals), cold beer on a rooftop and, of course, baseball. Between the months of April through October, you can flip through TV channels and, somewhere, odds are better than even that a game will be shown somewhere. Known as Yakyu (野…(586 words)

jdlawrence image

jdlawrence

Drop-in Yoga Workshop at Temples in Tokyo images

Drop-in Yoga Workshop at Temples in Tokyo

The following links (I believe their sites are all in Japanese....)are temples in Tokyo area, where they do provide a yoga workshop:@"Kongoin," Toshima-ku every Mon.(10am-) and Wed.(7:30pm-) starting from Aug 4 and 6豊島区 金剛院(8月4日~、6日~開講)※毎週月曜日、水曜日開催詳しくは:h…(249 words)

Hatha Yoga Lover image

Hatha Yoga Lover

How to Enjoy Japanese Summer : Yukata images

How to Enjoy Japanese Summer : Yukata

One of the joy in summer is to wear Japanese summer version of Kimono “Yukata” and go out. People enjoy taking walks in the city in their favorite Yukata or shopping at food stalls on the day of Hanabi festivals. Please enjoy fabulous fireworks in the summer night sky! *Staff*Kimono dresser…(108 words)

OKAKI-sun image

OKAKI-sun

First time we've seen free entrance for all internationals at a Huge Tokyo Anime Event images

First time we've seen free entrance for all internationals at a Huge Tokyo Anime Event

Last weekend there was another brick laid in to the proverbial wall of internationalization in Japan.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLtlwT_UT3QAfter many years in Japan, I have never seen a huge anime event mostly in Japanese that was so well attended by internationals. Yes, everyone turns…(309 words)

Kong image

Kong